Does Long-Term Disability Become Social Security Disability?

American citizens who have a long-term disability are entitled to receive governmental benefits, such as Social Security benefits or, in some applicable cases, veteran benefits. If you have a low income plus a short-term disability, you can also qualify for other Social Security benefits. Some of these benefits are funded by Social Security tax and some by general tax revenue.

Social Security Disability

• Social Security Disability is a program of benefits run by the Social Security Administration. This program gives monthly payments to individuals with a disability condition to help them pay for living expenses. Although it is a federal program, it is administered by Social Security offices in each state. Some states also add benefits to the Social Security Disability benefits given by the federal government. However, it is the federal government that sets the requirements for eligibility and payment of benefits.

Long-Term Disability

• A long-term disability is the only type of disability that qualifies you to receive Social Security Disability benefits. Having a long-term disability means that you must have a disability condition for at least one year. Your disability is also considered long-term if it will eventually cause your death, even if in a period shorter than one year. Another requirement of a long-term disability is that it does not allow you to perform any work. You are completely incapacitated, and you can no longer work at your previous job or a new job that requires you to engage in physical labor. You must prove to the Social Security office that your condition meets these parameters to qualify for benefits.

Other Requirements

• You must also meet other requirements to qualify to receive Social Security Disability benefits. The Social Security Disability program is a type of disability insurance, and as such, you receive its benefits only if you have paid your monthly premiums. With the Social Security Disability program, you are required to have made payments while you were working, through the Social Security tax your employer withheld from your paychecks. You cannot qualify to receive benefits if you did not work long enough. The number of years you must have worked corresponds to your age.

Social Security Credits

• Social Security credits are the parameter by which the Social Security office decides whether or not you have worked long enough to receive benefits. One Social Security credit is $1,120 of your wage. In a single year, you can accumulate up to four credits. Generally, you need 40 Social Security credits to qualify to receive disability benefits, and at least 20 of these must have been earned in the last ten years. However, younger people can qualify with fewer credits, depending on when their long-term disability started.