Detroit Accident Attorneys Answer Your Legal Questions

Q: What types of Social Security benefits are available for disabled people?

A: Cash benefits are available to disabled people under many different programs.  Disability insurance benefits are available for people who have a significant and recent work history (5 out of the last 10 years qualifies as "insured"), who are now disabled.  Benefits are paid based on the person's earnings record.  Disabled widows and widowers benefits are paid based on the earnings record of a deceased spouse, and are available for individuals who are at least 50 years old and disabled within a certain amount of time after the death of their insured spouse.  Disabled adult child benefits permit someone disabled before age 22, to draw benefits through an insured parent who is now deceased, retired or disabled.  A qualified person many draw any of these disability benefits without regard to other income or assets.  Supplemental Security Income benefits ("SSI"), are available to people who qualify financially, without regard to insured status, but who are both poor and disabled (including children).

Medical assistance is available through either Medicare or Medicaid.  A disability insurance claimant is entitled to Medicare coverage after 2 years of receiving cash benefits.  Medicaid is a program that pays medical bills for poor people on SSI.  The reimbursement rates are lower than with Medicare, but it covers prescriptions while Medicare generally does not.