The Social Security Administration pays out benefits to two basic types of recipients: retirees and their families and disabled persons. Disabled recipients must be able to meet the Social Security Administration's definition of disability (which can be very difficult to do in many cases; over half of all SSDI applications are rejected each year for this reason).
Disability income is paid out to qualifying recipients whose disability is expected to last for at least a year or end in death. The SSA will monitor the recipient's health condition on a periodic basis to make sure that he or she is still eligible to collect benefits. Disability is not necessarily a permanent condition in the eyes of the SSA. But workers who are terminated from their jobs before they retire because of a health condition can apply for SSDI and thus possibly prevent themselves from having to apply early for Social Security retirement benefits. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is another program geared towards providing for disabled persons who have little or no financial means of support. This special program requires that applicants must also apply for Social Security Disability (SSDI) at the same time in order to qualify for this benefit.Social Security Administration
Disability Income
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Are There Additional Benefits for People With Disabilities? FAQs
People with disabilities may receive a variety of benefits, depending on their individual situation. These may include Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicaid and Medicare coverage, vocational rehabilitation services, accessible housing assistance, and employment support services.
Additional benefits may be available from federal, state, and local agencies as well as from private organizations. These can include grants for home modifications and adaptive equipment, tax credits or deductions for medical expenses related to a disability, college scholarships for students with disabilities, transportation assistance programs, and respite care services.
Yes, many employers offer special job placement and other services to help individuals with disabilities find meaningful employment. Additionally, the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to workers with disabilities in order to create an equal-opportunity workplace environment.
There are many organizations and advocacy groups that provide additional resources for individuals with disabilities. These can include support groups, independent living centers, programs to help manage chronic conditions, and financial or legal assistance services.
Yes, veterans with disabilities may be eligible for additional benefits and services such as disability compensation, vocational rehabilitation services, job search assistance, education assistance programs, housing grants, and adaptive sports programs. Additionally, the VA provides mental health counseling and other medical care to support their recovery.
True Tamplin is a published author, public speaker, CEO of UpDigital, and founder of Finance Strategists.
True is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF®), author of The Handy Financial Ratios Guide, a member of the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing, contributes to his financial education site, Finance Strategists, and has spoken to various financial communities such as the CFA Institute, as well as university students like his Alma mater, Biola University, where he received a bachelor of science in business and data analytics.
To learn more about True, visit his personal website, view his author profile on Amazon, or check out his speaker profile on the CFA Institute website.