Massachusetts Social Security Disability Lawyers Blog
When people think of the Social Security disability benefits program, they are normally thinking of the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program. SSDI is a program where workers have taxes withheld from their paychecks each pay period. Some of the tax withheld goes to federal and state income and some goes to fund federal benefits programs like the Social Security programs. However, the money is then further divided and some goes to fund the Social Security retirement fund and some goes to fund the Social Security disability programs. SSDI is one of these programs.
After paying taxes by working for a specific number of fiscal quarters in a row, workers earn credits into the SSDI program. Essentially, every worker is paying a premium for disability insurance in case that worker suffers an injury or illness that causes a disability and prevents that person from working full or part time.
If a worker suffers a debilitating injury or illness that was not work-related, as that is typically covered under a workers’ compensation program, the disabled individual can then apply for Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits. As our Boston disability insurance benefits attorneys can explain, SSDI is the most commonly applied for of the two different types of Social Security disability benefits.
However, it is not the only type of disability benefits. The other type of disability benefits is known as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and was designed for those who have never been employed or who have not been employed recently enough to qualify for SSDI benefits. To use the term cited by the SSA, the claimant has not worked enough to have “paid into the system.”
According to a recent news article form the Olean Times Herald, SSI benefits can be used to support our disabled children. Specifically, the program provides for disability benefits payment to children who live in low-income households who are either blind or disabled. The income guidelines are very strict, as is the definition of disability. In the case of disabled children, the child must suffer from a specifically listed disability, such as advanced kidney failure, or have a physical or mental condition or set of conditions that make it very difficult for the child to live a normal life for a healthy child of that same age, and the condition causing the disability is expected to last more than 12 months or be fatal. In other words, if your child has a severe disability, and it is expected the damage from an accident or illness causing the disability will heal within a year, the agency will deny a claim for benefits. In addition to applying SSI benefits, an individual living with a disabled parent may be able to attain disability benefits if certain requirements are met.
One of things people may not realize when determining a child is awarded disability benefits is the strain this money may take off their parents. When a child is sick and the family does not have money to care for the child as needed, the parents may need to take time off from work or even quit their jobs, as taking care of a sick child can become a full time. However, it is likely the family will not be able to afford not working and will be unable to survive without a disability benefits program.
If you or a loved one is seeking Social Security Disability Insurance in Boston, call for a free and confidential appointment at (617) 777-7777.
Additional Resources:
Supporting our youth and protecting our future, June 30, 2015, Olean Times Herald
More Blog Entries:
Rand Paul Says Many Receiving SSDI Benefits Gaming System, Jan. 27, 2015, Boston Social Security Disability Insurance Lawyer Blog