Social Security Benefits: Some Key Facts
11/30/08
Social security benefits in the United States include the monetary compensation payable to individuals under the social security system, and are administered by the Social Security Administration. There are several categories of social security benefits, depending on the need that it seeks to address. Benefits may be payable to persons who have attained the stated pension age, or may be sick pay benefits to employees who are unable to work owing to chronic illnesses. Some segments of society can receive social security benefits through some specific clauses addressing that segment. Workers unable to continue their present jobs on once they have worked for a stipulated duration can still receive disability benefits. Disability benefits are paid through two programs: the Social Security disability insurance program and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program.
The main criteria for availing social security benefits is that the person claiming the benefit is unable to work or has to stop working due to a medical condition that may last up to an year or result in death. If an individual is employed with average monthly earnings exceeding a certain amount as decided by the administration, then the person will not be considered as disabled. The administration's Update (Publication No. 05 10003) stipulates the cut off amount for the present year and this amount changes from year to year depending upon the economic conditions. However, the Social Security Act does not recognize the validity of partial disability, and individuals claiming such conditions are not eligible for benefits. In case a person is unable to perform a previously held job, the administration looks for an equitable alternative for the person. The medical condition of the person, his age, educational qualifications, previous work experience and other skills are all examined to judge whether another job could substitute the previous occupation. Should such efforts prove fruitless, and the agency is unable to provide the person with an alternative to earn his livelihood, the status of the employee as disabled would still be considered by the agency. State rules are more lenient for persons over the age of 50 and some benefits may accrue if the person applies for such relaxations. The chances of getting social security benefits are also better with persons employed only part time with meagre wages and insufficient savings.