Federal Disability Benefits

April 13, 2006

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The Social Security Administration also provides disability benefits to workers. The Social Security laws require that the disability be of the type that will last at least 12 months if the individual is to receive any benefits. Also, there is effectively a six-month waiting period before benefits will begin.

A disabled worker is entitled to monthly cash benefits beginning with the first month in which the disabled worker meets all of the following conditions:

has a qualifying disability as defined by the Social Security Administration (i.e., is unable to perform any job for which the worker is reasonably qualified)
has filed an application for disabled worker's benefits
has met the requirements for insured status
has completed a five-calendar-month waiting period or is exempted from this requirement
has not attained age 65

Benefits end when any of the following events occur:

the individual dies
the individual reaches retirement age
the individual returns to work for at least three months

Interaction with other benefits. Social Security disability benefits are reduced by whatever the individual receives from workers' compensation. Benefits, however, are not reduced by what the individual may receive from private insurance.