Social Security Disability Insurance is available to those who have worked and paid social security taxes. Social Security pays only for total disability. You are disabled if you cannot do work that you did before, and your disability is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death. Payments begin for the sixth month of your total disability, and are equal to the amount that would be payable if you were age 65 at the time of your disability. Visit the Social Security Disability Website for additional information.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a Federal income supplement program designed to help disabled people who have little or no income. SSI provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing and shelter. Eligibility for SSI may allow you to access additional federal and state benefits including Medicaid, food stamps and social services. Visit the Supplemental Security Income Website for additional information and tools to help you find out if you qualify.
Short Term Disability Insurance is usually provided by or through your employer. As the name implies, short term disability insurance provides a daily or weekly benefit after you have been unable to work for a specified number of days or weeks, and often provides benefits for a maximum period of 13 to 26 weeks. As soon after diagnosis as possible, you should review the specific terms and requirements of your policy. The Human Resources or Employee Benefits office at your place of employment is a good resource.
Long Term Disability Insurance* too is often provided by or through your employer. Long term disability insurance provides a daily or weekly benefit, often a percentage of your pre-disability salary, after you have been disabled and unable to work for a specified number of weeks or months (the elimination period), and often provides benefits for extended periods of time, often to age 65. The benefits you receive from disability insurance are usually "coordinated" with (reduced by) Social Security and other employer/government benefits you receive.
(From Cancer and Disabilityby Bruce Wallace).
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