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