An Introduction to Disability Benefits
Social Security wants you to work if you can and want to work.
A common misconception about disability benefits, whether it’s Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income, is that you are not permitted to work and be entitled to or eligible for benefits. But having a disability does not mean that you are unable to perform every job task.
The truth is, Social Security Administration encourages you to work if you can work and if you want to work. You just have to be aware that the amount of countable earned income you receive may affect your entitlement to or eligibility for benefits, and may affect your disability benefits or the amount of supplemental income benefits you receive.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI):
Is a benefit to you if you become disabled and
- To qualify, you must have worked to meet an insured status, or
- You must have a parent or spouse who is disabled, retired, or deceased.
Supplemental Security income (SSI):
Is a needs-based program for persons with low incomes who are
- blind,
- 65 or older, or
- disabled.
For individuals with disabilities who have never worked, or those who haven’t worked long enough in recent years to qualify for SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance), SSI may be the only program available to them.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is the federal agency that regulates the criteria and policies and procedures for approval for both of these disability benefits.
SSA is an excellent resource for questions you may have about the application process and all of the nuances involved in the disability process and procedure.
Visit www.ssa.gov for Information Guides and Frequently Asked Questions about all aspects of disability benefits.
You can apply for disability benefits online!
You can complete the Medical History and Disability Report online for Supplemental Security Income but you must make an appointment to file the application itself for SSI through social security!
- It can be as easy as making an appointment to file for benefits by telephone or in person. But YOU control the information social security gets when YOU file online.
- For more application tips, check out the video below.
Video Support: if the video does not play, go to https://www.ssa.gov/hlp/video/iclaim_d01.htm.
Video Transcript
Welcome to our online disability application process. Follow these simples steps to begin. Number one: Under the “get ready” section on the “apply for benefits” page, make sure you meet the requirements to apply for benefits online and you have the information you will need to do so.
Number two: Now that you know you qualify to apply for benefits online and you have all of the information you will need to apply select the “start a new application” button to get started.
Number three: You will then be asked to agree to the terms of service agreement and create or log in to your personal “my social security” account. If we are not able to process your request, you will receive specific information on how to contact us by phone or schedule an appointment. Now you can complete the application.
Complete the application should take between one to two hours. We recommend you complete and submit your application all at once. If that is not possible, we’ll give you a re-entry number you can use to return to your saved application at any time and continue right where you left off.
If you lose your re-entry number, just log-in to your social security account and go to your benefits application section to retrieve it. If you wish to apply for benefits in a language other than English, we’ll give you the opportunity to request an appointment. If you’re filling out this application for yourself, there are four steps you need to complete.
- Step 1: Provide background information
- Step 2: Provide disability information
- Step 3: Sign medical release, and
- Step 4: View your confirmation
Please note, if you are filling out this application for someone else, you cannot electronically sign the application or receive a confirmation number. We will mail the application to the person claiming benefits along with the medical release form, also known as the authorization to disclose medical information. They will need to sign it and return it to their local social security office. Thank you for using our online disability application process, social security, securing today and tomorrow.