 |
|
Social Security
Disability/SSI FAQ
General
-
What are the tax, benefit and
earning (COLA) amounts for 2009?
-
What do the letters after a Social
Security or Medicare number mean?
-
Do I have to pay income tax on my
Social Security benefits?
-
Can I receive Social Security
benefits and SSI?
-
How can I get a certified copy of
a birth certificate?
-
Will my benefit amount be the same
for the rest of my life?
-
My mother is disabled and I need
to stay home to help care for her. Does Social Security
provide benefits to a caregiver or housekeeper?
-
Can I borrow from my future Social
Security benefits?
-
Can a child receive benefits on
the record of a grandparent?
-
Can I opt out of Social Security?
-
How can I obtain proof of my
military service?
-
Is a copy of my birth certificate
good enough to prove my age?
-
What are the requirements to
receive Social Security benefits?
-
I am a surviving divorced spouse.
Can I receive benefits on my ex-spouse’s record?
Disability
-
How much can I earn and still
receive Disability benefits?
-
What is the difference between
Social Security disability and SSI disability?
-
Can I receive Social Security
benefits and SSI?
-
Do disabled children qualify for
benefits?
-
How long does it take to get
notified of a decision about disability benefits?
-
Is there a time limit on Social
Security disability benefits?
-
Do disability benefits change once
I turn full retirement age?
-
Why is there a five-month waiting
period for Social Security disability benefits?
-
Will I automatically get Medicare
benefits if I get disability benefits?
-
I receive disability and my
condition has worsened. Can my benefit be increased?
-
What is the earliest age that I
can receive Disability benefits?
-
How do workers' compensation
payments affect my disability benefits?
-
Can a person with a terminal
illness qualify for disability benefits?
-
How many credits are required to
be eligible for disability?
General
-
What are the
tax, benefit and earning (COLA) amounts for 2009? -
A Social
Security cost-of-living (COLA) increase of 5.8% for 2009
was announced on October 16, 2008.
Following are the changes effective January 1, 2009:
2009 SOCIAL
SECURITY CHANGES
Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA):
Based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index
(CPI-W) from the third quarter of 2007 through the third
quarter of 2008, Social Security and Supplemental
Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries will receive a 5.8
percent COLA for 2009. Other important 2009 Social
Security information is as follows:
|
Tax Rate |
2008
|
2009 |
|
Employee
|
7.65%
|
7.65%
|
|
Self-Employed
|
15.30%
|
15.30%
|
|
NOTE: The 7.65% tax rate is the combined
rate for Social Security and Medicare.
The Social Security portion (OASDI) is
6.20% on earnings up to the applicable
taxable maximum amount (see below).
The Medicare portion (HI) is 1.45% on
all earnings.
|
|
Maximum Taxable Earnings: |
2008
|
2009
|
|
|
$102,000
|
$106,800
|
|
Medicare (HI only)
|
No Limit
|
|
Retirement Earnings
Test Exempt Amounts: |
2008
|
2009
|
|
Under full retirement age
NOTE: One
dollar in benefits will be withheld for
every $2 in earnings above the limit.
|
$13,560/yr.
($1,130/mo.)
|
$14,160/yr.
($1,180/mo.)
|
The year an individual reaches full
retirement age
NOTE: Applies
only to earnings for months prior to
attaining full retirement age. One dollar in
benefits will be withheld for every $3 in
earnings above the limit. |
$36,120/yr.
($3,010/mo.)
|
$37,680/yr.
($3,140/mo.)
|
|
There is no limit on earnings beginning the
month an individual attains full retirement
age. |
|
Social Security
Disability Thresholds: |
2008
|
2009
|
|
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)
|
Non-Blind |
$ 940/mo.
|
$ 980/mo.
|
|
Blind |
$1,570/mo.
|
$1,640/mo.
|
|
Trial Work Period (TWP)
|
$ 670/mo.
|
$ 700/mo.
|
Maximum Social
Security Benefit:
Worker Retiring at
Full Retirement Age |
2008
|
2009
|
|
|
$2,185/mo.
|
$2,323/mo.
|
|
SSI Resources Limits: |
2008
|
2009
|
|
Individual
|
$2,000
|
$2,000
|
|
Couple
|
$3,000
|
$3,000
|
|
Estimated Average Monthly Social Security
Benefits Payable in January 2009: |
Before
5.8% COLA
|
After
5.8% COLA
|
|
All Retired Workers
|
$1,090
|
$1,153
|
|
Aged Couple, Both Receiving Benefits
|
$1,773
|
$1,876
|
|
Widowed Mother and Two Children
|
$2,268
|
$2,399
|
|
Aged Widow(er) Alone
|
$1,051
|
$1,112
|
|
Disabled Worker, Spouse and
One or More Children
|
$1,695
|
$1,793
|
|
All Disabled Workers
|
$ 1,006
|
$1,064
|
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-
What do the
letters after a Social Security or Medicare number mean?
-
The
codes following a Social Security number indicate the
type of benefits you are entitled to. The Social
Security number followed by one of these codes is often
referred to as a claim number and they are only assigned
once you apply for benefits. These letter
codes may appear on correspondence that you receive from
Social Security or on your Medicare card. They
will never appear on a Social Security number card.
For
example, if the Social Security of the wage earner
number is 123-45-6789, then once you apply for
retirement benefits, your claim number is 123-45-6789A. This
number will also be used as your Medicare claim number,
once you are eligible for Medicare.
|
Code |
Identification |
|
A |
Primary claimant (wage earner)
|
|
B |
Aged wife, age 62 or over |
|
B1 |
Aged husband, age 62 or over |
|
B2 |
Young wife, with a child in her care |
|
B3 |
Aged wife, age 62 or over, second claimant |
|
B5 |
Young wife, with a child in her care, second
claimant |
|
B6 |
Divorced wife, age 62 or over |
|
BY |
Young husband, with a child in his care |
|
C1-C9 |
Child - Includes minor, student or disabled
child |
|
D |
Aged Widow, age 60 or over |
|
D1 |
Aged widower, age 60 or over |
|
D2 |
Aged widow (2nd claimant) |
|
D3 |
Aged widower (2nd claimant)
|
|
D6 |
Surviving Divorced Wife |
|
E |
Widowed Mother |
|
E1 |
Surviving Divorced Mother |
|
E4 |
Widowed Father |
|
E5 |
Surviving Divorced Father |
|
F1 |
Father |
|
F2 |
Mother |
|
F3 |
Stepfather |
|
F4 |
Stepmother |
|
F5 |
Adopting Father |
|
F6 |
Adopting Mother |
|
HA |
Disabled claimant (wage earner) |
|
HB |
Aged wife of disabled claimant, age 62 or over |
|
M |
Uninsured – Premium Health Insurance Benefits
(Part A) |
|
M1 |
Uninsured - Qualified for but refused Health
Insurance Benefits (Part A) |
|
T |
Uninsured - Entitled to HIB (Part A) under
deemed or renal provisions; or Fully insured who
have elected entitlement only to HIB |
|
TA |
Medicare Qualified Government Employment (MQGE) |
|
TB |
MQGE aged spouse |
|
W |
Disabled Widow |
|
W1 |
Disabled Widower |
|
W6 |
Disabled Surviving Divorced Wife |
NOTE:
This list is not complete, but shows the most common
beneficiary codes.
Back to Top
-
Do I have to
pay income tax on my Social Security benefits? -
Some
people who get Social Security will have to pay taxes on
their benefits. Less than one-third of our current
beneficiaries pay taxes on their benefits.
You will
have to pay federal taxes on your benefits if you file a
federal tax return as an "individual" and your total
income is more than $25,000. If you file a joint return,
you will have to pay taxes if you and your spouse have a
total income that is more than $32,000.
For more information, call the Internal Revenue Service
(IRS) toll-free at 1-800-829-3676 and ask for IRS
Publication Number 915,
Social Security and Equivalent
Railroad Retirement Benefits.
People who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the IRS
toll-free number, 1-800-829-4059.
If you wish to have federal taxes withheld from your
check, see
Can I have federal taxes
withheld from my Social Security check?
The
Social Security Administration has no authority to
withhold state or local taxes from your benefit.
Many states and local authorities do not tax Social
Security benefits. You should contact your state
or local taxing authority for more information.
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-
Can I receive
Social Security benefits and SSI? -
You
may be able to receive SSI in addition to monthly Social
Security benefits, if your Social Security benefit is
low enough to qualify.
Meanwhile, the amount of your SSI benefit depends on
where you live. The basic SSI check is the same
nationwide. Effective January 2009, the SSI payment for
an eligible individual is $674 per month and $1,011 per
month for an eligible couple. However, many states add
money to the basic check. Generally, the more income you
have, the less your SSI benefit will be. If your
countable income is over the allowable limit, you cannot
receive SSI benefits. Some of your income may not count
as income for the SSI program, however. For example, the
first $20 per month of your Social Security benefits may
be excluded in determining your eligibility to SSI.
Following is a list of some States that supplement the
basic SSI amount with a link to more information about
that State:
If
you get SSI, you also may be able to get other help from
your state or county. For example, you may be able to
get Medicaid, food stamps, or some other social
services. For information about all the services
available in your community, call your local social
services department or public welfare office.
For complete information on the
eligibility requirements for SSI, you should read
Supplemental Security Income.
You can apply for Social Security
benefits online. However, you cannot apply for SSI
online. To do so, call our toll-free number,
1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit your
local Social Security office.
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-
How can I get
a certified copy of a birth certificate? -
In
general you may obtain a certified copy of a birth
certificate by writing or visiting the Bureau of Vital
Statistics in the State where you were born. For a
complete listing of addresses by State, we recommend
that you visit the National
Center for Health Statistics website.
Costs
and requirements vary, so review the instructions on the
website first.
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-
Will my
benefit amount be the same for the rest of my life?
-
Your
benefit amount will not stay the same--generally, the
benefit amount increases each year and protects
beneficiaries against inflation. Social Security
provides an annual cost-of-living increase that is based
on the consumer price index. The 2009 increase for
beneficiaries is 5.8 percent and the 2008 increase
was 2.3 percent.
There is
another way that your benefit might increase. When you
work, you continue to pay Social Security taxes, even
though you are receiving benefits. And because you pay
these taxes, Social Security refigures your benefits to
take into account your extra earnings. If the worker's
earnings for the year are higher than the earnings that
were used in the original benefit computation, Social
Security substitutes the new year of earnings. The
higher your earnings, the more your refigured benefit
might be.
We can't
tell you here how much your benefit will increase as
each case is different and we recompute your benefit
using your lifetime earnings. You need not take any
special action. A recomputation of your benefits will be
done automatically in the year following the close of
the year in which you worked. We usually complete all
recomputations by September of the following year
(remember, employers do not report your income to us
until February 28 of the year following the year of
earnings). If you are entitled to a higher benefit, it
is retroactive to January of the year after the year
when you had the additional earnings.
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-
My mother is
disabled and I need to stay home to help care for her.
Does Social Security provide benefits to a caregiver or
housekeeper? -
No. There
is no provision in the Social Security Act to provide
benefits for caregivers of the aged or disabled.
However, you may want to contact your local Social
Services or Welfare department to determine if there are
any locally sponsored programs that might provide you
with assistance. They may also be able to provide you
with the names of organizations that might help.
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-
Can I borrow
from my future Social Security benefits? -
No. The
Social Security program is not intended to be a source
from which people can borrow.
The
Social Security benefit program is a system of social
insurance designed to protect workers and their families
against the loss of earnings due to retirement, severe
and extended disability, or death. Benefits are intended
to replace part of the earnings lost to the worker and
the family when the worker retires, becomes disabled, or
dies. The Social Security taxes that employees and
employers pay on workers' earnings are not placed in an
individual worker's account, but are pooled in special
funds from which benefits are paid to eligible workers
and their families. If people were permitted to borrow
from the Social Security trust funds, the funds would
not be available to pay benefits. In addition, there
would be problems when people were unable to repay the
money they borrowed or when they became disabled or died
before repayment.
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-
Can a child
receive benefits on the record of a grandparent? -
A
dependent grandchild or step-grandchild may receive
benefits on the record of a grandparent if the following
requirements are met:
-
The
grandchild's natural or adoptive parents are
deceased or disabled:
-
At the time the grandparent became entitled
to retirement or disability insurance
benefits or died; or
-
At the beginning of the grandparent's period
of disability which continued until he or
she became entitled to disability or
retirement insurance benefits or died.
-
The
grandchild was legally adopted by the
grandparent's surviving spouse in an
adoption decreed by a court of competent
jurisdiction within the U.S.
-
The
grandchild's natural or adopting parent or
stepparent must not have been living in the same
household and making regular contributions to
the child's support at the time the grandparent
died.
-
The
grandchild must have lived with the grandparent
in the U.S. before reaching age 18 and received
at least one-half support from the grandparent
for the year before the month the grandparent
began receiving retirement or disability
benefits or died.
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-
Can I opt out
of Social Security? -
No.
Social Security coverage is mandatory. But consider
this: unlike your private plan, Social Security provides
disability and survivors coverage in addition to
retirement benefits. And Social Security generally
offers greater protection for family members than
private pensions.
The law
also does not permit a refund of Social Security
taxes. The authority for the collection of taxes,
including Social Security taxes, is found in the
Internal Revenue Code, not the Social Security Act. (See
sections 3101(a) and 3102(a) of the Code.) We suggest
that you direct any questions you may have about tax
liability to that Agency for consideration. The address
is:
Internal Revenue
Service
1111 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20224
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-
How can I
obtain proof of my military service? -
Social
Security often needs to have proof of military service.
The DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from
Active Duty) is the document most often used as proof of
military service.
The SF-180 is the form completed for this request.
You can make an online request for proof of military
service from the National Archives.
See How
to Request Military Service Records or Prove Military
Service for more
information.
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-
Is a copy of
my birth certificate good enough to prove my age? -
It depends.
If your copy is signed by the agency that issued your
birth certificate and carries an official seal, then
it's acceptable. We cannot accept an uncertified
photocopy.
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-
What are the
requirements to receive Social Security benefits? -
Social
Security reaches almost every family, and at some point
will touch the lives of nearly all Americans. Social
Security helps not only older Americans, but also
workers who become disabled and families in which a
spouse or parent dies.
Today, more than 163 million people work and pay Social
Security taxes and more than 50 million people receive
monthly Social Security benefits.
Most of our beneficiaries are retirees and their
families—about 34 million people. But Social Security
was never meant to be the only source of income for
people when they retire. Social Security replaces about
40 percent of an average wage earner’s income after
retiring, and most financial advisors say retirees will
need about 70–80 percent of their work income to live
comfortably in retirement. To have a comfortable
retirement, Americans need much more than just Social
Security. They also need private pensions, savings and
investments.
The Social Security Administration wants you to
understand what Social Security can mean to you and your
family’s financial future. Our publication,
Understanding The Benefits,
explains the basics of the Social Security retirement,
disability and survivors insurance programs.
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-
I am a
surviving divorced spouse. Can I receive benefits on my
ex-spouse’s record? -
A deceased worker's former spouse age 60
or older (as early as age 50 if disabled) may qualify
for benefits if the marriage lasted at least 10 years.
However, a former spouse does not have to meet the age
or length-of-marriage rule if he or she is caring for
the deceased worker's child younger than age 16 or
disabled and entitled based on the deceased worker's
record. The child also must be the former spouse's
natural or legally adopted child.
Take a look
at "Survivor
Benefits"
(Pub. No. 05-10084) for more information.
NOTE: Benefits paid to a surviving
divorced spouse 60 or older, will not affect the payment
amount for other survivors.
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Disability
-
How much can I
earn and still receive Disability benefits? -
We have
special rules called "work incentives" that help you
keep your cash benefits and Medicare while you test your
ability to work. For example, there is a trial work
period during which you can receive full benefits
regardless of how much you earn, as long as you report
your work activity and continue to have a disabling
impairment.
The
trial work period continues until you accumulate nine
months (not necessarily consecutive) in which you
perform what we call "services" within a rolling
60-month period. We consider your work to be "services"
if you earn more than $700 a month in 2009. For
2008, this amount was $670.
After
the trial work period ends, your benefits will stop for
months your earnings are at a level we consider
"substantial," currently $980 in 2009. For 2008, this
amount was $940. Different amounts apply to people
who are disabled because of blindness. The
monthly substantial amount for statutorily blind
individuals for 2009 is $1,640; for 2008 this amount was
$1,570.
For an additional 36 months after completing the trial
work period, we can start your benefits again if your
earnings fall below the "substantial" level and you
continue to have a disabling impairment. For more
information about work incentives, we recommend that you
read the leaflet, Working
While Disabled-How We Can Help
(SSA Publication Number 05-10095).
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-
What is the
difference between Social Security disability and SSI
disability? -
The
Social Security Administration is responsible for two
major programs that provide benefits based on
disability: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI),
which is based on prior work under Social Security, and
Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Under SSI,
payments are made on the basis of financial need.
Social
Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is financed with
Social Security taxes paid by workers, employers, and
self-employed persons. To be eligible for a Social
Security benefit, the worker must earn sufficient
credits based on taxable work to be "insured" for Social
Security purposes. Disability benefits are payable
to blind or disabled workers, widow(er)s, or adults
disabled since childhood, who are otherwise eligible.
The amount of the monthly disability benefit is based on
the Social Security earnings record of the insured
worker.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a program financed
through general revenues. SSI disability benefits
are payable to adults or children who are disabled or
blind, have limited income and resources, meet the
living arrangement requirements, and are otherwise
eligible. The monthly payment varies up to the
maximum federal benefit rate, which may be supplemented
by the State or decreased by countable income and
resources. See Understanding
Supplemental Security Income for
an explanation of SSI benefit payment rates.
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-
Can I receive
Social Security benefits and SSI? -
You
may be able to receive SSI in addition to monthly Social
Security benefits, if your Social Security benefit is
low enough to qualify.
Meanwhile, the amount of your SSI benefit depends on
where you live. The basic SSI check is the same
nationwide. Effective January 2009, the SSI payment for
an eligible individual is $674 per month and $1,011 per
month for an eligible couple. However, many states add
money to the basic check. Generally, the more income you
have, the less your SSI benefit will be. If your
countable income is over the allowable limit, you cannot
receive SSI benefits. Some of your income may not count
as income for the SSI program, however. For example, the
first $20 per month of your Social Security benefits may
be excluded in determining your eligibility to SSI.
Following is a list of some States that supplement the
basic SSI amount with a link to more information about
that State:
If
you get SSI, you also may be able to get other help from
your state or county. For example, you may be able to
get Medicaid, food stamps, or some other social
services. For information about all the services
available in your community, call your local social
services department or public welfare office.
For complete information on the
eligibility requirements for SSI, you should read
Supplemental Security Income.
You can apply for Social Security
benefits online. However, you cannot apply for SSI
online. To do so, call our toll-free number,
1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit your
local Social Security office.
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-
Do disabled
children qualify for benefits? -
There
are two Social Security disability programs that include
disabled children.
Under
the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, a child
from birth to age 18 may receive monthly payments based
on disability or blindness if:
Under
the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program,
an adult child (a person age 18 or older) may receive
monthly benefits based on disability or blindness if:
-
He or she has an impairment or
combination of impairments that meets the definition
of disability for adults;
and
- the
disability began before age 22; and
- the
adult child's parent worked long enough to be
insured under Social Security and is receiving
retirement or disability benefits or is deceased.
Under both of these programs, the child must not be
doing any "substantial"
work, and must have a
medical condition that has lasted or is expected either
to last for at least 12 months or to result in death.
You will find helpful links to the online forms and the
steps you need to take to apply for childhood disability
benefits at
www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability.
At this time, you cannot complete an application for SSI
childhood disability online, but you can complete the Child
Disability Report Form
online. You can also view the Fact Sheet and Checklist
in the Child
Disability Starter Kit to
see what information you will need and the kinds of
questions we will ask when you have your disability
interview in your local Social Security office or over
the phone. The Disability Report asks for information
about the child's conditions or impairments.
Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit your
local Social Security office right away so that you do
not lose potential benefits, even if you complete the Disability
Report Form online.
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-
How long does
it take to get notified of a decision about disability
benefits? -
The
length of time it takes to receive a decision on your
disability claim is from 3 to 5 months. It can vary
depending on several factors, but primarily on:
- the
nature of your disability;
- how
quickly we obtain medical evidence from your doctor
or other medical source;
-
whether it is necessary to send you for a medical
examination in order to obtain evidence to support
your claim; and
- If
your claim is randomly selected for quality
assurance review of the decision.
If you
have further questions, you may call our toll-free
number, 1-800-772-1213 or TTY 1-800-325-0778. Our
representatives will be glad to help you in any way they
can.
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-
Is there a time
limit on Social Security disability benefits? -
No. Your disability benefits will continue as long as
your medical condition has not improved and you cannot
work. Your case
will be reviewed at regular intervals to make sure you
are still disabled.
If
you are still receiving disability benefits when you reach
full retirement age,
they will automatically be converted to retirement
benefits.
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-
Do disability
benefits change once I turn full retirement age? -
When you
reach full retirement age, nothing will change, except
for Social Security purposes, your benefits will be
called retirement benefits instead of disability
benefits. You do not need to take any action.
Starting
with the month you reach full retirement age, you will
get your benefits with no limit on your earnings.
What
is Your Full Retirement Age?
|
Year of Birth |
Full RetirementAge |
|
1937 or earlier |
65 |
|
1938 |
65
and 2 months |
|
1939 |
65
and 4 months |
|
1940 |
65
and 6 months |
|
1941 |
65
and 8 months |
|
1942 |
65
and 10 months |
|
1943--1954 |
66 |
|
1955 |
66
and 2 months |
|
1956 |
66
and 4 months |
|
1957 |
66
and 6 months |
|
1958 |
66
and 8 months |
|
1959 |
66
and 10 months |
|
1960 and later |
67 |
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-
Why is there a
five-month waiting period for Social Security disability
benefits? -
The five month waiting period ensures that during the
early months of disability, we do not pay benefits to
persons who do not have long-term disabilities.
Social Security disability benefits can be paid only
after you have been disabled continuously throughout a
period of five full calendar months. Therefore, Social
Security disability benefits will be paid beginning
with the sixth full month after the date your disability
began. You are not entitled to benefits for any
month in the waiting period.
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-
Will I
automatically get Medicare benefits if I get disability
benefits? -
We will
automatically enroll you in Medicare after you get
disability benefits for two years. (Note:
Residents of Puerto Rico or foreign countries will not
receive Part B automatically. They must elect this
benefit.) We start counting the 24 months from the
month you were entitled to receive Disability, not the
month when you received your first check.
People
with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's
disease) get Medicare beginning with the month they
become entitled to disability benefits.
Medicare
has two parts - hospital insurance and medical
insurance. Hospital insurance helps pay hospital bills
and some follow-up care. The taxes you paid while you
were working financed this coverage, so it's premium
free. The other part of Medicare, medical insurance,
helps pay doctors' bills and other services. You will
pay a monthly premium for this coverage if you want it.
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-
I receive
disability and my condition has worsened. Can my benefit
be increased? -
No. Your
Social Security disability benefit is based on the
amount of your lifetime earnings before your disability
began and not the degree or severity of your disability.
For more information go to: www.socialsecurity.gov/dibplan/dapproval2.htm.
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-
What is the
earliest age that I can receive Disability benefits?
-
There is
no minimum age as long as you meet the very strict
social security definition of disability. But to qualify
for disability benefits you must have worked long and
recently enough under Social Security to earn the
required number of work credits. You can earn up to a
maximum of four work credits each year. The amount of
earnings required for a credit increases each year as
general wage levels rise.
The
number of work credits you need for disability benefits
depends on your age when you become disabled.
The
rules for how much work you need to qualify for
disability benefits are as follows:
Before
age 24--You may qualify if you have 6 credits earned in
the 3-year period ending when your disability starts.
Age 24
to 31--You may qualify if you have credit for working
half the time between age 21 and the time you become
disabled. For example, if you become disabled at age 27,
you would need credit for 3 years of work (12 credits)
out of the past 6 years (between ages 21 and 27).
Age 31
or older--In general, you need to have the number of
work credits shown in the chart below. Unless you are
blind, you must have earned at least 20 of the credits
in the 10 years immediately before you became disabled.
Born after 1929,
Become Disabled At Age |
Number of Credits You Need |
|
31 through 42
|
20
|
|
44
|
22
|
|
46
|
24
|
|
48
|
26
|
|
50
|
28
|
|
52
|
30
|
|
54
|
32
|
|
56
|
34
|
|
58
|
36
|
|
60
|
38
|
|
62 or older
|
40
|
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-
How do
workers' compensation payments affect my disability
benefits? -
Disability payment you receive from workers'
compensation and/or another public disability payment
may reduce your and your family's Social Security
benefits.
Your
Social Security disability benefit will be reduced so
that the combined amount of the Social Security benefit
you and your family receive plus your workers'
compensation payment and/or public disability payment
does not exceed 80 percent of your average current
earnings. (Note that the unreduced benefit amount is
counted for income tax purposes.)
A workers' compensation payment is
one that is made to a worker because of a job-related
injury or illness. It may be paid by federal or state
workers' compensation agencies, employers, or insurance
companies on behalf of employers.
Public disability (PDB) payments that may affect your
Social Security benefit are those paid under a federal,
state, or local government law or plan. A PDB is
not usually based on a work-related disability.
They differ from workers' compensation because the
disability that the worker has may not be job-related.
Examples are civil service disability benefits, state
temporary disability benefits, and state or local
government retirement benefits which are based on
disability.
For more information, see
How Worker's Compensation And
Other Disability Payments May Affect Your Benefits (SSA
Publication No. 05-10018).
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-
Can a person
with a terminal illness qualify for disability benefits?
-
Yes. The
requirements for disability benefits are the same for a
person with a potentially terminal illness as for a
person with a non-terminal illness.
We make
every effort to identify a case involving a person with
a potentially terminal illness as early in the claims
process as possible and we have special procedures we
follow to process the claim as quickly as possible. We
may become aware of the potentially terminal illness
through statements from the person claiming disability,
or from the person’s friend, family member, doctor or
other medical source. Or there may be an allegation or
diagnosis of AIDS, or indications that the person is
registered in a Medicare-designated hospice or is
receiving hospice care. Regardless of the
potentially terminal illness or how we learn about it,
we tightly control the case throughout the claims
process and make special efforts to assist the person in
providing necessary evidence.
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-
How many
credits are required to be eligible for disability?
-
The
number of work credits you need to qualify for
disability benefits depends on your age when you become
disabled. Also, the credits must have been earned
within a certain time period. Generally, you need 20
credits earned in the last 10 years, ending with the
year you become disabled.
Younger
workers may qualify with fewer credits. For
example:
- A
worker who becomes disabled before age 24 needs to
have earned six credits in the three-year period
ending when disability starts.
- A
worker who becomes disabled between age 24 to age 31
needs to have credits for half the time between age
21 and the time disability starts. If disability
starts at age 27, the worker would need credit for
three years of work (12 credits)) out of the past
six years between age 21 and age 27.
For additional information, we recommend that you read
our publication, Disability
(SSA Publication No.05-10029).
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Information provided by
Social Security Online.
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