SSDI

The Social Security Administration actually administered two very different and

distinct disability programs under two separate titles of the Social Security Act.

Let's take a look at what those are. The first of them is

under Title 2. And these benefit programs are known as the

Social Security Disability Benefit Programs. These programs

were actually established in the 1950s. They include Social

Security Disability Insurance or SSDI, Childhood Disability

Benefits, or CDB, and Disabled Widow or Widower Benefits.

The programs in place under Title 2 of the Social Security Act

are social insurance programs. And that means that a person is

entitled to receive these benefits because they have insured

status. They worked in past Social Security covered employment

and have contributed into the system so that they have this

insured status. And if they become disabled, before retirement,

they are able to draw a Title 2 disability benefits.

Another way of receiving a Title 2 disability benefit, if

you're not a former worker yourself, is to be a dependent of an

individual who has insured status. These benefits are always

tied to a formal worker and that is important to keep in mind.

The purpose of the disability benefit programs under Title 2 is

to replace wages that are lost to a worker when they become

disabled and are no longer able to work at a substantial level.

So that is the first type of disability benefit. I mention

that now, because some of the individuals that you are working

with or will work with in the future probably are receiving a

Social Security disability benefit. Even if they're not

receiving one now, once they go to work and are engaged in

employment for a certain period of time, they are going to earn

insured status and begin receiving this disability benefit.

How work affects your Social Security Disability Benefit is

very different than the impact of work on SSI. I want to make

sure everyone is clear on that.

Incentives by Susan O'Mara, available online: The seminar was produced by Virginia Commonwealth University's T-TAP project funded by the Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor (Number E9-4-2-01217). The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the U.S. Department of Labor. Nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply the endorsement by the U.S. Department of Labor.