Social Security

Social Security Disability Insurance

As flight attendants, we are used to leading active lives. Yet we are aware of inherent dangers in the work we do. Most of us know fellow flight attendants who have become injured either on the job or otherwise. In addition to workers' compensation for on-the-job injuries, the Social Security Administration has a program for disability insurance financed by our payroll taxes.

This web page is designed to give you a general overview of the program's benefits, how eligibility determinations are made, and the steps you should take if you or a loved one becomes disabled. It is based on information which was available on the Social Security web site in the Spring of 2003. AFA encourages you to contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your nearest Social Security office to obtain the most accurate information affecting your personal situation.

Listed below are the questions it addresses:

►What is Social Security Disability Insurance?
►How does the Social Security Administration (SSA) determine if I am eligible?
►Where can I get a list of the impairments SSA considers disabling?
►What rules apply to me if I am blind?
►How and when should I apply for disability benefits?
►What information do I need for the claims process?
►What family benefits are available if I become disabled?
►If my application is approved, when will my benefits begin?
►How long will my benefits continue? What will cause my benefits to stop?
►How does SSA review my continuing eligibility for disability?
►What if I was injured on the job?
►Can other payments I receive affect the amount of my disability payment?
►What about Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?
►If I am eligible for disability, am I eligible for Medicare as well?
►What if I want to try to return to work?
►What happens when I reach age 65 and am on disability?



What is Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)? It is a program to provide financial benefits for you if you cannot do the work you did before you became disabled and cannot adjust to (perform) other work. Your disability must be expected to last at least one year. Partial disability and short term disability are not covered. Benefits are payable to disabled workers, disabled widow(er)s and adults disabled since childhood.

To qualify, you must have worked long enough and recently enough in jobs covered by Social Security. Generally this means you need 40 credits in a job covered by the Social Security system, 20 of which you earned in the last 10 years, ending with the year you became disabled. You can earn up to 4 credits a year if you earn sufficient income in each quarter of the year. For 2003, the amount of earnings for one credit rose from the 2002 level of $870 to $890.

Younger workers can qualify with fewer than 40 credits. For example, if you are younger than 24, you may qualify with 6 credits in the 3-year period ending when your disability began. To find out the number of credits you need to qualify if you are between the ages of 24 and 60, go to www.ssa.gov/dibplan/dqualify3.htm .

SSDI is financed with Social Security taxes paid by workers, employers and self-employed persons. The monthly disability benefit is based on the Social Security earnings record of the insured worker on whose Social Security number the disability claim is filed.

The Social Security Administration also administers the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program for disabled and blind individuals with limited income and resources. An individual can be eligible for SSI even if the person never worked or paid Social Security taxes. To obtain more information about SSI, call 1-800-772-1213 or go to www.ssa.gov  and click on Supplemental Security Income.

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How does SSA determine if I am eligible? There are five steps in the process.

1-Are you working? If you are working and your earnings average more than $800 a month in 2003, you generally cannot be considered disabled. (The average earnings standard increases annually.)

2-Is your condition severe? If you are not working, the SSA considers whether your condition interferes with basic work-related activities. If it does not, they will determine you are not disabled.

3-Is your condition found on the list of disabling impairments? If your condition does interfere with basic work-related activities, the SSA reviews a list of medical conditions so severe they automatically mean you are disabled. If your condition is not on the list, they will consider whether it is of equal severity to the conditions on the list. If it is, they will determine you are disabled.

4-Can you do the work you did in the last 15 years? If your condition does not meet the disabling conditions tests, SSA will determine whether you can do the work you did previously. If you cannot, the SSA proceeds to step five, where they consider whether you can adjust to other work.

5-Can you do any other type of work? They look at your age, education, past work experience and any transferable skills you may have. If you can adjust to other work, your claim will be denied; if you cannot, your claim will be approved.

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Where can I get a list of the conditions the SSA considers disabling? The medical criteria used by the SSA to determine whether a medical condition is disabling is contained in the publication Disability Evaluation Under Social Security (SSA Pub. 64-039) This 205 page book, intended primarily for health care professionals, can be obtained free of charge by calling (410) 965-2039 or faxing (410) 965-2037. You can obtain it or other SSA publications by writing to: Social Security Administration, Public Information Distribution Center, PO Box 17743, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401.

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What rules apply to me if I am blind? You are considered legally blind under Social Security if your vision cannot be corrected to better than 20/200 in your better eye, or if your visual field is 20 degrees or less, even with a corrective lens. Even if you do not meet this definition, you may still qualify for disability benefits if your vision problems alone or in combination with other health problems prevent you from working.

The earnings limit for those who qualify in this category is $1,330 per month in 2003 as opposed to the average of $800 a month for other disabilities. This limit, too, is adjusted on a yearly basis. For more information about benefits available due to blindness, go to www.ssa.gov/dibplan/dqualify8.htm  and click on If You Are Blind Or Have Low Vision-How We Can Help.

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How and when should I apply for disability benefits? You should apply as soon as you become disabled. If you qualify as disabled, there is a waiting period of six months before benefits begin. This waiting period begins with the first full month after the date the SSA decides your disability began.

You can apply by calling 1-800-772-1213. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call the "TTY" number 1-800-325-0778 between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM Monday through Friday; representatives can make an appointment for your application to be taken over the telephone or at a convenient Social Security office.

You can apply online by going to www.ssa.gov/applyforbenefits . You can find the Social Security office nearest you online by going to www.ssa.gov/locator .


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What information do I need for the claims process? The claims process generally takes 60 to 90 days. You can shorten this process by bringing all necessary documents with you when you apply but do not delay filing for benefits just because you do not have all of the information you need. The Social Security office can help you get the documents you need.

You need to provide the following information. The documents must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. Uncertified or notarized photocopies will not be accepted because their authenticity cannot be verified.

1-your Social Security number;
2-your birth certificate or other evidence of your date of birth;
3-names, addresses, and phone numbers of doctors, hospitals, clinics, and institutions that treated you and dates of treatment;
4-names of all medications you are taking;
5-medical records from your doctors, therapists, hospitals, clinics, and caseworkers;
6-laboratory and test results;
7-a summary of where you worked in the last 15 years and the kind of work you did; and
8-a copy of your W-2 Form.

You may also need the following information under certain circumstances:

1-If your spouse is applying due to your disability, you need her or his birth certificate and Social Security number as well as dates of prior marriages.
2-If your children are applying due to your disability, you need their birth certificates and Social Security numbers.
3-If you served in the military, you need your military discharge papers.

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What family benefits are available if I become disabled? Once you start receiving disability benefits, certain members of your family may also qualify on your record. Each family member may be eligible for a monthly benefit that is up to 50 percent of your disability rate. There is a limit to the total amount your family can receive. This family limit ranges from about 150 to 180 percent of your benefit.

If your spouse is age 62 or older, he or she is eligible for benefits unless he or she collects a higher Social Security benefit based on his or her earnings record. In addition, your spouse is eligible if he or she is caring for your child who is under age 16 or who is disabled and receiving Social Security benefits. At age 16, the child's benefits continue but the spouse's benefits stop unless he or she is old enough to receive retirement benefits (age 62 or older) or survivor benefits as a widow or widower (age 60).

Your ex-spouse may qualify for benefits on your record even if you are divorced and remarried. (Benefits payable to your divorced spouse have no effect on the amount of benefits you or your current spouse receive.) To qualify on your record, your ex-spouse must:

1-have been married to you for at least 10 years;
2-be at least 62 years old;
3-be unmarried; and
4-not be eligible for an equal or higher benefit on his or her own Social Security record, or on someone else's Social Security record.

A child, whether biological, adopted child, a stepchild or a dependent grandchild, may receive benefits on your record if the child is:

1-unmarried;
2-under the age of 18 or a full-time student at age 19 in a grade up to the 12th grade (benefits continue until the child graduates or until two months after the child becomes 19, whichever comes first);
3-18 or older with a disability that started before age 22; the disability must meet the definition of disability for adults.

If you die first, benefits may be payable to your widow (or widower) with a disability if she or he is between the ages of 50 and 60, meets the definition of disability for adults, and the disability started before your death or within seven years after your death.

If my application is approved, when will my benefits begin? Your first benefit will be paid for the sixth full month after the date the SSA determined your disability began. For example, if your disability began June 15, your first benefit would be paid for the month of December. The benefit would be paid to you in January because benefits are paid the month following the month they are due.

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How long will my benefits continue? What will cause my benefits to stop? You will continue to receive benefits as long as you are disabled; they will cease if your medical condition improves to the point you are no longer considered disabled.

Your benefits will cease if you work and your earnings are considered substantial. Earnings of $800 a month, or $1,330 a month if you are blind, are considered substantial under the 2003 criteria. These limits are adjusted upward annually.

You are responsible for promptly reporting any improvement in your medical condition or your return to work to the SSA.

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How does SSA review my continuing eligibility for disability? The law requires that your case be reviewed periodically to see if you are still disabled. The frequency of the review depends on whether your condition is expected to improve. If improvement is "expected", your case will normally be reviewed within six to 18 months after your benefits start. If improvement is "possible", your case will normally not be reviewed sooner than three years after your benefits begin. If medical improvement is "not expected", your case will normally be reviewed no sooner than seven years after you started receiving benefits.

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What if I was injured on the job? Injuries or illnesses which occur "in the course of" or "as a result of" employment should be covered by state systems of workers' compensation. In general, 100% of your medical costs will be covered (up to state-set ceilings) and you will receive an income replacement payment of about two thirds of your weekly earnings. Unlike SSDI, this program covers both partial and short-term disability.

You can contact the workers' compensation office in your state to see if you are eligible. If you encounter difficulties in securing workers' comp or in finding out if you are eligible, call your local AFA leader or the AFA International office to get the name of an attorney near you who has agreed to handle workers' comp cases for union members. A short, initial consultation is free of charge; if the attorney takes your case, the attorney's fee will be deducted from your compensation.

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Can other payments I receive affect the amount of my disability payment? Workers' compensation or other public disability payments that may not be job-related will cause a reduction in your SSDI benefit. If you or your spouse receive a pension from an employer who does not withhold Social Security taxes, your disability payment may also be affected. For additional information, go to www.ssa.gov/dibplan/dapproval3.htm .

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What about Supplemental Security Income (SSI)? SSI payments are made on the basis of financial need to individuals who are blind or disabled (or over 65). To qualify, an individual's resources (savings and assets owned) cannot exceed $2,000 ($3,000 if married). The program is administered at the state level. The Social Security Administration recommends that you file a benefit application with the assistance of an SSA employee. To make an appointment, you can call 1-800-772-1213.

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If I am eligible for disability, am I eligible for Medicare as well? You become eligible for Medicare benefits 24 months after the first month for which you are entitled to receive a disability payment or as soon as you reach age 65. Medicare coverage for working disabled beneficiaries is explained in the next question. For more information about Medicare, go to www.medicare.gov  or call 1-800-633-4227.

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What if I want to try to return to work? Usually, you can have a trial period of nine months, not necessarily consecutive, during which your benefits will not be affected by your earnings, regardless of how much you earn. A trial work month is any work month in which your earnings are $570 or more. After nine trial work months in a 60 month period, the SSA reviews your earnings to see if they are substantial; generally, more than $800 per month (in 2003) is considered substantial. If your earnings are substantial, your benefits will continue for a three month grace period before they stop.

Work expenses related to your disability are deducted before continued eligibility for benefits is calculated. Such expenses may include prescription drugs, transportation to and from work (under certain conditions), a personal attendant or job coach, a wheelchair or a seeing eye dog. Special assistance to you will be considered as well.

Your benefits can be reinstated anytime during the next 36 months. For example, if you lose your job during this period of time, call the SSA to have your benefits reinstated. During this period, you will receive your full Social Security benefit for any month your earnings fall below the 2003 level of $800.

Medicare coverage will continue through the trial work period and may continue for a total of 8 2 years, including the trial work period, if you are still disabled. During this period, your hospital coverage is free. When your Medicare coverage runs out, you may purchase the same coverage for a monthly premium if you are still disabled.

For more detailed information, go to www.ssa.gov/pubs/10095.html  to download the publication Working While Disabled-How We Can Help. A very detailed guide is available at www.ssa.gov/work/ResourcesToolkit/redbook.html  or by calling the toll-free number 1-866-968-7842.

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What happens when I reach age 65 and am on disability? Your Social Security disability benefits automatically convert to Social Security retirement benefits but your benefit level remains the same.


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