SSD Benefits: Aid to the Disabled

The Social Security Act was begun in 1935 by President Franklin Roosevelt in order to provide relief through social insurance and welfare programs to workers unable to work because of a disability.  The programs are federally funded with taxes paid by both employers and employees to ensure the country’s workers would have something to rely on in their time of need.
               

There are various programs under Social Security, or the OASDI program, as it’s also known.  Within these various programs, various benefits are given to assist those who meet requirements of being disabled.  Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, is a monthly payment to supplement the income that is lost due to a disability.  This amount varies depending on the state the claimant is in, whether the claimant is already getting other assistance such as Worker’s Compensation, and how much has been earned from work in the past.  SSDI also assists those who became disabled prior to 22 as a “child’s” benefit using the parent’s Social Security work credit.

Through the Disabled Widows and Widowers Benefits program, widows and widowers who are  between 50 and 60 years of age, have become disabled by the Social Security Administration’s definition, and became disabled prior to or within 7 years of the spouse’s death.  The spouse must have worked under Social Security since supplementary payments are derived from the Social Security earnings made by the deceased spouse.  The Disabled Adult Child Benefits program acts in the same way for children who were disabled prior to the age of 22 years old and whose parents have died. 

Supplemental Security Income is a program that assists disabled children with monthly monetary supplements as long as they are under the age of 18 and in families that fall into a low income bracket.  This program’s benefits, unlike the others, isn’t based on how much Social Security’s earning have already been made.  However, the amount given does vary as well depending on how much the family’s income is, what state the disabled child is in, and whether they are receiving other benefits. 

Other Social Security Benefits include Medicare which provides health insurance for those who are disabled and currently are receiving Social Security benefits, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program which gives health insurance aid to disabled children in families that have incomes that exceed the limit for Medicaid, and Medicaid is funded by both the federal and state governments to give medical and health-related services to those with disabilities and low income families. 

In addition, the government also provides training and discounts from resources considered when figuring the claimant’s monthly payment for items like equipment needed to work and education costs.