One of the Social Security Administration's (SSA) highest priorities is to help people with disabilities achieve independence by helping them to take advantage of employment opportunities. This book is a general reference source about the employment-related provisions of Social Security Disability Insurance and the Supplemental Security Income programs. We wrote the book for educators, advocates, rehabilitation professionals, and counselors who serve people with disabilities. It's purpose is to provide a working knowledge of the technical provisions involved so that they can advise people with disabilities appropriately and recognize when to seek case-specific guidance from SSA. We also expect that many applicants and beneficiaries will use this book as a self-help guide to the employment-related provisions under our programs.

(A note of caution: This book is a general description of our disability-related policies. For information specific to your situation regarding eligibility or benefits, you may need to contact us. You can find contact information on page 9. In addition, different rules may often apply to people who are claiming benefits based on retirement or age. We cover those rules in our other publications.)

We have a toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213, that operates between 7a.m. and 7p.m., Monday through Friday. If you have a touch-tone telephone, recorded information and services are available 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays.

If you are hearing impaired, you may call our toll-free "TTY/TDD" number, 1-800-325-0778, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.

If you have a problem or question, you should first try our toll-free telephone number. Our telephone representatives will either help you or put you in contact with your local office, if needed. Many local telephone directories list local offices under "Social Security."

If you have access to the Internet, you can use the Social Security Office Locator on our home page, Social Security Online at http://web.archive.org/web/20040214134005/http://www.ssa.gov/locator. Just type in your postal ZIP code and we will give you the address, telephone number, and directions to your local office.

Social Security Administration
Office of Public Inquiries
6401 Security Blvd. Baltimore, MD 21235-6401

As mentioned above, our Internet site, Social Security Online is located at http://web.archive.org/web/20040214134005/http://www.ssa.gov/. Most SSA publications and other public information materials are available at this site. We have also included links to the home pages of our regional offices - Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle - highlighting regional initiatives, local public information resources, and connections to local offices. There are also links to the home pages of offices within SSA. The following are of particular interest to the community serving people with disabilities:

• http://web.archive.org/web/20040214134005/http://www.ssa.gov/disability -- This site provides comprehensive information on our disability benefits programs.

• http://web.archive.org/web/20040214134005/http://www.ssa.gov/work/index.html -- This site provides information on our efforts to help people with disabilities enter the workforce in employment or self-employment. Topics covered include: Vocational Rehabilitation Programs, Employment Support, Legislation, Employment Programs, State Employment Activities, Health Care for People with Disabilities, and much more.

Mail your comments or suggestions about this publication to:

Social Security Administration
Office of Employment Support Programs
P.O. Box 17778
Baltimore MD 21235-7778
Attention: Red Book Editor

Fax: 1-410-597-0429, attention: Red Book Editor

Email: red.book.editor@ssa.gov.

See below for information on requesting materials, including this book.

If you want copies of our public information materials (including this one), send your request to:

Office of Supply & Warehouse Management
Social Security Administration
239 Supply Building
6301 Security Blvd.
Baltimore MD 21235-6301

Fax: 410-965-2037

What are SSDI and SSI?

We manage two major programs that provide benefits based on disability or blindness.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) provides benefits to disabled or blind individuals who are "insured" by workers' contributions to the Social Security trust fund. These contributions are the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) Social Security tax paid on their earnings or those of their spouses or parents. Title II of the Social Security Act authorizes SSDI benefits. See page 20 for related health insurance information.

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program makes cash assistance payments to aged, blind and disabled people (including children under age 18) who have limited income and resources. The Federal government funds SSI from general tax revenues. Most States pay benefits to some individuals to supplement their Federal benefits. Some of these States have arranged with us to combine their supplementary payment with our Federal payment into one monthly check to you. Other States manage their own programs and make their payments separately. Title XVI of the Social Security Act authorizes SSI benefits. See page 21 for related health insurance information.

Are You Eligible?

1. Be the worker, or the worker's widow(er), or the worker's disabled adult child (requirements for a disabled adult child include; the individual must be unmarried, age 18 or over, his/her disability must have begun before age 22);

2. File an application;

3. Meet our definition of medically disabled (see page 16); and

To be eligible for SSI based on a medical condition:

1. You must have limited income and resources (see pages 61 and 62, for definitions of income and resources);

2. You must be a U.S. citizen or meet the requirements for non-citizens;

3. You must be considered medically disabled or blind (see page 16);

4. You must be a resident of the 50 States, District of Columbia, or Northern Mariana Islands;

5. You must file an application;

6. You must file for any and all other benefits for which you are eligible; and,

7. If your impairment is other than blindness, when you apply, you must not be working or working but not performing SGA. (See page 16.) (Once you are receiving SSI benefits, this requirement no longer applies. Your eligibility will continue until you medically recover or do not meet a non-disability-related requirement.)

If you are blind, only the first six requirements apply to you.

When and How Do You File for Benefits?

First, always call our toll-free number. We may be able to answer your questions over the telephone. We will then arrange to take your claim either over the telephone or at our office. We will send you a confirmation of this appointment. We will also send you a form to get your claim started. Fill in the form as completely and as accurately as you can. Our claims representative will tell you how to send the form to us. If you visit our office before then, bring the form with you.

If you have access to the Internet, you can file for Social Security disability benefits on our website, http://web.archive.org/web/20040214134005/http://www.ssa.gov/onlineservices.

Do not wait to file for benefits just because you do not have all of the information you need. The Social Security office will be glad to help you. However, you can speed things up by bringing certain documents with you when you apply, if they are available. You can also help by bringing us any other information or medical evidence needed to show you are disabled. These items include:

• The Social Security number, and birth certificate or other proof of age for each person applying for benefits (This includes your spouse and children, if they are applying for benefits.);
  
  
• Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of doctors, hospitals, clinics, and institutions that treated you and dates of treatment;
  
  
• Names of all medications you are taking and prescribed dosage;
  
  
• Medical records from your doctors, therapists, hospitals, clinics, and caseworkers; · Laboratory and test results;
  
  
• A summary of where you worked in the past 15 years (company names, addresses, supervisors' telephone numbers) and the kind of work you did;
  
  
• A copy of your W-2 Form (Wage and Tax Statement), or if you are self-employed, your federal tax return for the past year; and
  
  
• Dates of any prior marriages.

something from your bank that shows your account number so we can have your benefits deposited directly into your account.

If you are applying for SSI, you should have all the documents listed above. In addition, you may need:

• Information about the home where you live, for example, your mortgage or your lease and landlord's name;
  
  
• Payroll slips, bank books, insurance policies, car registration, burial fund records, and other information about your income and the things you own (including loan notes, stocks, bonds, or other investments); and
  
  
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or non-citizen status, such as a birth certificate, a government-issued passport, or immigration documents (for non-citizens).
  

How Do We Define Disability?

Both SSDI and SSI define disability as the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity (SGA) because of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment(s):

• That can be expected to result in death, or
  
  
• That has lasted or that we can expect to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.

We evaluate the work activity of persons claiming or receiving disability benefits under SSDI, and/or claiming benefits because of a disability under SSI. Under both programs, we use earnings guidelines to evaluate your work activity to decide whether the work activity is SGA, and whether we may consider you disabled under the law. While this is only one of the tests used to decide if you are disabled, it is the critical first step in disability evaluation.

If your impairment is other than blindness, earnings averaging over $800 a month (for the year 2003) generally demonstrate SGA. If you are blind, earnings averaging over $1,330 a month (for the year 2003) generally demonstrate SGA. These amounts are adjusted each year based on the national average wage. Deductions from your earnings that are counted toward this SGA determination may be available. (See pages 28-33.)

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