Social Security: With You Through Life’s Journey…

Produced at U.S. taxpayer expense

Social Security

Understand what Substantial Gainful Activity means as related to Social Security’s definition of “disabled”

Recognize how a Wounded, Ill, or Injured Service Member who is on active duty and receiving full pay and benefits from the military is qualified to receive Social Security Disability benefits

Learn how to complete the application for Social Security Disability and assist a Service Member in completing an application

Objectives

Social Security

Determine the appropriate local or regional Social Security office for assistance and referral when needed

Understand Social Security’s “Return-To-Work” policies and how “work incentives” can help a Wounded Warrior move from dependence to independence

Learn about other online resources available to assist a Wounded Warrior

Objectives

About 173 million workers will pay Social Security taxes in 2017.

About 94 percent of all workers are covered or eligible under

Social Security.

Social Security Beneficiaries

Social Security57.7 million

Both2.7 million

SSI5.5 million

We’re With You If The Unexpected Happens

As of December 2016, Social Security paid an average monthly disability benefit of $1,171.15. That’s barely enough to keep a beneficiary above the poverty level ($12,060 annually).

56 million Americans, or 1-in-5 people in this country, live with disabilities.

48 million disabled Americans, or 1-in-10 people here, live with severe disabilities

Disability Benefit Statistics

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)The SSDI program pays monthly benefits to you and to certain members of your family if:

• You have worked long enough, recently enough, and

• You have a medical condition that has prevented you from working – or is expected to prevent you from working – at a substantial level for at least 12 months, or your medical condition is expected to end in death.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)Social Security administers the Supplemental Security Income program, which pays benefits to disabled adults and children who have limited income and resources.

SSI benefits also are payable to adults age 65 and older who do not have disabilities, if these individuals meet the financial limits.

People who have worked long enough, recently enough, may be able to receive Social Security benefits – such as disability or retirement – as well as SSI.

Social Security Disability Insurance Supplemental Security Income Payments come from the Social Security trust funds and are based on a person’s earnings.

Payments come from the general treasury fund, NOT the Social Security trust funds. SSI payments are not based on a person’s earnings.

An insurance that workers earn by paying Social Security taxes on their wages.

A needs-based public assistance program that does not require a person to have work history.

Pays benefits to disabled individuals who are unable to work, regardless of their income and resources.

Pays disabled individuals who are unable to work AND have limited income and resources.

Benefits for workers and for adults disabled since childhood. Must meet insured status requirements.

Benefits for children and adults in financial need. Must have limited income and limited resources.

SSDI vs. SSI

• Provides physicians and other health professionals with an understanding of the disability programs administered by the Social Security Administration

• Explains how each program works, and provides information to help health professionals make sound and prompt determinations and decisions on disability claims

Disability Evaluation Under Social Security

socialsecurity.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook

socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances

Compassionate Allowances (CAL) • A way of quickly identifying diseases and other medical

conditions that invariably qualify under the Listing of Impairments based on minimal objective medical information

• Allows Social Security to target the most obviously disabled individuals for allowances based on objective medical information that we can obtain quickly

• Is not a separate program from the Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income programs

socialsecurity.gov/veterans

Wounded warriors and veterans with 100% Permanent & Total disability ratings from the VA may be able to get expedited medical decisions on SSDI and SSI applications.

Wounded Warriors & Veterans

If you recently applied for Social Security or Supplemental Security Income disability benefits and were denied for medical reasons, you can file an appeal online and check the status with your personal my Social Security account.

Disagree With The Medical Decision?

Explains our work incentives, which are employment-support provisions intended to assist you in your efforts to become self-sufficient through work

Employment supports can help you find a job or start a business, protect your cash and medical benefits while you work, or help you save money to go to school.

Work Incentive Programs

socialsecurity.gov/redbook

Social SecurityDisability Benefits – Substantial Gainful Activity

Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)is the performance of significant and productive physical or mental work for pay or profit (for 2017: $1,170 per month – non blind; $1,950 per month - blind)

Social Security

Active duty status and receipt of military pay does not, in itself, necessarily prevent payment of Social Security disability benefits. Receipt of military payments should never stop you from applying for disability benefits from Social Security. If you are receiving treatment at a military medical facility and working in a designated therapy program or on limited duty, we will evaluate your work activity to determine your eligibility for benefits.

How Is Military Pay Counted?

Social SecurityDisability Benefits – Substantial Gainful Activity

•We consider the existence of subsidy and special conditions when we make an SGA decision.

•"Subsidy" and "special conditions" are our names for support you receive on the job that may result in you receiving more pay than the actual value of the services you perform.

•We use only earnings that represent the real value of the work you perform to decide if your work is at the SGA level.

Social SecurityContact Social Security

You can contact Social Security by:

• Calling toll-free 1-800-772-1213 (Voice) 1-800-325-0778 (TTY)

•Visiting Social Security Online at: www.socialsecurity.gov

• Going to your local Social Security Office