What Is Social Security Disability?

When Social Security Disability benefits first became available in 1937, the average American worker earned about $500 a year. The average monthly benefit was just $23. Today, the average monthly benefit is about $1,200. This means that after paying taxes and premiums, the average recipient of Social Security Disability benefits receives more than 40 percent of their pre-disability income.

Social Security Disability benefits are meant to cover your basic needs while you're recovering from a disability. They are not meant to replace your pre-disability income. For many recipients, Social Security Disability is the only source of income. Social Security Disability can be very confusing to those who have never received them before. In this article, we'll discuss what is Social Security Disability, and how to apply for it.

How Does the Government Pay for Social Security Disability?

Social Security Disability benefits are paid through payroll deductions from workers' paychecks. The money is then paid directly to the person receiving the benefits. If a worker is unable to work because of a disability, the worker's employer is required to deduct money from the worker's paycheck to cover the Social Security Disability benefit. This is called a "deduction".

If the worker is entitled to Social Security Disability benefits, the employer must make a monthly deduction from the worker's check. This monthly deduction is taken out of the worker's salary.

When a worker applies for Social Security Disability, the worker must provide the government with information about his or her previous employment and income. This includes information about any earnings the worker had during the previous year. The worker must also provide information about the amount of Social Security Disability benefits he or she has received.

If the worker is already receiving Social Security Disability benefits, the government uses this information to calculate how much the worker is owed in additional benefits. The worker's previous earnings are considered when calculating how much of the worker's future Social Security Disability benefits will come out of his or her paycheck.

The government also determines whether the worker is eligible for any other types of benefits.

Who Can Qualify for Social Security Disability?

To qualify for Social Security Disability, you must meet one of two requirements.

First, you must be totally disabled. The Social Security Administration defines total disability as follows:

• You are unable to do your past relevant work.

• You are unable to do any other kind of work.

• Your condition does not improve with treatment.

You must be unable to do any work, regardless of the type of work.

Second, you must be under the age of 65. The Social Security Administration defines retirement age as age 62. The age of 65 is the age at which most people receive their Social Security benefits.

If you are between the ages of 55 and 64, you must have worked for at least ten years in order to qualify for Social Security Retirement benefits.

If you have worked for fewer than ten years, you may still qualify for Social Security Retirement benefits. The length of time you worked does not affect your eligibility.

If you are younger than 55, you must have worked for at least 20 years in order to qualify for Social Security Retirement benefits.

If you are younger than 50, you must have worked for at least 30 years in order to qualify for Social Security Retirement benefits.

For Social Security Disability, the age requirement is not as strict. If you are under the age of 50, you only need to have worked for a total of 15 years.

What If I Do Not Have Ten Years of Work History?

If you have not worked for ten years, or if you are older than 50, the Social Security Administration will consider your work history. If you are over the age of 50, the Social Security Administration will consider the number of years you worked as an adult before reaching the age of 18.

The Social Security Administration considers the following factors when determining your work history:

• How much money you made working.

• The length of time you worked.

• The type of work you did.

• Where you lived.

• Whether or not you went to school.

• Whether or not you were in the military.

If you were an illegal alien, or if you were not a U.S. citizen, the Social Security Administration will consider how long you were in the country.

Your work history affects your eligibility for Social Security Disability benefits. If you worked less than 10 years, or if you are over the age of 50, the Social Security Administration will consider how much money you made, the length of time you worked, the type of work you did, where you lived, and whether you went to school.

If you worked more than ten years, but less than 20 years, the Social Security Administration will consider the number of years you worked as an adult before reaching the age of 18. If you worked less than ten years as an adult, the Social Security Administration will consider how much money you made working.

If you worked 20 years, but less than 30 years, the Social Security Administration will consider the number of years you worked as an adult before reaching the age of 18. If you worked more than 30 years, the Social Security Administration will consider the number of years you worked as an adult before reaching the age of 18.