Social Security disability is an insurance policy - just as certain as your homeowners, auto insurance or hospitalization plan is insurance. Like all insurance, you pay a premium to be covered. You have a "policy" that defines what benefits you may receive under what conditions. The insurance coverage has a "term," that is, a start date and end date.
Here are some important points to keep in mind concerning Social Security disability benefits:
Premiums (the cost of disability insurance) are paid by most workers in the United States. These premiums are called FICA taxes and are deducted from each payroll check you earn. Your employer must match the amount of tax you pay. So, you pay to be covered by Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)--just as certain as you pay to be covered by your homeowners or auto insurance policies.
The Policy, the document that describes your benefits and the conditions under which you may receive benefits, is more complicated than most insurance policies. The "policy" is really the Social Security Act with all its amendments, the 20 Code of Federal Regulations (Parts 400 to 499), and all the other federal laws and regulations Congress has passed related to Social Security. These regulations are quite complex.
The Start Date of your coverage is the date you have earned enough "quarters of coverage" to be insured. Most people who have worked at least 5 out of the most recent 10 years are covered. Some younger workers may be covered with less work credits.
The End Date for Social Security disability coverage is called "the Date Last Insured" or DLI. When an individual stops working, they remain insured for a period of time. Then, because they no longer pay FICA taxes, their coverage may cease. After the Date Last Insured, an individual has no insurance and cannot file a new claim.
Sometimes, media pieces, such as the recent 60 Minutes piece on CBS, treats Social Security disability as a welfare program. It is not welfare because each worker has paid into the system for all their working years. Workers were required by law to buy the Social Security disability insurance and pay the FICA tax each year they worked. There was no way to "opt out" for most people. Therefore, filing a disability claim under Social Security is no more unusual than filing a claim under your auto insurance policy when you have an accident or filing a claim on your homeowners policy if your home is damaged. I might point out, also, that the US Government sets both the premiums (FICA tax) rates and the terms and conditions under which you may get benefits.
The reason we purchase insurance is to protect us when we have a condition that qualifies us for a benefit. Individuals should not feel guilty, then, when they pay their premiums for years then find that they qualify for a benefit promised under their Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
Here are some important points to keep in mind concerning Social Security disability benefits:
Premiums (the cost of disability insurance) are paid by most workers in the United States. These premiums are called FICA taxes and are deducted from each payroll check you earn. Your employer must match the amount of tax you pay. So, you pay to be covered by Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)--just as certain as you pay to be covered by your homeowners or auto insurance policies.
The Policy, the document that describes your benefits and the conditions under which you may receive benefits, is more complicated than most insurance policies. The "policy" is really the Social Security Act with all its amendments, the 20 Code of Federal Regulations (Parts 400 to 499), and all the other federal laws and regulations Congress has passed related to Social Security. These regulations are quite complex.
The Start Date of your coverage is the date you have earned enough "quarters of coverage" to be insured. Most people who have worked at least 5 out of the most recent 10 years are covered. Some younger workers may be covered with less work credits.
The End Date for Social Security disability coverage is called "the Date Last Insured" or DLI. When an individual stops working, they remain insured for a period of time. Then, because they no longer pay FICA taxes, their coverage may cease. After the Date Last Insured, an individual has no insurance and cannot file a new claim.
Sometimes, media pieces, such as the recent 60 Minutes piece on CBS, treats Social Security disability as a welfare program. It is not welfare because each worker has paid into the system for all their working years. Workers were required by law to buy the Social Security disability insurance and pay the FICA tax each year they worked. There was no way to "opt out" for most people. Therefore, filing a disability claim under Social Security is no more unusual than filing a claim under your auto insurance policy when you have an accident or filing a claim on your homeowners policy if your home is damaged. I might point out, also, that the US Government sets both the premiums (FICA tax) rates and the terms and conditions under which you may get benefits.
The reason we purchase insurance is to protect us when we have a condition that qualifies us for a benefit. Individuals should not feel guilty, then, when they pay their premiums for years then find that they qualify for a benefit promised under their Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
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