By Jeffrey Freedman, Esq.
Often, when workers look at their pay stubs and see “FICA taxes” they don’t realize these deductions go to a program that ensures both Social Security retirement and Social Security disability benefits.
Payments to FICA are generally thought to go toward future retirement benefits. However, these payments also insure individuals for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). If a worker is injured or becomes ill and can no longer work before their full retirement age, they can apply for SSDI. SSDI will provide a base income plus health insurance through Medicare. This is not a welfare program, it is quite literally an insurance program you accumulate as part of your work history.
To be considered disabled, you must have a severe medical condition prevents you from working for at least a year, or is likely to result in death. The Social Security Administration keeps data on how long you work and what you pay into the program to determine if you are eligible for benefits. Your contributions and the number of quarters you pay into the system is also used to calculate how much your disability benefits will be.
The amount awarded will not be as much as you were earning, but is intended to help cover basic living expenses. In many cases if you have dependent children, or a spouse who cannot work, they may also be eligible for benefits. The program is designed to help individuals and families stay financially stable when they are going through a hardship.
The Medicare benefit does not start until 24 months after a worker becomes eligible for SSDI benefits. However, it often takes more than a year to get SSDI benefits approved, so you may not wait long to get on Medicare after benefits are awarded. Getting through the application process can be complicated, so many applicants find it beneficial to have an attorney who is familiar with SSDI help them. Our firm has been handling SSDI claims for more than 45 years and has helped 22,000 applicants obtain their benefits.