Benefits Planner: Disability 
Disability is a subject you may read about in the newspaper, but not think of as something that might actually happen to you. But your chances of becoming disabled are probably greater than you realize. Studies show that just over one in four of today's 20-year - olds will become disabled before reaching age 67. While we spend a lot of time working to succeed in our jobs and careers , few of us think about ensuring that we have a safety net to fall back on should we become disabled. This is an area where Social Security can provide valuable help to you. This disability planner helps you find out : how you can qualify and apply for benefits ; what happens if your application is approved ; who can receive benefits on your earnings record ; what you need to know about receiving disability benefits ; when Medicare coverage starts for Social Security disability beneficiaries ; and what happens if you go back to work. 

Disability and Supplemental Security Income 
We pay disability benefits under two programs : The Social Security disability insurance program pays benefits to you and certain family members if you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes. Your adult child also may qualify for benefits on your earnings record if he or she has a disability that started before age 22. The Supplemental Security Income SSI program pays benefits to disabled adults and children who have limited income and resources. For most people , the medical requirements are the same under both programs and disability is determined by the same process. Whether you apply for Social Security disability or SSI , we ask you for information about your medical condition, work, and education history to help us decide if you are disabled under our rules. Additional information about SSI can be found at " What Is Supplemental Security Income? " 

Information for Advocates, Attorneys, and Third Parties 
If you are an Advocate, Attorney, or Third Party Representa

user: Hi, good morning. I'm looking to do some benefits planning on disability. Can you help me with that?

assistant: Sure, no problem. It's great you think in advance. Most people don't think that something as disability could happen to them, but possibilities are higher that they think.

user: Yeah, i know. i read this newspaper article and here i am. Oh well, could you tell me about the medical requirements for this, please?

assistant: very good. Under disability, there's two programs, disability insurance program and social security income program. For both of them, the medical requirements are the same, plus disability is determined by the same process.

user: Oh, i understand. And what kind of benefits exist under the first program?

assistant: The social security disability insurance program pays benefits too you and your qualified family members, in case you have worked enough time and paid your social security taxes. You have also the option to get a qualification for a disabled child if he/she is an adult and got disabled before age 22.

user: Um, i see it has many options available. Look, and what kind of information you request from me?

assistant: Well, we may ask you about your medical condition, work and education history to help us decide if your disability runs under our rules.