SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY: YOU PAID FOR IT - IT IS NOT WELFARE

VIEWING SOCIAL SECURITY AS AN INSURANCE PROGRAM

The Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) program works very much  like other insurance, much like your auto insurance or homeowners insurance policies.  You pay a premium to be covered, then you may file a claim if you meet the terms of the insurance.  So, SSDI is insurance that you have paid for, just like you pay for your auto or homeowners policies.

Here's how it works:

During your working years, you paid into a mandatory government disability insurance program administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA).  With each paycheck you earned, your employer deducted FICA tax under the (Federal Insurance Contributions Act)--which is the tax that pays for Social Security benefits.  The withholdings are matched dollar-for-dollar by your employer and sent to the Social Security trust funds where they provide disability and retirement insurance coverage for you. After you have paid your FICA taxes long enough, you achieve "insured status" under Social Security insurance.

By paying into the Social Security trust funds out of your wages, you achieve insured status, just like you would by paying the premiums on your auto or homeowners insurance.  If you don't pay in through FICA withholdings you have no Social Security coverage (are not "an insured person).  It's like your other insurance:  if you don't pay the premiums you won't be covered.

But if you have worked enough and recently enough to have "insured status" at Social Security you may file a claim for benefits if you become disabled before your full retirement age.  If you can meet Social Security's definition of "disabled," you can received an insurance benefit from the SSDI trust fund.

So, the two main eligibility requirements for SSDI are:

1.  You have paid a sufficient amount into SSDI and are an "insured person."

2.  You have a medical or mental disability that meets Social Security's requirements for disability.

Thus, Social Security is NOT a type of welfare.  It is a contractual matter between the claimant and the Social Security Administration.  It's something you paid for and earned.   All you have to do is meet the conditions in the policy.