Claiming Social Security Benefits Based on Disability Oakland CA

No matter how old you are, if you have a disability that prevents you from working, you may be able to claim benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). There are two benefit programs you can apply for, including:

• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): available only to disabled people who've already worked for a certain number of years.
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI): available to disabled or elderly people whose incomes and assets are very low.

Benefits include cash and medical care, and depend on which program you qualify for.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

To be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you must not only be disabled, but you must also have built up sufficient "work credits" with Social Security. Exactly how many credits you will need depends on your age and the year you became disabled. Twenty of your work credits must have been earned within the last ten years before you became disabled.

If your application is approved, your Social Security disability benefits will include cash payments in an amount determined based on your age and your personal earnings record. Average payments range from $500 to $2,000 a month.

After collecting disability benefits for 24 months, you will become eligible for Medicare, regardless of your age. In the meantime, if your income is low, you may qualify for Medicaid.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program is run by the SSA, but it is actually a cooperative program between the SSA and your state government. That means that your eligibility, as well as the amount of benefits you receive, will depend on what state you live in. For federal SSA purposes, however, you must meet all of the following four criteria:

• You must be blind, disabled, or age 65 or over.
• You must be either a citizen of the United States, or meet very narrow requirements based on your U.S. permanent residency, military service, or political asylee or refugee status.
• Your monthly income must be low. Only about half of your actual income will be taken into account, but this counted income cannot be higher than an amount set by the state in which you live -- usually around $500 per month ($750 for a couple). However, some states allow people with higher incomes to receive state benefits.
• The property you own (minus certain items, such as your car and home) must be worth less than $2,000, or $3,000 for a couple.

If your application is approved, your SSI benefits will include cash payments at a minimum of $579 per month for an individual or $869 per month for a couple (2005). Your state may supplement this amount with an additional payment (called the State Supplementary Payment). The federal amount is adjusted in January of each year, depending on the U.S. cost of living.

You will also be eligible for Medicaid, food stamps, rehabilitation, and home care, if necessary.