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DRS Services: Social Security Disability Benefits



Social Security Disability Benefits


Overview: What Are Social Security Disability Benefits?

The Social Security Administration pays disability benefits under two programs:

  1. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and
  2. Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

    The medical requirements that determine who is eligible for disability payments are the same under both programs.

SSDI is a disability insurance program funded by a portion of the FICA taxes a worker and employer pay on the worker's earnings over a qualifying period of time. Certain family members can also receive benefits based on a worker's contributions.

SSI is an income support program with payments based on financial need. Children may be eligible for SSI if they are unable to do age-appropriate activities and their family has limited income and resources.

Disability payments under the Social Security system are based on inability to work. Individuals are considered “disabled” if they are unable to do any kind of work for which they are suited and their disabilities are expected to last for at least a year or to result in death.

Learn more about both of these programs at:

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disability/ - More Disability Information

http://www.ssa.gov/online/ssa-5665.pdf - Teacher Questionnaire

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ere/ - Submit records electronically

http://www.ssa.gov/online/ssa-3369.pdf - Work History Report

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Who decides if you have a disability, and what is the process in making that decision?

1. Are you eligible to apply for benefits? Your local Social Security office staff will review your application to see if you are eligible to apply for disability benefits. They will look at whether you have worked long enough and recently enough, your age, and, if you apply for benefits as a family member, what your relationship is to the worker.

2. In Oklahoma, the Social Security Office then sends your application to the Disability Determination Division (DDD).
The Social Security Administration employs the services of the DDD, a division of the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services, to make disability and blindness determinations on behalf of the Commissioner for individuals living in our state.  DDD personnel, consisting of a physician and/or psychologist and a disability adjudication specialist will consider all the facts in your case, using medical information from your doctors, hospitals, clinics, and other places where you have been treated.

3. Once a decision on your claim is reached, you will get a written notice from the Social Security Administration. If your claim is approved, the notice will show the amount of your benefit and when payments will start. If it is not approved, the notice will explain why.

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To Apply

You can apply for disability benefits by phone, by mail or by visiting any Social Security Administration office.

Locate the nearest Social Security office here by zip code, look in the blue government pages of your telephone book, or contact your local telephone information operator for assistance.

To contact the Disability Determination Division, please call (405) 419-2200 or email DA.OK.S39.PR@ssa.gov.

For more information, visit the web site maintained by the Social Security Administration.

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Ticket to Work

Many thousands of Oklahomans between the ages of 18 and 64 are disabled and receive monthly Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. Some receive both. Many also have help from Medicare or Medicaid in paying medical bills. The impact of these programs in meeting people’s needs is significant. However, many people with disabilities want to work. To help them, Social Security has a variety of work incentives, including the Ticket to Work Program.

The Ticket to Work program helps you obtain vocational rehabilitation, training, job referrals and other employment support services free of charge. You can use your ticket to get the services and support you need to go to work or to earn more money. The goal is to help you earn enough money so that you can become financially independent.

Some of the work incentives include keeping your cash benefits and medical coverage while you transition to the work place. And, if you find that you cannot work, it is easy to start your payments again.

For more detailed information, go to the Social Security Ticket to Work web page.

For more information about the implementation of Ticket to Work locally, contact jprice@drs.state.ok.us.

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