Social Security Disability Insurance

 

To replace part of the earnings lost because of a physical or mental impairment, or a combination of impairments, severe enough to prevent a person from working.

Active 96.001 Social Security Administration C - Direct Payments For Specified Use; D - Direct Payments With Unrestricted Use Not applicable. Social Security Act of 1935, Title II, as amended; Public Laws 96-265; 97-123, and 97-35. 42 U.S.C. 401; 42 U.S.C. 402; 42 U.S.C. 416; 42 U.S.C. 420-425, Public Law 96-265, II U.S.C. A disabled worker is entitled to Social Security disability benefits if he or she has worked for a sufficient period of time under Social Security to be insured, has not attained "full-benefit retirement age" (66 years old for workers age 62 in 2005), has filed an application, and is under a disability as defined in the Social Security law. The law defines disability as the inability to do any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months. The insured status requirements depend upon the age of the applicant and the date he or she became disabled. Coverage credits under the social security systems of certain foreign countries with which the U.S. has reciprocal agreements may be taken into account to meet the requirements. Certain family members of disabled workers are also entitled to benefits: (1) Unmarried children under age 18, or under age 19 for full-time students in elementary or secondary school; (2) unmarried adult offspring at any age if continuously disabled since before age 22; (3) wife or husband at any age if child in his or her care is receiving benefits on worker's Social Security record and is under age 16 or disabled; (4) spouse age 62 or over; and (5) divorced wives or husbands age 62 or over who were married to the worker for at least 10 years. (Benefits are also payable to auxiliaries, including certain disabled widow(er)s, disabled surviving divorced spouses, children under age 19 who are full-time students in an elementary or secondary school, and disabled children of the worker, after the worker dies. See 96.004 "Social Security-Survivors' Insurance".) For workers who are first entitled after 1985 for both (a) a pension based on non-covered employment; and (b) Social Security disability (or retirement) benefits, a less generous benefit formula applies. In addition, Social Security disability benefits are reduced (offset) by the amount that the sum of all disability benefits payable under Social Security and certain Federal, State, or local public disability and workers' compensation laws or plans exceeds the higher of 80 percent of the worker's average current earnings or the total Social Security benefit that would otherwise be payable on the disabled worker's record. The Social Security benefit for a spouse of a disabled worker is subject to a pension offset if the spouse receives a governmental pension based on his or her own work in non-covered employment. However, the offset does not apply if: (i) the person received or became eligible to receive the pension before December 1, 1982, and can meet requirements for Social Security auxiliaries' benefit as they existed in January 1977; or (ii) if the person received, or was eligible to receive, the pension before July 1, 1983, and the person was dependent on his or her spouse for at least one-half support at the time the spouse died, became disabled or became entitled to Social Security benefits. The amount of the public pension used for purposes of the offset against Social Security spouse's benefits is equal to two-thirds of the public pension. The Social Security benefit for the spouse of a disabled worker is also offset dollar for dollar by the amount of any Social Security benefit the spouse receives based on his or her own work. All benefits to spouses and children of disabled workers are subject to an earnings test unless those beneficiaries are full-benefit retirement age or older. Beginning with the year 2000, the retirement earnings test was eliminated beginning with the month in which the beneficiary reaches full-benefit retirement age (FRA). A person at and above FRA will not have Social Security benefits reduced because of earnings. In the calendar year in which a beneficiary reaches FRA ,benefitsarereduced$1forevery$3ofearnings above the limit allowed by law, $31,800 in 2005, but this reduction is applied only to months prior to attainment of FRA. For years before the year the beneficiary attains FRA, the reduction in benefits is $1 for every $2 of earnings over the annual exempt amount. Further, no benefit can be paid to an alien in the United States unless he or she is lawfully present in the United States. In addition, an alien cannot qualify for benefits if he or she never had a work-authorized Social Security Number (SSN) (effective for benefit applications based on SSNs issued after 2003). Qualified disabled workers under full retirement age (FRA). Under the definition of disability in the Social Security Law, disability benefits are provided to a person who is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months, or to result in death. Disabled widow(er)s' benefits are covered under survivors insurance. Felony-related impairments and confinement-related impairments cannot be considered in determining whether an individual is under a disability if the individual has been convicted of a felony which was committed after October 19, 1980. Effective for claims finally adjudicated on or after March 29, 1996, (or for claims approved before then, with benefits payable beginning January 1, 1997) eligibility can no longer be based on drug addiction or alcoholism. Proof of disability and possibly proof of age. If applying for benefits for family members, additional proofs of age, relationship to disabled worker, or full-time school attendance may be required. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Telephone toll free at 1 (800) 772-1213 or telephone or visit the local Social Security Office. After review of the application is completed, the applicant (or representative payee) will be notified by mail. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines An individual should apply for disability benefits when he or she believes the entitlement requirements may be met. Retroactivity of benefit payments is limited to 1 year before filing. Telephone or visit any Social Security Office. The appeal process ranges from a reconsideration through hearings and appeals levels to a review by the Federal courts. Not applicable. Not applicable. Monthly cash benefits are paid to entitled disabled persons and to entitled auxiliary beneficiaries throughout the period of disability generally after a 5-month waiting period. Costs of vocational rehabilitation also are paid for certain beneficiaries. There are no restrictions on the use of benefits received by beneficiaries, although the right to future benefits is not transferable or assignable. In general, State agencies make initial disability determinations for the Federal Government. The Federal Government gives the States funds, in advance or by way of reimbursement, for necessary costs in making disability determinations under 20 CFR 404.1503. Not applicable. Regarding reports: Any change in address or other requirement (such as improvement of disabling condition or work activity) must be reported to the local Social Security Office when it occurs. Continuing Disability Reviews: Persons are contacted periodically to see if they continue to qualify for benefits. Not applicable. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Not applicable Not applicable Consult Appendix IV of the Catalog. http://www.socialsecurity.gov/
see website for local SSA office.
Baltimore , MD 21235 US
Phone: 1-800-772-1213 http://www.socialsecurity.gov 20-8007-0-7-651 (Direct Payments with Unrestricted Use) FY 16 Estimate Not Available FY 17 Estimate Not Available FY 18 Estimate Not Available Monthly cash benefits for a worker disabled in 2005 range up to a maximum of $2,099 based on the level of the worker's earnings and the age at which a worker becomes disabled. The corresponding maximum for such a worker with a family is $3,148.60 As of December 31, 2004, the average benefit paid to a disabled worker alone was $880 and the average amount payable to a disabled worker with eligible dependents was $1,496. This takes into account stipulations set forth in Public Law 96-265 and Public Law 97-35. Under Public Law 97-123, the minimum amount is no longer applicable for workers who either become disabled or first met the insured status requirements after December 1981, and a lesser amount can be paid, depending on the worker's average earnings. Not applicable. Not applicable.