At Fri, 17 Jan 2003, Jean wrote:
> >http://www.ssa.gov/ > >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