The Social Security Administration understands how serious health conditions can be and that disabilities prevent millions of Americans from working. They have two programs in place, Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, and Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, to provide some financial relief to those who are out of work. To qualify for either program, applicants must prove that they are suffering from a debilitating condition that is expected to last at least a year, or end in death. The two programs are funded differently, and if an applicant does not qualify for SSDI, they may still qualify for SSI if they meet the proper criteria.
The Social Security Disability Insurance program is funded through payroll taxes. In order to qualify, the applicant must have contributed through at least 20 quarters of coverage over the previous decade. After receiving SSDI benefits for two years, recipients are transferred to coverage by Medicare. For the disabled who have not contributed to SSDI, there is another option that might work.
Supplemental Security Income is funded through general taxes, and allows those who do not qualify for SSDI benefits to apply. In order to qualify for SSI, an applicant must have less than $2,000 in cash or in combined bank accounts. Vehicles valued under $4,500 and a person’s home are not considered as an individual’s resource.
Although Social Security Disability is not designed to cover all medical expenses, it can be helpful in relieving some of the financial strain associated with being out of work. If you believe that you may qualify, you might want to get more information about Social Security Disability to learn how to proceed.
Source: Findlaw, “What is the Difference Between SSDI and SSI?” Accessed on July 24, 2017