An Overview of Social Security Disability Insurance

Two programs are being enacted by the federalregular income being received by people who
government, which provides benefits forhave acquired a disability and can no longer work
individuals with disability. Collectively, theseat all or hold down his/her present work, provided
programs are being referred to as "Social Securitythat he / she has remitted adequate FICA taxes.
disability benefits."o Social Security DisabilityUnder the SSDI, different kinds of benefits are
Insurance Benefits Program or SSDI Benefits -provided for family members when their major
authorized by the Social Security Act, Title II andwage earner have acquired a disability or died.
is geared towards providing benefits to workersThe SSDI program is being financed by the Social
with disability and / or their dependents andSecurity taxes being paid by employees,
surviving spouses or children.o Supplementalemployers and self-employed individuals. SSDI
Security Income program or SSI - authorized bybenefits can be paid to workers with disability,
the Social Security Act, Title XVI and aimed atwidows or widowers, and children or disabled since
giving benefits to individuals with disability whosechildhood adults if they are eligible.
assets and income are below a particular level.Availing SSDI benefits
History of Social Security Disability InsuranceThe Social Security has a particular definition of
(SSDI) Benefitsdisability that need to be met in order to become
It was in the year 1935 when the U.S. federaleligible to receive SSDI benefits. The main
government set up a program geared towardsrequirement to gain medical eligibility under the
providing elderly employees of commercial andSSDI program is the inability by an individual to
industrial sectors with retirement benefits. Theperform any kind of Substantial Gainful Activity or
scheme of this program is enacted through theSGA for 12 months or more.
Federal Insurance Contributions Act or FICA,This medical definition of disability is also the
setting up a federal retirement fund that therequirements used to become eligible under the
employees are required to pay into. TheSupplemental Security Income (SSI) program.
employees remit into this fund through a regularDetermining disability
deduction on their salary.The person with disability should have been unable
It is the Social Security and the Medicareto perform SGA due to an impairment affecting
programs that are funded after the withdrawal ofthe physical or mental capacity and is medically
FICA tax from the employees' salaries. Meanwhile,determinable. The impairment can also either be
self-employed citizens can contribute to the FICAexpected to last continuously for at least 12
because of the federal tax returns.months or result in death.
By 1956, some protection policies covering theReceiving benefits
"involuntary retirement" options on the basis ofAfter meeting the requirements given by the
disability were established. An individual, even if hedisability evaluation and the disability is already
she has been forced to stop working because ofproven, the payments of SSDI benefits will
a disability may still have access to the disabilitycommence. The beneficiary needs to wait for a
insurance. It would depend, however, on theperiod of 5 months since it is during the sixth
period he / she have paid FICA taxes.month after the disability began that benefits
Objectives of SSDIpayment start. It will continue up to the second
The main objective of the SSDI is to replace themonth's end of the disability.