The Players 

• SSA District Office – claims representatives take applications and appeals, make decisions on non-disability issues.
• Disability Determination Services – state agency under contract with SSA- lay disability examiners and DDS doctors develop evidence and make the disability determination.
• Office of Disability Adjudication and Review- Administrative Law Judges.
• Appeals Council – In Falls Church VA

What is SSDI?

SSDI is a Social Security insurance program that pays a monthly cash benefit to people who are:

• Disabled = same definition of disability as with SSI

• Insured = worked and earned enough Social Security credits by paying PICA taxes.
  For most adults, this means working for about 5 of the last 10 years before becoming disabled.

 SSDI has no income or asset limits.         

 SSDI Overview

• Benefits are payable after application is filed beginning 5 months after the onset date but not more than 1 year prior to the date of application.
• Since December 1, 1996, must have lawful presence status to receive SSDI

Social Security Insurance Benefits Overview  

• Retirement Insurance Benefits available to insured workers at retirement age.
• Dependants and Survivors benefits are available to certain close relatives of insured deceased wage earners or of insured wage earners eligible for SSDI or RSI.
• Social Security Insurance benefits sometimes called Title II benefits.
• SSU pays monthly cash benefit depending upon the recipient’s categorical status and living arrangement.
• The maximum monthly payment is set each January by the Social Security Administration.  
• Earliest possible payment dates is the first of the month after the month of application.
• Medicaid coverage is awarded automatically upon the award of disability and payments status.  

SSI Eligibility  

• Residence in the U.S. for 30 days. 
• Citizen and/or alien status requirements for benefits payable after December 1, 1996.

 SSI Income Rules

 Types of Income:   

• Earned = from employment.
• Unearned = from other sources, SSDI, alimony, pension, inheritance.
• Deeming = counting portion of someone as SSI recipient’s.
• In-Kind = shelter or food received free or at reduce cost.  

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