| Two programs are being enacted by the federal | | | | remitted adequate FICA taxes. |
| government, which provides benefits for | | | | |
| individuals with disability. Collectively, | | | | Under the SSDI, different kinds of benefits |
| these programs are being referred to as | | | | are provided for family members when their |
| "Social Security disability benefits." | | | | major wage earner have acquired a disability |
| | | | or died. |
| • Social Security Disability Insurance | | | | |
| Benefits Program or SSDI Benefits - | | | | The SSDI program is being financed by the |
| authorized by the Social Security Act, Title | | | | Social Security taxes being paid by |
| II and is geared towards providing benefits | | | | employees, employers and self-employed |
| to workers with disability and / or their | | | | individuals. SSDI benefits can be paid to |
| dependents and surviving spouses or children. | | | | workers with disability, widows or widowers, |
| | | | and children or disabled since childhood |
| • Supplemental Security Income program | | | | adults if they are eligible. |
| or SSI - authorized by the Social Security | | | | |
| Act, Title XVI and aimed at giving benefits | | | | Availing SSDI benefits |
| to individuals with disability whose assets | | | | |
| and income are below a particular level. | | | | The Social Security has a particular |
| | | | definition of disability that need to be met |
| History of Social Security Disability | | | | in order to become eligible to receive SSDI |
| Insurance (SSDI) Benefits | | | | benefits. The main requirement to gain |
| | | | medical eligibility under the SSDI program is |
| It was in the year 1935 when the U.S. federal | | | | the inability by an individual to perform any |
| government set up a program geared towards | | | | kind of Substantial Gainful Activity or SGA |
| providing elderly employees of commercial and | | | | for 12 months or more. |
| industrial sectors with retirement benefits. | | | | |
| The scheme of this program is enacted through | | | | This medical definition of disability is also |
| the Federal Insurance Contributions Act or | | | | the requirements used to become eligible |
| FICA, setting up a federal retirement fund | | | | under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) |
| that the employees are required to pay into. | | | | program. |
| The employees remit into this fund through a | | | | |
| regular deduction on their salary. | | | | Determining disability |
| | | | |
| It is the Social Security and the Medicare | | | | The person with disability should have been |
| programs that are funded after the withdrawal | | | | unable to perform SGA due to an impairment |
| of FICA tax from the employees' salaries. | | | | affecting the physical or mental capacity and |
| Meanwhile, self-employed citizens can | | | | is medically determinable. The impairment can |
| contribute to the FICA because of the federal | | | | also either be expected to last continuously |
| tax returns. | | | | for at least 12 months or result in death. |
| | | | |
| By 1956, some protection policies covering | | | | Receiving benefits |
| the "involuntary retirement" options on the | | | | |
| basis of disability were established. An | | | | After meeting the requirements given by the |
| individual, even if he / she has been forced | | | | disability evaluation and the disability is |
| to stop working because of a disability may | | | | already proven, the payments of SSDI benefits |
| still have access to the disability | | | | will commence. The beneficiary needs to wait |
| insurance. It would depend, however, on the | | | | for a period of 5 months since it is during |
| period he / she have paid FICA taxes. | | | | the sixth month after the disability began |
| | | | that benefits payment start. It will continue |
| Objectives of SSDI | | | | up to the second month's end of the |
| | | | disability. |
| The main objective of the SSDI is to replace | | | | |
| the regular income being received by people | | | | Become more informed about Social security |
| who have acquired a disability and can no | | | | insurance benefits with the help of Los |
| longer work at all or hold down his/her | | | | Angeles Social Security Attorneys. |
| present work, provided that he / she has | | | | |