Navigating Disability Payments: Understanding the Key Differences
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a type of insurance which covers you if you were to become disabled before retirement age. It is a system that has been in place for many decades and is designed as a safety net. You have paid into this program all of you working life and you are entitled to its benefits.
Maria, a disability attorney in Palm Bay, Florida had this to say: “many people don’t realize all the programs they qualify for. They often don’t understand that the money taken from each and every paycheck is put into this system and they have a right to access funds should they need to. They are entitled to it.”
Just like other forms of law, civil and family law for example, disability has its very own court system. There are attorneys who specialize in Social Security and disability law. In fact, retaining the services of these attorneys doubles your chances of getting approved on your first application.
Then there is Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This program covers individuals regardless of their work history. It is basically a lifeline for millions of people who have had spotty or no work history. This includes disabled adults or children with low income/assets; doesn’t require prior work experience.
SSI is a fixed monthly income and often includes Medicaid eligibility. For example, think about a young adult born with a disability who never worked and how they might rely on SSI for basic living expenses. This is exactly who would qualify and benefit from this program.
The third kind of coverage we will discuss is Worker’s Compensation. This is offered at the state level and is meant to kick in when a worker becomes disabled either permanently or temporarily. It is essentially an emergency stop gap meant to keep a worker for going bankrupt while they deal with their medial issues. The ultimate goal, of course, would be to get the individual back to work but it is not mandatory.
It never hurts to have extra coverage. This is why you can start a private policy with an insurance company which will cover you should you become ill or injured. These programs are usually temporary (3-6 months) and are meant to help when help is needed most. A policy can be taken out for relatively low monthly payments. It is nice having the piece of mind that comes with these policies.
Knowing your rights and what you are eligible for is a key part in knowing what to do should you become unable to work. It’s important to know that these programs exist and that you are already enrolled simply for being a U.S. citizen and having a Social Security number. As they say “knowledge is power” and in this case the more informed you are about Social Security Disability the more power you have in your own life.
The Social Security website is replete with information regarding this topic. You can access it at any time and learn about all that to which you are entitled.
