Disability benefits

The Social Security Administration pays disability benefits under several different programs but the two most important are the Social Security disability insurance program and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. The Social Security disability program pays benefits to people who have paid Social Security taxes while the Supplemental Security Income program pays benefits based on needs. For most people, the medical requirements under both programs are the same to qualify for disability benefits and the process for determining the disability is the same. To qualify for disability benefits, you must meet the Social Security Administration's definition of disabled. To prove your case, it is often necessary to have a doctor's diagnosis that you are presently disabled along with written documentation of the duration of the disability since the disability must last or be expected to last for at least one year.