 SSDRC What is the Application Process for Social Security Disability and SSI? How do you Win Benefits under Social Security Disability or SSI? If I am determined disabled, how far back will Social Security pay benefits? How do you prove your disability case if you have a mental condition? What Can I Do to Improve My Chances of Winning Disability Benefits Common Mistakes after Receiving a Denial of Social Security Disability or SSI Benefits How to File for Disability - Tips for Filing If You Get Approved For SSDI Will You Also Get Medicare? How much does a Social Security disability attorney get paid? Social Security Disability SSI Criteria and the Evaluation Process How long does it take to be approved for SSI or Social Security disability? What do you Need to Prove to Qualify for Disability Benefits? Social Security Disability SSI and Fibromyalgia Social Security Disability SSI and Degenerative Disc Disease Can I Qualify For Disability and Receive Benefits based on Depression? Answers to questions about SSD and SSI disability What Disabilities Qualify for SSI and Social Security Disability Benefits? Social Security Disability Status Social Security Disability Tips — how a claim gets worked on Social Security Disability, SSI Disability - Terms, Definitions, Concepts |
Supplemental Security Income - SSI DisabilityHow to prove you are disabled and win disability benefits Many claimants who file for disability have no idea what kind of disability benefits they might be qualified to receive from the Social Security Administration. Social Security actually has two disability programs, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security disability. The medical qualifications for both Social Security disability and Supplemental Security Income are the same. To qualify for either disability program, you have to have been unable to work at a substantial level for a period of one year, or it must be expected that you will be unable to work for a year due to your medical and/or mental condition. Both social security disability and SSI disability require an interview with a Social Security claims representative in order that you may provide your medical information (regarding your treatment, diagnosed conditions, and doctors), work history (types of jobs that you have performed), and educational back ground. Once all of this information is gathered, a disability claim is sent to a special agency that makes the medical decision for disability cases that are filed with the social security administration. State disability agencies generally take thirty to ninety days to process your SSI and/or SSDI claim at the initial application level. Now you may be wondering what the difference is between Social Security disability and SSI, otherwise known as Supplemental Security Income. The real difference between Social Security disability and SSI has to do with the non-medical requirements, the ones that have nothing to do with your medical condition. Social Security disability is based upon insured status, and insured status is acquired through work activity that has resulted in your earnings being reported to the Internal Revenue Service. If you have not earned enough quarters of work coverage, you may not qualify for Social Security disability. But, you may still qualify for SSI disability if your income and resources are low enough to meet the income and resource limits established by the federal government each year. Both Social Security disability and SSI disability pay a monthly disability benefit if you are approved by either a disability examiner at the state agency or by a judge at a disability hearing. In the case of social security disability, the benefit amount will be based on what was paid into the system over the years. With SSI, the amount is determined by the federal government and is usually increased for cost of living each year. Additional information: Can I Be Eligible For SSI And Social Security Disability At The Same Time? How much time does it take to get an SSI Decision? How Far Back Can SSI Back Pay Be Paid? Social Security Disability SSI - Eligibility Requirements and Criteria to Qualify 
Return to: SSDRC, or the Questions, Answers, Tips, and Advice page Individual Questions and Answers SSD and SSI are Federal Programs The title II Social Security Disability and title 16 SSI Disability programs operate under federal guidelines and, therefore, the program requirements--medical and non-medical--apply to all states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming Recent approval and denial statistics for various states can be viewed here: Social Security Disability, SSI Approval and Denial Statistics by state Special Section: Disability Lawyers and unnecessary claim denials |