What Is the Difference Between Social Security Disability Insurance & Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?
Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB) are available to disabled workers who paid enough earnings into the Social Security system. SSA determines if you are eligible for DIB, based on your work history during the years before you became totally disabled. As a general rule, you probably have enough work credits to qualify, if you worked for 5 out of the last 10 years. The following factors determine eligibility for DIB: • Whether or not you have enough work credits to qualify for disability benefits. • Whether or not you have an impairment that has lasted, or is expected to last, for at least 12 months, or is expected to result in death. • The nature and extent of your impairment. • Your ability to engage in substantial gainful activity since your impairment began. • The date your disability began. The family members of a person approved for Disability Insurance Benefits also may qualify for benefits, based on the disabled wage earner’s SSA earnings. Furthermore, children a
