There are several Social Security Disability Benefits available.

Which are available to you: SSDI or SSI?

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is what most people think of when they consider filing a claim for social security disability benefits. However, there are several other benefit programs that you may qualify for that are not as well-known such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

It usually pays to investigate all available disability-related benefit programs, because you may qualify for more than one. Here at Pinnacle Disability, we want to help you receive the maximum benefits possible. When you call us for a Free case evaluation, we can answer any questions you may have related to the various benefit programs with no further obligation.

If you decide to hire us (remember there is no up-front costs) we will assign an expert team to work on your case – a team dedicated to winning the social security disability benefits you deserve.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI or SSD)

The Social Security Disability Insurance program provides benefits to people who have worked and have become disabled before reaching retirement age. Employees have paid into this program through their payroll social security taxes (identified as FICA taxes).

If you are determined not to have worked enough and contributed enough taxes then you will not be eligible for SSDI.

There are two tests relating to work credits, the “Recent Work Test” and the “Duration of Work Test”. The recent work test requires that you have worked 5 of the past 10 years if you are over the age of 31. Under the age of 31 requires that you have worked half of the number of years since you’ve been 21.

Next is the duration of work test. The SSA calculates how much time you have worked by using a system of credits. One credit is given for each $1,320 you make, with a maximum of 4 credits given for the year. For a person over the age of 31 this will mean that they earn 20 credits in 5 years.

The older a person is the more credits they will need to earn to qualify, and the more years they will have needed to work.

Regardless of age, you must meet the required number of work credits within the years before you became disabled. If you stop working and collect disability you may not meet the work requirements in the future.

For the SSDI benefits to be awarded, there are several conditions determined by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that need to be met. These may include certain medical conditions, years of employment, and a minimum length of time suffering from the disabling condition.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

The Supplemental Security Income program is a needs-based benefit that doesn’t consider your work history. SSI pays benefits to low income people who are disabled, meet requirements surrounding their living arrangements, and may not qualify under the disability insurance benefits. One specific criteria however is that to qualify for SSI you must be a U.S. citizen. Also, if you have not been employed long enough to earn the minimum number of credits to qualify for SSDI, or you have never been employed, you may only qualify for supplemental security income.

State-Specific Supplemental Security Income

As we mentioned, since you may qualify for more than one program from the federal government, it is important to see if your state government offers any SSI-type benefits that you may be eligible to receive in addition to the federally offered SSI program. In fact, only four states do not (Mississippi, North Dakota, Arizona, West Virginia).

Call us today – 1-800-593-7491 – for a free case evaluation to see if you qualify for disability benefits. There is no obligation.