Disability FAQs

Get the Assistance You Need!

Get Started! Register for the free upcoming disability webinar – “Applying for Disability: The When, Why and How” Wednesday, June 17, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT. Visit the Social Security Disability section of PHA’s Online Insurance Guide.

Applying for disability can seem like an intimidating process. Many people believe that the Social Security Administration (SSA) will turn you down a few times before you get approved, but this is not true. Thirty percent of applicants get approved on their initial application, and the more you understand about the process, the better your chances are of being in this 30 percent.

What is Social Security Disability?
Social Security Disability (SSD) is essentially an insurance plan that helps to cover medical expenses when you are unable to work. The benefits paid to SSD recipients come from money acquired via Social Security payroll taxes (FICA).

Is Social Security Disability (SSD) the same thing as Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?
No. SSD is an earned benefit that pays you and certain members of your family if you are “insured,” meaning that you have worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes. Generally, you need 40 work credits, 20 of which were earned in the last 10 years, ending with the year you became disabled. Young workers, however, may qualify with fewer credits.

SSI, on the other hand, is a cash benefit for people with low income and who are disabled, blind or over 65 years old. Additionally, SSI is financed by general taxes collected by the federal government and is available to anyone regardless of work history.

Do I qualify for disability benefits?
In order to qualify for SSD benefits, you must meet both an earning and disability requirement:

• Earning requirement: Because SSD pulls from money acquired via payroll taxes, to receive benefits you must have worked jobs where you paid into Social Security payroll taxes (FICA) over a period of time.
• Disability requirement: You must also have a medical condition that meets the SSA's definition of disability. Social Security pays only for total disability, defined by your inability to work. The SSA considers you disabled if you cannot do work that you did before and cannot adjust to other work because of your medical condition(s). Additionally, your disability must last, or be expected to last, for at least one year, or to result in death.

How do I apply?
You should apply for disability benefits as soon as you become disabled. It can take a long time to process an application for benefits (three to five months depending on your state). Contact Caring Voice Coalition (CVC) – www.CaringVoice.org or 1-888-267-1440 – to request free disability assistance. CVC’s patient advocates can assist you with everything from gathering the necessary documents to representing you in court.