disability benefits

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Overview:

Disability benefits refers to money available from the government for people with disabilities. These benefits are available under Title II of the Social Security Act as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and under Title XVI of the Social Security Act as Supplemental Security Income (SSI). In order to qualify for these benefits, a person must meet the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) definition of disability. As explained by the Social Security Administration, federal law defines disability as "the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months".

Additionally, several states have enacted statutory disability programs, known as disability insurance.

See e.g.; Maria Gutierrez v. Carolyn Colvin (9th Cir. 2016);Kilpatrick v. Kijakazi, 35 F.4th 1187 (9th Cir. 2022)

See also: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 

[Last updated in September of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]