Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income

To qualify for benefits, you must first have worked in jobs covered by Social Security. Then you must have a medical condition that meets Social Security's definition of disability. In general monthly cash benefits are paid to people who are unable to work for a year or more because of a disability. They will not start until the individual has been disabled 6 months and then will be retroactive to the onset date. It is not uncommon for people to receive denials and have to appeal. The more compete and accurate the information the less likely the denial. It is not the first thing that people dealing with catastrophic injury need to deal with because it won’t help them immediately.

People who don’t have enough work credits and meet the criteria for social security disability might be eligible for SSI. SSI has financial/income criteria.

The US Government has an extensive website with information, brochures and information on how to apply online. Encourage people to go to the website. Its user friendly. Provide them with a handout on how to apply.

To find the office closest to the patient, obtain their zip code and enter it into the website and follow directions.

Publications about social security and social security disability are available at: http://www.ssa.gov/about.htm A number of these items are in Spanish as well as in English. There is also means to print material for those with vision problems.

The Disability Determination Handbook is now available online. If you and or your medical team is being asked to complete medical information forms to prove disability check out the various sections and be sure to address the issues as indicated. It is not enough to state “unable to work”. Specific information must be provided for various conditions. The more complete and accurate the information the less likelihood the better for the patient. http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/index.htm