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The Social Security Disability Program provides long-term protection to individuals who are totally disabled, consistent with Social Security criteria. It is meant to provide benefits only to those individuals with the most serious impairments. Browse this page to learn more about the program and how to apply for benefits.
Social Security Disability Insurance (Title II) and Supplemental Security Income (Title XVI) pay benefits to individuals who are found to be disabled under the law. Title II provides cash benefits for those disabled workers who have contributed to the Social Security Trust Fund and pays benefits to their dependents. Title XVI (SSI) provides monthly payments to aged, blind, and disabled people with limited income and resources.
To learn more, click here.
For adults, the law defines disability as the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity (work) by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment(s), which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months.
A medically determinable impairment is one that is established by medical evidence that consists of signs, symptoms, and medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques.
To learn more, click here.
To file an application for disability benefits, you may complete the Social Security Administration’s online disability application. You may also visit a local Social Security Office or call the Social Security Administration’s toll-free number at 1 (800) 772-1213. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call a toll-free "TTY" number, 1-800-325-0778, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
It is advisable for you to have the following information available when filing a claim:
To help you get ready for your disability interview or help you complete the online application, access the Disability Starter Kit, which provides information about the specific documents and information that will be requested from you. The kit also provides general information about the disability programs and the decision-making process, taking some of the mystery out of applying for disability benefits.
There are two Social Security disability programs that include disabled children.
Under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, a child from birth to age 18 may receive monthly payments based on disability or blindness if:
Under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, an adult child (a person age 18 or older) may receive monthly benefits based on disability or blindness if:
Under both of these programs, the child must not be doing any "substantial" work, and must have a medical condition that has lasted or is expected either to last for at least 12 months or to result in death.
To learn more, click here.
A child under 18 will be considered disabled if he or she has a medically determinable physical or mental impairment or combination of impairments that cause marked and severe functional limitations, that can be expected to cause death or that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.
A medically determinable impairment is one that is established by medical evidence that consists of signs, symptoms, and medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques.
To file an application for disability benefits, you must visit a local Social Security Office or call the Social Security Administration’s toll-free number at 1 (800) 772-1213. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call a toll-free "TTY" number, 1-800-325-0778, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. At this time, you cannot complete an application for SSI childhood disability online, but you can complete the Child Disability Report Form online.
It is advisable for you to have the following information available when filing a claim:
You will find helpful links to the online forms and the steps you need to take to apply for childhood disability benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability. You can also view the Fact Sheet and Checklist in the Child Disability Starter Kit to see what information you will need and the kinds of questions we will ask when you have your disability interview in your local Social Security office or over the phone. The Disability Report asks for information about the child's conditions or impairments.
In New Jersey individuals who qualify for Supplemental Security Income disability payments also qualify for Medicaid. The program covers all of the approved charges of the Medicaid patient. Medicaid is financed by Federal and State matching funds, but eligibility rules may vary from state to state.
For information specifically about Medicaid in the State of New Jersey, click here.
Health benefits are available for workers that are found eligible for Social Security Disability benefits. Medicare helps pay hospital and doctor bills of disabled or retired people who have worked long enough under Social Security to be insured for Social Security benefits. It generally covers people over age 65, people who have been determined to be disabled and have been receiving benefits for at least 24 months, and people who need long-term dialysis treatment for chronic kidney disease or require a kidney transplant. In general, Medicare pays 80 percent of reasonable charges.
The Social Security Disability Program is designed to provide long-term protection to individuals who are totally disabled according to Social Security criteria. It is meant to provide benefits to only those individuals with the most serious impairments. It is not a short-term disability program (i.e. Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) or Workers' Compensation).
The Social Security Administration is responsible for two major programs that provide benefits based on disability: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), which is based on prior work under Social Security, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Under SSI, payments are made on the basis of financial need.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is financed with Social Security taxes paid by workers, employers, and self-employed persons. To be eligible for a Social Security benefit, the worker must earn sufficient credits based on taxable work to be "insured" for Social Security purposes. The amount of the monthly disability benefit is based on the Social Security earnings record of the insured worker. Disability benefits are payable to blind or disabled workers, widow(er)s, or adults disabled since childhood, who are otherwise eligible.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a program financed through general revenues. SSI disability benefits are payable to adults or children who are disabled or blind, have limited income and resources, meet the living arrangement requirements, and are otherwise eligible.
The monthly payment varies up to the maximum federal benefit rate, which may be supplemented by the State or decreased by countable income and resources. See http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/11000.html for an explanation of SSI benefit payment rates.
Disability under Social Security for an adult is based on your inability to work because of a medical condition. To be considered disabled:
For adults, we use a five-step evaluation process to decide whether you are disabled under Social Security. The process considers any current work activity you are doing, and your medical condition and how it affects your ability to work.
The length of time it takes to receive a decision on your disability claim is from 3 to 5 months. It can vary depending on several factors, but primarily on:
If you have further questions, you may call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 or TTY 1-800-325-0778. Our representatives will be glad to help you in any way they can.
No. Your disability benefits will continue as long as your medical condition has not improved and you cannot work. Your case will be reviewed at regular intervals to make sure you are still disabled.
If you are still receiving disability benefits when you reach full retirement age, they will automatically be converted to retirement benefits.
No, the Social Security Administration has several work incentives that may help you to return to work without losing your benefits. Social Security rules make it possible for people to test their ability to work without losing their rights to cash benefits and Medicare or Medicaid. These rules are called “work incentives”. The rules are different for Social Security and SSI disability, but under both programs they may provide:
For more information about Social Security's work incentives you should:
For more information on SSA's work incentive rules, see also the Red Book on Work Incentives.
