SOLUTIONS
WHAT IS DISABILITIES?
Disability is the consequence of an impairment that may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental, or some combination of these.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
During the course of our lives most of us buy insurance against life’s dangers -- fires, car crashes, even death. What you may not know is that you have paid for disability insurance, too. Think of it as insurance for when your body wears out too early.
Out of almost everyone’s paycheck money is deducted for “FICA” which is a fancy name for Social Security. Part of that money, about 3 cents in every FICA tax dollar, goes for Social Security Disability Insurance. Notice that last word -- insurance. It is something you paid for; insurance for when you can’t work easily or at all anymore because of medical problems. SSDI is paid to people who have worked long enough, recently enough -- generally, half of the preceding 10 years.
SSI is paid to people with little or no income and very few assets, who may or may not have ever worked. SSI benefits are funded by general federal taxes most of us pay.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Medicare
Medicare is federally-funded health insurance for those over age 65; it is a benefit of Social Security. It is also available to individuals who have been on SSDI for 24 months. Immediate eligibility is available for some special circumstances, but usually not for mental health disabilities. For those eligible for Medicare, a monthly premium will be withheld from your monthly SSDI check.
