Is social security similar to insurance?

I think it is important to think about the social security programs for retirement and disability analagous to insurance. Over the years one has made monetary contributions to these programs under their name by paying years and years into the trust fund from payroll deductions.

For one to be entitled to retirement and/or disability benefits the wage earner must be "insured".

More to continue....

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What is the difference with Title II and Title XVI?

The government program Title II consists of DIB and RIB. What is DIB? The Disability Insurance Benefits program. What is RIB? The Retirement Insurance Benefits program.

The government program Title XVI consists of SSI? What is SSI? The Supplemental Security Income benefits program.

More to come on these programs.....

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Document, Document, Document

Keep a journal with dates where you jot down brief notes about how you feel each and every day. Record any usual activity you usually can do and for whatever reason were unable to do because of how you are feeling. Explain in your journal in detail about your condition, pain, etc. Be specific. Also make sure to include all emotional feelings as well.

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Disability Defined

Disability defined by the Social Security Administration is as follows:
you have a severe physical or mental impairment;
the impairment results in marked limitation(s);
these limitations prevent you from doing any substantial gainful work; and,
the disability is expected to last or has lasted at least 12 months, or is expected to result in death.

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Closed Period of Disability

In certain cases a claimant may have a disability that lasted a year or more and then was able to return to work. When a claimant is allowed to obtain social security disability benefits for this period of time, it is referred to as a "closed period". There are additional requirements that must be considered for benefits obtained during a closed period.

Presumptive Disability

Before a claimant's case is fully developed by Social Security, there are times whereby a temporary decision is made allowing the claim of disability. This occurs when a claimant's impairment(s) appears to be so severe that more than likely Social Security would approve the claimant's case. This is what is known as a presumptive disability.

Contact Stations

Social Security District offices and branch offices are usually located in larger towns and cities. However, many times there are "contact stations" available in more rural or smaller towns. These contact stations will have a social security representative come to the contact station from time to time (a usual scheduled time) in order to answer questions and to take a claimant's application. Claimants should schedule ahead of time an appointment with the social security representative.

Who can apply for Social Security Disability under Title II?

1. Disabled workers under the age of 65 provided they have paid sufficient social security taxes.
2. An individual who is continuously disabled since childhood (under age 22) if one of the parents who is covered under social security retires at age 62 or older, becomes disabled or dies.
3. A widower or widow who is disabled and is between the ages of 50 - 60 provided the deceased spouse was covered under social security.

Journal your condition

A good way to keep track of your disability and how it affects your daily routine and prevents you from working is to maintain a journal reflecting your condition for that day. The Journal should have a date with your entry in the journal. This includes your eating habits, sleeping habits and traveling habits. For example, if you are unable to sleep at night your journal would reflect the number of hours that you slept and the hours that you were unable to sleep.

Medically Determinable Impairment

A person must have a medically determinable impairment to qualify for social security disability benefits under either Title II or Title XVI programs. A medically determinable impairment means one that can be demonstrated by a physical or mental examination, and/or by an X-ray, laboratory tests, MRI/MRA, etc.

Impairment vs. Disability

The two words "impairment" and "disability" have distinct and different meanings. To social security, an impairment only refers to the type of medical problem(s) a person has. Disability is a legal term, meaning that someone cannot engage in meaningful work with the impairment that he/she has. Two people may have exactly the same impairment, however, only one could be disabled and the other not.

Disability Duration Requirements

Under both Title II and Title XVI programs, the legal definition of adult disability means that a person cannot work, because of a physical or mental impairment that has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months or which is expected to result in death. The disability does not have to be a permanent disability, but it must last a minimum of 12 months.

Social security disability-different programs

Socal Security Disability was created originally to provide financial aid to people with illnesses or injuries that prevent them from working. Social Security Disability benefits are given to people falling into one of two categories. The first is the social security disability program (SSDI) which is referred to as Title II. The second category is the Supplemental Security Income Disabilty program which is referred to as Title XVI (Welfare Disability). The major differences between the two programs is that Title II applicants are prople who have worked and paid Social Security taxes, while Title XVI applicants are people who can receive disability benefits without ever having worked or paid social security taxes.

Listings of Impairments

The first thing that a social security disability examiner tries to determine, after collecting adequate information, is whether or not a claimant's impairment fulfills one of the Listings of impairments created by social security.

Claim Application Procedure

Application for Social Security disability benefits is generally made at your local social security office. However, alternatively one may apply online or make a telephone appt. and then apply via the telephone conference. One cannot mail in an application form for benefits to a social security office for an initial application.