Do You Qualify for 
Disability or SSI?

   Most people are aware that the Social Security Administration is a part of the federal government and that it pays older, retired people monthly checks. What you may not realize, however, is that the Social Security Administration also issues monthly checks to disabled children and disabled adults less than 62 years of age.

Social Security's Definition of Disability

   In order to be eligible for Social Security disability, you must be "disabled." For Social Security purposes, a person is "disabled" if he/she has a medical problem that prevents that person from working. In addition, the medical problem must be severe enough that it will last at least a year.

   As a practical matter, Social Security disability is primarily about a person's ability to work. Stated another way, in order to prove that you are disabled, you often need to prove that you cannot work even a simple, unskilled job. For example, imagine yourself working as an packer, where you sit at a table and pack items in a box; imagine yourself as a cashier at a parking lot; imagine yourself as a nighttime security system monitor. Could you perform one of these very simple, low stress, low exertion jobs 8 hours a day, 5 days a week?

   As you might expect, you cannot simply walk into a Social Security office, announce that you are "disabled" and start collecting checks.  In the disability system, you, as the claimant, have to prove that you meet Social Security's definition of disability.

   Social Security's disability claim evaluation process has evolved into a complex and often confusing system that involves multiple levels of appeals and review.  This web site was created to help you better understand the process and to link you to qualified and experienced lawyers who can identify and gather evidence to prove to Social Security that you cannot work and are deserving of benefits.

Title II Disability vs. Title XVI SSI

   Your lawyer can also help determine whether you are eligible for Title II "Disability" or Title XVI SSI.   These two disability programs are very different in that Disability usually pays more and is based on your work history over the past 10 years.  SSI, by contrast, is a welfare program that will pay no more than $564 per month (2004 numbers).

   In general, Disability will pay more and you do not have to worry about offsets to your payment arising from family support or other welfare programs.  

   In order to collect Disability, you have to be "insured" by having enough work credit hours over the past 10 years (you generally need to show work activity for 5 out of the last 10 years).  The calculations are slightly different for younger workers.