| Social Security is a social welfare program concerned | | | | The child must be under age 18 or under age 19 if in |
| in protecting the retired, old, needy, or disabled people; | | | | elementary or secondary school full time; and |
| in addition, protects against socially recognized | | | | • Your unmarried child, age 18 or older, if he or she |
| conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, | | | | has a disability that started before age 22 (The |
| unemployment and others. | | | | child’s disability also must meet the definition of |
| The Social Security Administration (SSA) pays | | | | disability for adults.) |
| disability benefits through two programs: /1/ The Social | | | | • In some situations, a divorced spouse may qualify |
| Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program and /2/ | | | | for benefits based on your earnings if he or she was |
| the Supplemental Security Income program (SSI). | | | | married to you for at least 10 years, is not currently |
| These two are the largest of several Federal | | | | married and is at least age 62. The money paid to a |
| programs that provide assistance to people with | | | | divorced spouse does not reduce your benefit or any |
| disabilities. | | | | benefits due to your current spouse or children. |
| What are the terms and conditions included within the | | | | Supplemental Security Income Program |
| context of disability welfare benefits under these | | | | This Social Security program is funded by general tax |
| Social Security programs? | | | | revenues, not Social Security taxes. It pays benefits |
| The Social Security Disability Insurance program | | | | based on financial need. It is designed to help aged, |
| This program aims to provide wage replacement | | | | blind, and disabled people who have little or no income; |
| income to individuals who have paid sufficient amount | | | | and it provides monthly payments to meet basic |
| of taxes within specific periods to the SSA’s funds. | | | | needs. |
| SSDI is funded with Social Security taxes paid by | | | | Who is eligible? |
| workers, employers, and self-employed individuals. | | | | • People 65 years and older |
| SSDI is not exclusive to a primary wage earner. They | | | | • Blind or disabled people of any age |
| also cover beneficiaries of the earner. So generally, | | | | • Children who are suffering from a medical |
| who are the people that can be eligible for SSDI | | | | condition, including behavioral and learning disorders |
| benefits? | | | | Eligibility Standards According to SSA: |
| Eligibility Requirement for SSDI | | | | • A person should have “limited income and |
| In order to be eligible, the SSA’s definition of | | | | resources” |
| disability must be met. (“To be considered medically | | | | • A person should be a US citizen or national, or in |
| disabled according to Social Security rules, an individual | | | | one of certain categories of aliens who are not |
| must be unable to engage in any substantial gainful | | | | subject to deportation or removal |
| activity due to any medically determinable physical or | | | | • A person should be a resident of one of the 50 |
| mental impairment(s) which can be expected to result | | | | states including the Northern Mariana Islands |
| in death or which has lasted or can be expected to | | | | • A person should not be absent from a county for |
| last for a continuous period of not less than 12 | | | | a full calendar month or more than 30 consecutive |
| months.”) | | | | days |
| Beneficiaries of Eligible Earners in Accordance with | | | | • A person should agree to apply for any other |
| SSA’s Requirements | | | | cash benefits for whom he or she may be entitled |
| • Your spouse, if he or she is 62 or older; | | | | • A person should meet certain other requirements |
| • Your spouse, at any age if he or she is caring for | | | | For reliable assistance on your disability welfare |
| a child of yours who is younger than age 16 or | | | | benefits application, hire the services of our expert Los |
| disabled; | | | | Angeles Social Security attorneys. Just log on to our |
| • Your unmarried child, including an adopted child, or, | | | | website and know how to contact our legal staff. |
| in some cases, a stepchild or grandchild | | | | |