There are a lot of different parts of the government that can help people in need. One part in particular is the Social Security Administration (SSA). In fact, almost 70 million people in America receive benefits from SSA. That is why it is important to know what support options are available in case you may be able to benefit. The SSA has different Social Security programs to fit the needs of people with different circumstances. Since these programs are similar, they can be a bit confusing. There are three SSA programs that Americans may find most useful:
- Social Security Retirement Benefits
- Social Security Disability Insurance
- Supplemental Security Income
Social Security Retirement Benefits
How much a person can receive through this program varies on age and credits. Social Security retirement benefits can only go to people that are at the minimum age of 62 and also have enough Social Security credits.
The more a person works, the more Social Security credits they receive. Moreover, these credits will directly impact how much a person receives through retirement benefits. Also, there’s a minimum amount of credits a person must collect to be eligible for retirement benefits which depends on the year they were born.
Let’s Talk Numbers
The maximum amount you can receive through retirement benefits is $4,194 at the age of 70. One of the most influential factors on how much a person receives is how much that person earned in their largest 35 years of earnings. This is how someone can qualify for bigger benefits:
- Retire when they are 70.
- Make the highest taxable income.
- Have at least 35 years of qualifying work history.
How Do I Apply?
To find out whether you qualify or not for the program, the SSA has a questionnaire. However, some personal information is required:
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Social security number
- Name
- Children’s names
- Financial information
- Work information
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
Unfortunately, there are many situations where people might get hurt or sick while they are employed. On top of that, in some of these cases, the injury or sickness may be an obstacle that stops them from being able to work.
The SSDI focuses on helping individuals who lost their ability to work due to these circumstances. Eligible beneficiaries may receive SSDI benefits until they reach their retirement age. After that, their SSDI benefits will switch over to their regular Social Security retirement benefits. The program comes with its own set of eligibility terms:
- Must have had a job that was covered by Social Security
- Must have a medical condition that SSA sees eligible for SSDI
Another positive to SSDI is that not only does the disabled individual qualify for its benefits but family members may also find themselves eligible for SSDI benefits. To clarify, this is a list of eligible beneficiaries includes the following:
- Children
- Disabled Children Up Until 22 Years Old
- Divorced Spouses
- Spouses
Here’s How You Can Apply for SSDI
There are five points the SSA will focus on to determine one’s eligibility for SSDI:
- Working history
- The severity of their medical condition
- Whether that medical condition is included in SSA’s eligibility list
- If the medical condition stops that person from being able to work
- If there are alternative jobs they can perform while having that medical condition
The application process for SSDI may differ from one state to another. In a general sense, there are guidelines for how the application process should go. The application can be done in person, on the phone, or online.
- The applicant should gather all the required information and documents before applying. It’s a good idea to go over the Adult Disability Checklist before handing in your application.
- SSA will go over your application, confirm all the information you provided, and make sure you meet the minimum requirements for disability benefits.
- Your application will be processed by SSA and then forwarded to the Disability Determination Services office in your state.
- The Disability Determination Services office will decide your eligibility and the benefit amount you may receive.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
The SSI program aims to help folks at the age of 65 or above that are in need of financial help. However, there is a way to qualify for SSI without being 65 years old. Those who have qualifying disabilities and prove their need for financial assistance may be eligible for SSI benefits. Although the SSI sounds similar to the SSDI, they are two different programs. Since both programs share the same list of qualifying disabilities, eligible applicants may be able to qualify for benefits from both programs.
How Can I Apply for SSI? How Much Can I Get?
Benefits through SSI are a lot lower compared to other options mentioned. The SSA limited the maximum benefits to be received through SSI to:
- $841 a month for someone who qualifies for SSI
- $421 a month for someone who takes care of an eligible SSI benefit recipient
- $1,261 for a qualifying couple
Numbers aside, the application process for SSI is similar to that for the SSDI. Since the SSI serves a wider range of qualifying applicants (both disabled folks and elderly folks), the information you may need to provide on your application may differ. So, if a person is disabled they must provide information regarding their disability. Otherwise, elderly applicants do not need to provide such information. Most importantly, applicants must make sure they meet the basic requirements for SSI applications.
Conclusion
The SSA uses Social Security money to create beneficial programs that assist people who need financial help get the help they need. Among the many programs SSA has, there are:
- Social Security Retirement Benefits
- Social Security Disability Insurance
- Supplemental Security Income
Each of these programs comes with a different set of benefits. On top of that, these programs have different eligibility requirements applicants must meet to qualify for their benefits. It’s important that you’d take the time to learn about each program and its eligibility to improve your chances of receiving those benefits.
