Representing the disabled - recovering benefits
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SSDI. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is the regular Social Security disability program for insured workers, often called Title II. By paying FICA taxes withheld from your payroll (and matched by your employer), you become covered by disability insurance from Social Security. Generally, if you have worked 5 out of the past 10 years, you are covered by Social Security disability insurance and should file a Title 2 claim--often simply called "Social Security disability insurance" or SSDI. As stated, it is also called Title 2 (II).
The amount of your monthly benefit under Title II will be based on your age and average earnings in the past. The maximum for a non-blind individual in 2014 is $2,642 per month. The average SSDI benefit in 2014 for a non-blind individual is around $1,200 per month.
You do not have to be poor or have limited financial resources to be approved for SSDI or Title 2 disability benefits. (However, you cannot be performing full-time, gainful, work). The only requirement for SSDI benefits for an insured person is to be found disabled by Social Security.
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SSI. SSI is short for Supplemental Security Income, also called Title XIV (16). SSI is also administered by the Social Security Administration. You do not have to be "insured" for SSI benefits under Title 16. It doesn't matter if you have never worked or if you have not worked in recent years. SSI is intended for individuals, including children, who are disabled and have very limited financial resources. In Alabama the 2014 maximum benefit for a non-blind individual is $721 per month and $1,082 for couples. Blind individuals can receive more benefits.
There are 2 basic qualifications that must be met for SSI benefits:
Step 1. Medical Determination. You must be judged to be disabled. The process is the same for SSI and SSDI applicants. For SSI claimants, this is just the first step.
Step 2: Financial Determination. In addition to being found disabled by Social Security, you must now show that your income and financial resources are low enough to qualify for SSI. They take into account your living arrangement (are you living alone in your own home or apartment or living with someone else)? How much money do you have in cash or in the bank? Do you own other property/things of value; investments, property (not counting your home), etc.? The maximum benefit of $721 per month may be reduced or eliminated if you have certain income or resources.
Important: Any time your bank balance reaches over $2,000 (individual) or $3,000 (couple), your SSI benefits may be terminated because you have gone over the maximum allowable resources. If your initial award is more than the maximum of $2,000, it will not disqualify you for a period of 9 months. However, your bank balance will be considered again after 9 months. If at that time you bank account is more than the allowed amount ($2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple), your SSI will be terminated because you have accumulated too much money.
SSDI (Title 2) has no such requirements.
In some instances, an applicant may qualify for concurrent benefits, that is, for both SSDI and SSI at the same time.
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