What does a social security disability check look like

Adult Listings (Part A)

Childhood Listings (Part B)

General Information

Evidentiary Requirements

Listing of Impairments (overview)

Disability Claims Process Video Series

Revisions to Rules Regarding the Evaluation of Medical Evidence

The Listing of Impairments, which includes listings for both adults and children, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) in appendix 1 to subpart P of part 404 . We also provide them here. The listings are just part of how we decide if someone is disabled. For adults, we also consider past work experience, severity of medical conditions, age, education, and work skills.

We no longer publish Disability Evaluation Under Social Security in hardcopy because we publish updated versions of the Listing of Impairments electronically.

Our Disability Determination Process

Most Social Security disability claims are initially processed through a network of local Social Security Administration (SSA) field offices and State agencies (usually called Disability Determination Services or DDSs). Subsequent appeals of unfavorable determinations may be decided in a DDS or by an administrative law judge in SSA’s Office of Hearing Operations.

Social Security Disability Planner for applying for disability benefits online

Social Security representatives in the field offices usually obtain applications for disability benefits in person, by telephone, by mail, or by filing online. The application and related forms ask for a description of the claimant’s impairment (s), treatment sources, and other information that relates to the alleged disability. (The "claimant" is the person who is requesting disability benefits.)

The field office is responsible for verifying non-medical eligibility requirements, which may include age, employment, marital status, or Social Security coverage information. The field office then sends the case to a DDS for evaluation of disability.

The DDSs, which are fully funded by the Federal Government, are State agencies responsible for developing medical evidence and rendering the initial determination on whether or not a claimant is disabled or blind under the law.

Usually, the DDS tries to obtain evidence from the claimant's own medical sources first. If that evidence is unavailable or insufficient to make a determination, the DDS will arrange for a consultative examination (CE) to obtain the additional information needed. The claimant's treating source is the preferred source for the CE, but the DDS may obtain the CE from an independent source. After completing its development of the evidence, trained staff at the DDS makes the initial disability determination.

Then, the DDS returns the case to the field office for appropriate action. If the DDS found that the claimant is disabled, SSA completes any outstanding non-disability development, computes the benefit amount, and begins paying benefits. If the claimant was found not to be disabled, the file is kept in the field office in case the claimant decides to appeal the determination.

Understanding SSI Home Page / Understanding Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Overview

SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI) OVERVIEW

WHAT IS SSI?

SSI stands for Supplemental Security Income. Social Security administers this program. We pay monthly benefits to people with limited income and resources who are disabled, blind, or age 65 or older. Blind or disabled children may also get SSI. 

HOW IS SSI DIFFERENT FROM SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS?

Many people who are eligible for SSI may also be entitled to Social Security benefits. In fact, the application for SSI is also an application for Social Security benefits. However, SSI and Social Security are different in many ways.

Social Security benefits may be paid to you and certain members of your family if you are “insured” meaning you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes. Unlike Social Security benefits, SSI benefits are not based on your prior work or a family member's prior work.

SSI is financed by general funds of the U.S. Treasury--personal income taxes, corporate and other taxes. Social Security taxes collected under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) or the Self-Employment Contributions Act (SECA) do not fund the SSI program.

In most States, SSI recipients also can get medical assistance (Medicaid)- to pay for hospital stays, doctor bills, prescription drugs, and other health costs.

Many States also provide a supplemental payment to certain SSI recipients.

SSI recipients may also be eligible for food assistance. In some States, an application for SSI also serves as an application for food assistance.

SSI benefits are paid on the first of the month.

To get SSI, you must be disabled, blind, or at least 65 years old and have "limited" income and resources.

In addition, to get SSI, you must also:

• be either a U.S. citizen or national, or a qualified alien;


• reside in one of the 50 States, the District of Columbia or the Northern Mariana Islands; and


• not be absent from the U.S. for a full calendar month or 30 or more consecutive days.

HOW IS SSI LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS?

Both programs pay monthly benefits.

The medical standards for disability are generally the same in both programs for individuals age 18 or older. For children from birth to the attainment of age 18 there is a separate definition of disability under SSI. The medical standard is based on the severity of your disability; financial need is not considered at this step in the eligibility process.

SSA administers both programs.