| I read an interesting statistic recently that was | | | | title 16 of the social security act and is known as SSI, |
| published in a well-known online newspaper. According | | | | which stands for supplemental security income. |
| to the article, one out of three otherwise-healthy adults | | | | How are these two disability programs different? They |
| will experience a long term state of disability (due to an | | | | differ in a number of ways, both in terms of basic |
| accident or illness and lasting a month or longer, with | | | | eligibility requirements and in terms of intended purpose. |
| the possibility of being permanent) prior to age sixty. | | | | SSI disability is fundamentally a needs-based program. |
| Upon reading this statistic, I immediately perked up | | | | As such, there are certain limiting prerequisites to filing |
| since one out of three odds is fairly high. However, I | | | | for SSI. The first prerequisite is that a potential SSI |
| had little trouble believing the statistic: as a former | | | | claimant cannot have countable assets that exceed |
| disability claims examiner, it was once my job to do | | | | two thousand dollars. What are countable assets? |
| nothing but evaluate the records of individuals both | | | | They include money in bank accounts, real estate |
| young and old who had been severely affected by an | | | | property other than one's home residence, and almost |
| injury or illness. Most individuals, however, unless | | | | any asset upon which an individual does not rely for |
| they've known someone whose ability to work was | | | | the most basic needs, and which can be liquidated |
| profoundly diminished by an impairment, never consider | | | | fairly easily. |
| the possibility that they might, at some point, become | | | | SSI benefits are intended for minor-age children who |
| disabled. Unfortunately, the limiting effects of an | | | | are disabled and for disabled adults who are not |
| accident or disease are closer than many of us would | | | | covered for SSD, as a result of insufficient |
| care to know. | | | | contributions to the disability system via payroll |
| So, what does an individual who can no longer work | | | | deductions. |
| do? Answer: they file for benefits. The next obvious | | | | SSD, or social security disability, is different. It is not a |
| question question, of course, is what kind of benefits? | | | | needs-based program and is treated by the federal |
| Answer: everything you may possibly be eligible for, | | | | government as a form of insurance. In fact, whether or |
| incuding workers compensation benefits, short term | | | | not an individual can apply for SSD depends soley on |
| disability benefits, long term disability benefits, and, last | | | | their insured status. In other words, has the individual |
| but not least, federal disability benefits. | | | | worked long enough to earn the minimum number of |
| Federal disability benefits are provided by two | | | | credits needed to be insured for SSD? Individuals who |
| programs, both of which are administered by the social | | | | are insured for SSD benefits are allowed to file for |
| security administration. The first program is established | | | | SSD benefits. Individuals who are not insured for SSD |
| under title 2 of the social security act and it is known | | | | may have a disability application taken in the SSI |
| by many abbrevations and acronyms such as RSDI | | | | program, assuming that they do not possess assets in |
| (retirement, survivors, and disability insurance), DIB | | | | excess of the two thousand dollar limit. |
| (disability insurance benefits), and SSDI (social security | | | | SSD and SSI benefits, however, are both administered |
| disability insurance benefits). However, most individuals | | | | by the same federal agency, the social security |
| simply refer to this program as social security disability, | | | | administration. For this reason, disability claims in either |
| or SSD. | | | | program are handled and processed in an identical |
| The second disability program that is administered by | | | | fashion. |
| the social security administration is established under | | | | |