| Disability benefits are payments people receive as a | | | | elaborate procedures to evaluate eligibility for benefits. |
| result of a health problem or disability. The sources of | | | | People with disabilities can apply for Social Security |
| these payments may include workers' compensation, | | | | disability benefits either online at or by calling the |
| companies or unions, federal government, military, state | | | | toll-free number: 1-800-772-1213. |
| or local governments, railroad retirement, accident or | | | | Social Security disability benefits start on sixth full |
| disability insurance, Black Lung payments, and state | | | | month after the date of disability, upon approval. The |
| temporary sickness, in addition to other disability | | | | amount of disability benefits is calculated from the |
| payments such as Social Security. Some of the states | | | | average lifetime earnings. The family members eligible |
| in U.S. have passed legislation requiring employers to | | | | for Social Security disability benefits are a spouse |
| provide disability benefits to employees for | | | | sixty-two or older; spouse of any age caring for a child |
| nonoccupational injuries. | | | | sixteen or younger or disabled; unmarried child including |
| The Social Security Administration operates two | | | | adopted child eighteen or younger; and an unmarried |
| disability benefits programs. Social Security Disability | | | | child eighteen or older impaired with disability that |
| Insurance program pays benefits to the person with | | | | started before age twenty-two. |
| disabilities and certain family members if the insured | | | | People receiving benefits from Supplemental Security |
| person has paid social security taxes, while | | | | Income program of Social Security are also eligible for |
| Supplemental Security Income program is designed to | | | | Medicaid and food stamps. People receiving disability |
| pay benefits based on financial needs and is funded | | | | benefits for twenty-four months become eligible for |
| by general tax revenues. Social Security has devised | | | | Medicare. |