Disability benefits are payments people receive as a result of a health problem or disability. The sources of these payments may include workers' compensation, companies or unions, federal government, military, state or local governments, railroad retirement, accident or disability insurance, Black Lung payments, and state temporary sickness, in addition to other disability payments such as Social Security. Some of the states in U.S. have passed legislation requiring employers to provide disability benefits to employees for nonoccupational injuries. The Social Security Administration operates two disability benefits programs. Social Security Disability Insurance program pays benefits to the person with disabilities and certain family members if the insured person has paid social security taxes, while Supplemental Security Income program is designed to pay benefits based on financial needs and is funded by general tax revenues. Social Security has devised elaborate procedures to evaluate eligibility for benefits. People with disabilities can apply for Social Security disability benefits either online at www.socialsecurity.gov or by calling the toll-free number: 1-800-772-1213. Social Security disability benefits start on sixth full month after the date of disability, upon approval. The amount of disability benefits is calculated from the average lifetime earnings. The family members eligible for Social Security disability benefits are a spouse sixty-two or older; spouse of any age caring for a child sixteen or younger or disabled; unmarried child including adopted child eighteen or younger; and an unmarried child eighteen or older impaired with disability that started before age twenty-two. People receiving benefits from Supplemental Security Income program of Social Security are also eligible for Medicaid and food stamps. People receiving disability benefits for twenty-four months become eligible for Medicare. |
