The Social Security Administration (“SSA”) offers a
variety of benefit programs to help retirees, the disabled and the survivors
left-behind after a family member’s death. While these programs are not
designed to replace a working income in entirety, these programs provide some
financial relief, and often health insurance, to individuals who qualify.
People are most familiar with the retirement
benefits available through the SSA. These benefits are available to individuals
who have paid into SSA’s retirement system. Approximately 96% of American
workers pay into SSA’s retirement program. Generally speaking, you must have
worked ten years to qualify for SSA retirement. It does not matter when this
work was performed, as retirement benefits do not expire. Your retirement rate
is dependent on how much you have paid into the system. For 2015, the maximum retirement
rate that an individual can receive is $2,663. Individuals can collect a
reduced retirement rate at 62 years of age. Full retirement age varies from
person to person. If you were born between 1943 to 1954, your full retirement
age is 66. Workers who reach full retirement age are also eligible for
Medicare.
The SSA also provides Social Security Disability benefits
to disabled workers. Often referred to as SSDI, Social Security Disability
benefits are calculated based on what you have paid into the Social Security
system. You must have worked a sufficient amount of quarters to be entitled to
these benefits. There is a 5 month waiting period from the onset date of
disability that must toll before you are entitled to these benefits. After you
have been found disabled for a full 24 months on a Title II application, you
will also receive Medicare benefits. The maximum amount of retroactive benefits
you can receive in regards to a Title II claim, is one year prior to the
initial application date. Unlike retirement benefits, SSDI benefits do expire.
The SSA also offers a “needs-based” program called
Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”). To qualify, your countable resources
cannot exceed more than $2000 as an individual and $3000 as a couple. Owning
one automobile, one house and one wedding ring will not disqualify you from
this program. The Federal payment amount is $733 for an eligible individual and
$ 1100 for an eligible couple for the year 2015. There is no waiting period for
Supplemental Security Income as is required for Social Security Disability
benefits. Supplemental Security eligibility also entitles you to Medi-Cal in
the state of California, sometimes referred to as Medicaid in other states. The
earliest benefits can begin in a SSI case is from the date of application.
A fourth type of benefit that the SSA offers is
Children’s Insurance benefits (“CIB”). To be entitled to CIB, you must be 18
years or older. The onset of disability must have been prior to your 22nd
birthday. You cannot have done any “significant” work following your 22nd
birthday. You cannot be married to receive this benefit unless you are married
to another individual entitled to this benefit. An application is based on the
work record of either one of your parents who is deceased, retired or disabled
and your parent must have met the Administration’s earnings requirements. You
may never receive more than 80% of your parent’s prior estimated income
amounts.
The SSA also offers Disabled Widow’s or Widower’s
benefits. To qualify, you must be 50 years of age. You are eligible for
Disabled Widow’s or Widower’s benefits even if you are not disabled once you
reach the age of 60. If you were still married when your spouse’s death
occurred, you would have had to have been married for at least 9 months. If you
were divorced at the time of death, you would have to prove that you were
married to the decedent for at least 10 years. The onset of your disability
must have started no later than 7 years after the insured died or 7 years after
the you were last entitled to your mother’s or father’s benefits or to Disabled
Widow or Widower’s benefits based upon a disability. Similar to SSDI, Disabled
Widow’s or Widower’s benefits are also subject to a 5 month waiting
period.
Finally, the SSA offers benefits
to a decedent’s loved ones in certain circumstances. Referred to as Survivor’s
benefits, eligibility is dependent on the relationship the survivor had with
the decedent. Widows or widower’s, divorcees, children, stepchildren, adopted
children, grandchildren, and parents who are dependent on the deceased for at
least half of their support can potentially qualify for these benefits
depending on the circumstances. To determine eligibility, you must notify the
SSA of the death of your loved one. Typically, the funeral director will notify
the SSA of a person’s death directly. The SSA will also want to see a death
certificate as formal proof.
As you can
see, the SSA administers many programs in addition to retirement benefits.
Please keep in mind that even if you meet the definition of several programs,
SSA does offset its various entitlement programs. For instance, you cannot
qualify for both retirement and SSDI. SSA will simply pay you the higher rate
of the benefit program you are eligible for. In spite of these offsets, the SSA
is a helpful resource for individuals going through various transitions in
their lives. The various programs available through the SSA promise some sense
of economic security to the disabled and the sick.
Our firm’s lawyers can answer
questions regarding the disability programs administered through the SSA.
Please call us at 800-459-3017 or e-mail us at megan@westcoastdisability.com with
your questions.
