This article was written by Emily E. Warren, Esq. for the September issue of our Living With Lupus magazine……
The Social Security Administration recognizes Lupus as a medical condition that may prevent a person from working, resulting in an approval of disability benefits. To know when the right time to apply is, you should: understand the basic rules for each of the two Social Security disability benefit programs, review the medical and non-medical requirements of each program considering your own personal situation, and discuss with your medical provider whether he or she will support you in the disability process.
Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income Benefits
The two Social Security administered disability programs are called Social Security Disability Insurance (also known as SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (also known as SSI). To be eligible to file for disability, you must meet the requirements of one of these two programs.
The SSDI program will look to your ten most recent years of work history to determine if you are eligible to participate. Each year you have the opportunity to earn up to four work credits by working and paying into the Social Security program. The dollar amount you must earn to gain one credit varies by year, but for 2024 you would need to earn $1,730 to earn one credit or $6,920 to earn all four credits for the year. Looking backwards, you must have earned 20 of the last 40 credits (preceding the date you became disabled) to participate in the SSDI program. In short, if you have worked (full-time) for five of the past ten years, you will be covered. The monthly benefit amount you would be entitled to will depend upon how much you have worked, earned, and paid in to the Social Security system over the life of your work history. Non-work income will not impact your monthly benefit rate, but income from work activity might. If approved, you would also be entitled to Medicare benefits approximately 29 months after the first day that Social Security determines your disability began. These benefits may be paid up to one year prior to the date on which you filed your application.
The SSI program is based on financial and medical need. It looks at your family’s total resources to determine whether you are eligible to participate. As a family, you are not allowed to have more than one vehicle, one home (that you must also reside in), or resources of greater than $2,000 (as a single individual) or $3,000 (as a married person). The monthly benefit rate fluctuates by year, but currently the maximum monthly benefit rate is $943/month for an individual or $1,415 for a couple. If your resources exceed these limits, even after disability is approved, your benefit may be reduced or eliminated. The earliest date benefits could be paid under this program is the date of application. If your claim is approved, you will also be awarded Medicaid coverage.