http://www.ssa.gov/dibplan/dqualify2.htm
http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/AdultListings.htm
How Much Work Do You Need? In addition to meeting our definition of disability, you must have worked long enough--and recently enough--under Social Security to qualify for disability benefits.
Social Security work credits are based on your total yearly wages or self-employment income. You can earn up to four credits each year. The amount needed for a credit changes from year to year. In 2002, for example, you earn one credit for each $870 of wages or self-employment income. When you've earned $3,480, you've earned your four credits for the year. For 2003, the amount for one credit increases to $890 and to $3,560 for the maximum four credits.
The number of work credits you need to qualify for disability benefits depends on your age when you become disabled. Generally, you need 40 credits, 20 of which were earned in the last 10 years ending with the year you insured under the Act, the child of an insured worker, or the widow, widower, or surviving divorced spouse of an insured worker. To be insured as a worker, you must have earned a minimum number of credits from work covered under Social Security. (The required number of credits varies depending on your age at the time you became disabled. Generally you need 20 credits earned in the last 10 years ending with the year you became disabled. However, younger workers may qualify with fewer credits.) Family members who qualify for benefits on your work record do not need workbecome disabled. However, younger workers may qualify with fewer credits.
IMPORTANT: Remember that whatever your age is, you must have earned the required number of work credits within a certain period ending with the time you become disabled. Your Social Security Statement shows whether you meet the work requirement at the time it was prepared. If you stop working under Social Security after the date of the Statement, you may not continue to meet the disability work requirement in the future.
The Social Security Administration is responsible for two major programs that provide benefits based on disability. For most people, the medical requirements for disability payments are the same under both programs and a person's disability is determined by the same process. While eligibility for Social Security disability insurance (SSIDI) benefits is based on prior work under Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability payments are made on the basis of financial need. And there are other differences in the eligibility rules for the two programs.
The Social Security Disability Insurance program pays benefits to you if you are a disabled or blind worker credits.
The Supplemental Security Income program provides monthly payments to you based on disability or blindness if you have limited income and resources. Under this program we also pay children under age 18 who are disabled or blind and have limited income and resources. SSI payments are funded through general tax revenues. You can be eligible for SSI even if you have never worked or paid taxes under FICA. How much you get depends on where you live. Generally, to be eligible for SSI payments you must be a U.S. citizen or meet certain requirements for non-citizens.
The basic SSI amount is the same nationwide. Effective January 2003, the SSI payment is $552 a month for an eligible individual and $829 a month for an eligible couple. However, many states add money to the basic benefit. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213 to find out the amounts for your state. People who get SSI usually get food stamps and Medicaid, too. Medicaid helps pay doctor and hospital bills.
If Karla (ifirgit@yahoo.com) is around she could probably help you more than me because she worked for Social Security.
JEAN