WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY (SSD) AND SSI.
THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION HAS TWO DISABILITY PROGRAMS: SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY (SSD) AND SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI).
THE STANDARD FOR DISABILITY IS THE SAME IN BOTH THE SSD AND SSI PROGRAMS. HOWEVER, THE OTHER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR SSD AND SSI ARE MUCH DIFFERENT.
SSD IS AN INSURANCE PROGRAM. TO BE ELIGIBLE, YOU FIRST HAVE TO BE INSURED. GENERALLY, YOU DO THIS BY WORKING FIVE OF THE LAST TEN YEARS ON THE BOOKS MEANING THAT YOU PAID PAYROLL TAXES. THEN IF YOU APPLY AND ARE FOUND DISABLED, YOU WILL RECEIVE MONTHLY CASH BENEFITS. AFTER RECEIVING BENEFITS FOR TWO YEARS, YOU WILL ALSO BE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICARE.
IN SOME CASES YOUR DEPENDENTS, I.E., YOUR CHILDREN, SPOUSE AND PARENTS MAY ALSO BE ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS THROUGH YOU.
THE AMOUNT OF SSD YOU GET DEPENDS ON THE AMOUNT OF PAYROLL TAXES YOU PAID OVER THE YEARS. THE AVERAGE MONTHLY SSD BENEFIT IS AROUND $1,200 WITH THE MAXIMUM SSD BENEFIT OVER $3,000.
YOUR DEPENDENTS WILL OFTEN RECEIVE A BENEFIT THAT IS EQUAL TO HALF THE BENEFIT YOU RECEIVE. SO IF YOU RECEIVE $2,000 IN SSD YOUR DEPENDENTS MAY RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL $1,000 EACH MONTH.
SSI IS A DISABILITY PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE LIMITED INCOME AND RESOURCES. IF YOU APPLY AND ARE FOUND DISABLED, YOU WILL RECEIVE MONTHLY CASH BENEFITS AND MEDICAID. THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF SSI YOU CAN GET EACH MONTH IN NEW JERSEY IN 2020 IS $814. THIS AMOUNT WILL BE REDUCED OR POSSIBLY ELIMINATED IF YOU HAVE OTHER INCOME.
GENERALLY, TO BE FOUND DISABLED IN EITHER THE SSD OR SSI PROGRAM, YOU HAVE TO SHOW THAT YOU HAVE HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT CREATE LIMITATIONS THAT PREVENT YOU FROM DOING ANY FULL-TIME JOB IN THE NATIONAL ECONOMY. HOWEVER, IN SOME CASES IT IS EASIER TO BE FOUND DISABLED IF YOU ARE 50 OR OLDER. YOU CAN BE FOUND DISABLED DUE TO MANY TYPES OF HEALTH PROBLEMS INCLUDING PHYSICAL ONES LIKE ARTHRITIS, MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS, BREATHING ISSUES, SEIZURES, AND MENTAL RETARDATION.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT US AT (732) 228-7996.
NOTE: THIS ABOVE IS A VERY BRIEF OVERVIEW OF SSD AND SSI. THERE ARE MANY EXCEPTIONS THAT WERE NOT NOTED. YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY BEFORE MAKING ANY FINAL DECISIONS REGARDING APPLYING FOR SSD OR SSI.