Social Security

Social Security is a federal program that gives money each month to people who qualify. How much you get depends on:

• how long you have worked
• how much money you earned
• where you worked, and
• your age when you began getting benefits.

• Workers who are 62 or older,
• people with disabilities, or
• the spouse and children of a deceased or disabled worker who paid into the Social Security program.

Online: You can find out if you qualify for Social Security Benefits by using the screening tool on the Social Security website.

Retirement Benefits:
If you qualify, you can apply for retirement benefits online.
You can also make an appointment at your local Social Security Office. To find your local Social Security Office, click here or call 1-800-772-1213 toll free and tell the operator where you live.

Disability Benefits:
If you plan to ask for disability benefits, you might want to talk to a lawyer. There are lawyers who specialize in this area of the law. Click here for help finding a lawyer.
You must apply for disability benefits in person. You can also make an appointment at your local Social Security Office. To find your local Social Security Office, click here or call 1-800-772-1213 toll free and tell the operator where you live.

Social Security Retirement benefits were created to help older Americans live after a lifetime of work. To qualify for these benefits, participants must meet certain earnings requirements. Click here for more information regarding Social Security Retirement Benefits.

Social Security Disability (SSDI) provides income for certain disabled workers that meet various criteria, including working in jobs covered by Social Security, meeting specific definitions of disability, and more.

The time it takes to get a decision on your disability application can vary depending on:

• The nature of your disability.
• How quickly we can get your medical evidence from your doctor or other medical source.
• Whether it is necessary to send you for a medical examination.
• Whether we review your application for quality purposes.

Once you have submitted your application for disability benefits, it generally takes 6 to 8 months for an initial decision.

You can log in or create a personal my Social Security account to check the status of your pending application.

SSDI benefits are available in certain circumstances. The applicant must have worked in jobs covered by Social Security and have a condition that meets Social Security’s definition of disability. Monthly cash benefits are generally paid to people who are unable to work for a year or more because of a disability and continue until the applicant can return to work. Various special rules, or “work incentives,” provide continued benefits and health care coverage to help applicants transition back to work. Click here to visit the Social Security Administration Disability Insurance (SSDI) eligibility page and learn more about how these terms are defined and other eligibility requirements.

SSI stands for Supplemental Security Income. Social Security administers this program. They pay monthly benefits to people with limited income and resources who are disabled, blind, or age 65 or older. Blind or disabled children may also get SSI.

You qualify if you are 65 or older, are blind, or have a disability. You must also:

• have very low income,
• have limited resources,
• live in the U.S. or U.S. territories ( Including Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands), and
• be a U.S. citizen (most legal residents can qualify).

In Person: You must make an appointment at your local Social Security Office. To find your local Social Security Office, click here or call 1-800-772-1213 toll free and tell the operator where you live.

If you are not eligible for SSI, you may qualify for other federal programs that help pay for out-of-pocket Medicare costs. Ask your social security caseworker.

Yes. If you qualify for SSI you could also get:

• Medicaid, which helps pay doctor and hospital bills. If you are over 65 and qualify for SSI, you also qualify for Medicare.
• Food Stamps to help pay for your groceries.

If the Social Security Administration has contacted you regarding an overpayment, this video can assist you in filing an appeal.

You can learn more about Social Security and Supplemental Security Income at the following websites:

• The United States Social Security Administration
• AARP (formerly The American Association of Retired Persons)

Social Security’s Representative Payment Program provides benefit payment management for beneficiaries who are incapable of managing their Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments.