Social Security Benefits: Some Key Facts

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. There are several other classes of social security benefits, which certain sections may be eligible to receive. For instance, the disability benefits are available for workers unable to continue their existing jobs, once they cross a required duration at work (calculated as credits). To address the differing requirements of different sections of the society, the Social security administration pays the social security benefits through two different 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 amount changes each year and can be accessed from the administrations Update (Publication No. 05 10003) for the current year. There is no provision for partial disability under the Social Security Act. In case a person is unable to perform a previously held job, the administration looks for an equitable alternative for the person. It evaluates the persons medical condition, age, education, past work experience and any skills that may fit another role. If no other opportunity presents, the State agency will decide that the individual is indeed disabled. However, with individuals over 50 years of age, the State rules are more relaxed and they may have a much better chance of winning some benefits. The chances of getting social security benefits are also better with persons employed only part time with meagre wages and insufficient savings.

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