All employees and their employers (including persons who are self-employed) are required to pay Social Security taxes.  The full legal name of the program under which this tax is collected is Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance.  While everyone understands that payment of Social Security taxes entitles the employee to receive retirement benefits upon reaching retirement age, what many don't realize that these payments also entitle them to receive benefits in the event that they become too sick to work; in other words, disabled.

 

To be entitled to disability benefits under the Social Security Disability program, a person must either be a disabled worker, the child of a disabled worker, or be the disabled former spouse of a worker.  These benefits are payable without regard to other sources of income.

 

A person who is disabled but not eligible for Social Security Disability benefits because of an insufficient work history may nevertheless be eligible for SSI benefits.   See below.

 

SSI is available to disabled adults or children who do not meet the work history requirements for Social Security Disability.  While the rules for determining disability are identical under both programs, SSI may only be paid to persons who are both disabled and who meet Social Security's income and asset guidelines.