Social Security disability programs
The two main types of disability benefits are called Disability Insurance Benefits, or DIB, and Supplemental Security Income, or SSI. Let’s make it simple by calling them DIB and SSI. The main difference between them is that DIB requires that you have worked and paid taxes, while SSI does not require prior work or taxes paid, and is meant for people with very little money. Let’s discuss more differences between them, starting with DIB.
Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB)
- Also known as Title II (2) benefits.
- You must have worked a certain period of time and paid Social Security taxes.
- Unfortunately, for adults, there is a 5 month waiting period from the date you are approved until you receive your first payment.
- It is possible get up to 12 months of back benefit payments if you were disabled in the past.
- Medicare health insurance coverage starts 24 months after the first month for which you are entitled to receive a disability payment.
Work and Taxes to Qualify for DIB
In order to qualify for DIB, you must have worked a certain period of time before your disability started, and you also must have paid FICA taxes. FICA stands for “Federal Insurance Contribution's Act.” It's the general tax fund, which helps fund Social Security benefit programs. Paying FICA is like paying an insurance premium that you might pay for a private disability insurance policy.
If you stop working and paying taxes, after a certain amount of time, you stop being eligible for DIB. This point in time is called the “Date Last Insured,” or DLI , and is the date when eligibility for DIB runs out. DLI is determined by adding the amount of work credits you have earned through your yearly wages and income in the last five out of ten years you have worked. If your DLI date is in the past, your medical records will have to prove that your disability caused you to be unable to work prior to that date.
For more information on how work credits are determined, click on the link below
There is a five month waiting period from the date that you are approved for DIB before you will begin to receive payments. This is because Social Security assumes that people eligible for DIB have resources to cover their expenses during this five month period. If your claim is approved for DIB, you will start getting Medicare health insurance coverage twenty four months after the month you are entitled to receive benefits.
For more information about Medicare, click on the link below
Social Security Statement
For DIB benefits, if you have worked and paid taxes and are found by Social Security to be disabled, the amount of your monthly check will depend on the number of years you worked and the actual amount of taxes you paid over this time. This estimated amount is provided for you in your Social Security Statement, which is mailed automatically to you once a year about three months before your birthday. If you have not recently received this statement or have lost it, it is a good idea to request it now. Request this statement through your local Social Security office or by calling 1-800-772-1213 .
For more information about your Social Security Statement and to request it, click on the link below
After receiving a copy of your Social Security Statement, take a few minutes to look over it and make sure everything is correct, including your Social Security number, years worked, and amount earned.
If you think there is an error on your Social Security Statement, or if you have any questions about whether or not you have paid enough taxes to be insured for disability benefits, or if you have any specific questions about your potential monthly benefit check amount, ask the Social Security claims worker at the time of your application, either in person at your local Social Security Office or by phone at 1-800-772-1213 .
To find your local Social Security Office, call 1-800-772-1213 or click on the link below
Find local Social Security office
Now that I’ve discussed DIB, let's talk a little about Supplemental Security Income benefits, or SSI.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Also known as Title XVI (16) benefits.
- Is based on limited income and resources and does not require past work or taxes paid.
- There is no waiting period before benefits begin.
- Back benefit payments are not available.
- Medicaid health insurance coverage begins immediately.
While qualifying for DIB is based on how long you worked and paid taxes, SSI has nothing to do with taxes paid, and is meant for the aged, blind or disabled who have very little money. Unlike DIB, there is no waiting period before payments begin; and SSI payments for being disabled in the past are not available. With SSI payments, health insurance coverage begins immediately through Medicaid.
For more information about Medicaid, click on the link below
Qualifying for SSI based on income and resources
When applying for Social Security disability, you need to give information about your income, resources and any monthly medical bills. This information is used by Social Security to see if you qualify for SSI benefits. In order to qualify for SSI payments, you must have very little income and resources. Resources include such things as property, other than the house in which you live, savings accounts, and retirement accounts.
For more information on types of resources, click on the link below
Social Security will let you know at the time of your application if you qualify for SSI, DIB or both. If for any reason your household income or resources changes during the course of your application, you should notify your local Social Security office because this could make a difference in the amount of your monthly SSI payment or eligibility.