An Overview of Social Security Disability Insurance

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