{ "id": "RL32279", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "RL32279", "active": true, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 456632, "date": "2016-10-24", "retrieved": "2016-10-25T21:12:16.477655", "title": "Primer on Disability Benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)", "summary": "The Social Security Administration (SSA) is responsible for administering two federal entitlement programs that provide income support to individuals with severe, long-term disabilities: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSDI is a social insurance program that provides monthly cash benefits to nonelderly disabled workers who paid Social Security taxes for a sufficient number of years in jobs covered by Social Security and to their eligible dependents. In contrast, SSI is a public assistance program that provides monthly cash benefits to aged, blind, or disabled individuals (including children) who often have little or no work experience in covered employment and whose assets and other income are below certain limits. \nTo qualify for disability benefits under either program, claimants must meet the definition of disability prescribed in the Social Security Act. For both SSDI and SSI disability benefits, disability is defined as the inability to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA) by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death. In general, the individual must be unable to do any kind of substantial work that exists in the national economy, taking into account age, education, and work experience. Special rules apply to statutorily blind individuals and to children under the age of 18 applying for or receiving SSI.\nBoth programs are administered by SSA and therefore have similar application and disability determination processes. Although SSDI and SSI are federal programs, both federal and state offices are used to determine eligibility for disability benefits. SSA determines whether someone is disabled according to a five-step sequential evaluation process where SSA is required to look at all of the pertinent facts of a particular case. Current work activity, severity of impairment, and vocational factors are assessed in that order. If SSA finds that a claimant is disabled, the agency must periodically reevaluate his or her impairment(s) to ensure that the individual continues to meet the program\u2019s respective eligibility criteria.\nIf a claimant\u2019s application for benefits is denied at any point during the disability determination process, the claimant has the right to appeal the decision. During the appeals process, claimants may present additional evidence or arguments to support their case, as well as appoint a representative to act on their behalf. In most states, the appeals process is composed of four stages: (1) reconsideration by a different disability examiner; (2) a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ); (3) a review before the Appeals Council; and (4) filing suit against SSA in U.S. district court.\nThe SSDI program is funded primarily through Social Security payroll tax revenues, portions of which are credited to the Disability Insurance (DI) trust fund. In contrast, the SSI program is financed by annual appropriations from general revenues.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/RL32279", "sha1": "c7ec1949d151d931320ccd33c11033299a8ebf6d", "filename": "files/20161024_RL32279_c7ec1949d151d931320ccd33c11033299a8ebf6d.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RL32279", "sha1": "9ead0fc873df46c7a3f7ed66b44fcb21c52e3107", "filename": "files/20161024_RL32279_9ead0fc873df46c7a3f7ed66b44fcb21c52e3107.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4795, "name": "Disability Benefits" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4796, "name": "Social Security" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4797, "name": "Cash Assistance" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 433295, "date": "2014-08-01", "retrieved": "2016-04-06T20:13:11.488894", "title": "Primer on Disability Benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)", "summary": "In general, the goal of disability insurance is to replace a portion of a worker\u2019s income should illness or disability prevent him or her from working. Individuals may receive disability benefits from either federal or state governments, or from private insurers. This report presents information on two types of disability programs provided through the federal government: the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. SSDI is an insurance program that provides benefits to individuals who have paid into the system and meet certain minimum work requirements. In contrast, SSI is a means-tested program that does not have work or contribution requirements, but restricts benefits to those who meet certain financial eligibility criteria.\nEnacted in 1956, the SSDI program provides monthly benefits to insured disabled workers under the full retirement age (and to their eligible dependents) in amounts related to an individual\u2019s work history and career-average earnings in jobs covered under Social Security. SSDI beneficiaries are also eligible for Medicare following a 24-month waiting period. On the other hand, the SSI program\u2014which went into effect in 1974\u2014is a need-based program that provides a flat monthly cash benefit assuring a minimum income to aged, blind, and disabled individuals who have limited income and assets. In most states, SSI recipients are also eligible for Medicaid.\nTo receive disability benefits under either program, individuals must meet strict medical requirements. For both SSDI and SSI disability benefits, disability is defined as the inability to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA) by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment expected to result in death or last at least a year. Generally, the worker must be unable to do any kind of work that exists in the national economy, taking into account age, education, and work experience.\nBoth programs are administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and therefore have similar application and disability determination processes. Although SSDI and SSI are federal programs, both federal and state offices are used to determine eligibility for disability benefits. SSA determines whether someone is disabled according to a five-step process, called the sequential evaluation process, where SSA is required to look at all of the pertinent facts of a particular case. Current work activity, severity of impairment, and vocational factors are assessed in that order. If SSA finds that a claimant is disabled, the agency must periodically evaluate his or her impairment(s) to ensure that the individual continues to meet each program\u2019s respective eligibility criteria.\nIf a claimant\u2019s application for benefits is denied at any point during the disability determination process, the claimant has the right to appeal the decision. During the appeals process, claimants may present additional evidence or arguments to support their case, as well as appoint a representative to act on their behalf. The appeals process is composed of four stages: (1) reconsideration by a different disability examiner; (2) a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ); (3) a review before the Appeals Council; and (4) filing suit against SSA in U.S. district court.\nThe SSDI program is primarily funded through Social Security payroll tax revenues, portions of which are credited to the Federal Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund. Under current law, the Social Security trustees project that the DI trust fund will be exhausted in the fourth quarter of 2016. Once the DI trust fund is depleted, the trustees estimate that the SSDI program will have enough continuing tax revenues to pay around 81% of scheduled benefits. In contrast, the SSI program is funded through appropriations from general revenues.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/RL32279", "sha1": "fe6836f36d57034fc620ad71458e720a3652a06b", "filename": "files/20140801_RL32279_fe6836f36d57034fc620ad71458e720a3652a06b.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RL32279", "sha1": "94600dd9bc82653dc99a8e3eaead68482f892972", "filename": "files/20140801_RL32279_94600dd9bc82653dc99a8e3eaead68482f892972.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 2912, "name": "Disability Rights and Benefits" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4326, "name": "Benefits and Services for Low-Income Households" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc805181/", "id": "RL32279_2014Feb07", "date": "2014-02-07", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Primer on Disability Benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20140207_RL32279_36024c60a9fa739ad1570553235f50aeb8134524.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20140207_RL32279_36024c60a9fa739ad1570553235f50aeb8134524.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc812766/", "id": "RL32279_2013Jun11", "date": "2013-06-11", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Primer on Disability Benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20130611_RL32279_634e5215cd7a9955559167e8e958aae6a1e4aefb.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20130611_RL32279_634e5215cd7a9955559167e8e958aae6a1e4aefb.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc819626/", "id": "RL32279_2012Aug31", "date": "2012-08-31", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Primer on Disability Benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20120831_RL32279_053555788021a20798519dde853be6a01e87d67a.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20120831_RL32279_053555788021a20798519dde853be6a01e87d67a.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc818249/", "id": "RL32279_2012Jan06", "date": "2012-01-06", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Primer on Disability Benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20120106_RL32279_607b6948bc6726b562dcfe451f3b20106ed489ce.pdf" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc815754/", "id": "RL32279_2011Aug08", "date": "2011-08-08", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Primer on Disability Benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20110808_RL32279_acf1932a1af16b8fc0ea0161cafbff2be2df9cf7.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20110808_RL32279_acf1932a1af16b8fc0ea0161cafbff2be2df9cf7.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc821018/", "id": "RL32279_2010Feb02", "date": "2010-02-02", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Primer on Disability Benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20100202_RL32279_d0735df43ba263de7b9aeb47bfcf6d3be9d65364.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20100202_RL32279_d0735df43ba263de7b9aeb47bfcf6d3be9d65364.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc815339/", "id": "RL32279_2009May21", "date": "2009-05-21", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Primer on Disability Benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20090521_RL32279_5f7eab0ecfeced3a93279eef27c4fe84bc236bd9.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20090521_RL32279_5f7eab0ecfeced3a93279eef27c4fe84bc236bd9.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc813365/", "id": "RL32279_2008Jan08", "date": "2008-01-08", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Primer on Disability Benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20080108_RL32279_b2ba372f85d71f4990093ce1e7831b5415706883.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20080108_RL32279_b2ba372f85d71f4990093ce1e7831b5415706883.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc808139/", "id": "RL32279_2006Dec26", "date": "2006-12-26", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Primer on Disability Benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20061226_RL32279_4a5a1a98dfd1996eaeb7d815e0f9fcb870f05697.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20061226_RL32279_4a5a1a98dfd1996eaeb7d815e0f9fcb870f05697.html" } ], "topics": [] } ], "topics": [ "Appropriations", "Domestic Social Policy" ] }