Social Security Disability: Basics About The DIB and SSI Programs




Written by: 
Attorney licensed in Indiana
Contributor Level 5
The SSA, with the authority granted to it by the Social Security Act, provides cash and insurance benefits to individuals through two disability programs, both of which use the same disability determination process, but both of which also have different, yet complementary, goals.
The first program is the Social Security DIB program, which is part of the comprehensive social security insurance program, and the second program is the Supplemental Security Income ("SSI") program, which is a means-based program designed specifically to guarantee a minimal level of income to only the poorest of the aged, blind, and disabled. Because SSI benefits are means-based and consist of only nine-percent of the benefits paid by the SSA, this article focuses on DIB. 
To be eligible for DIB, the SSA requires that an applicant be unable to engage in "substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death on which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months." To make this disability determination, and in an attempt to balance the need for efficiency with the need of ensuring that a claimant is treated fairly, the SSA adopted a subjective, five-step sequential process that considers the uniqueness of a claimant'simpairment or impairments. This five-step sequential process is discussed in detail in my next article.

Additional Resources

To read more, please follow the below link to my article published in the Valparaiso University Law Review. The article has been posted on Traver & Traver, S.C., a nationally recognized Social Security Disability law firm who has been advocating for a practical approach that is both scientific and reliable:

http://ssaconnect.com/content/view/7/175/
Attorney Nathaniel Hubley
Attorney Nathaniel Hubley's blog
Attorney Nathaniel Hubley

 
Location: Fort Wayne, IN, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Recent changes to the Indiana Worker's Compensation Board's policy regarding nurse case managers

Image
In some worker's compensation claims it is not uncommon for the worker's compensation insurance company to retain a nurse case manager to oversee the injured worker's medical treatment. Essentially, a nurse case manager acts as the worker's compensation insurance company's claim adjuster's eyes and ears on the ground. On April 17, 2018, the Indiana Worker's Compensation Board issued an update regarding its nurse case manager guidelines . According to the Indiana Worker's Compensation Board, "ideally, a nurse case manager is a liaison among the medical provider, the employer and the injured worker.  While not an indispensable player in the Indiana worker’s compensation process or specifically governed by the Worker’s Compensation Act, the nurse case manager can play an integral role in the coordination of medical treatment and the stay-at-work/return-to-work process." In its updated guidelines, the Indiana Worker's Compensation Lawyer...
Read more
Image
In the 2011-2012 Session of the Indiana General Assembly, Public Law 69-2012 was passed allowing D felons to reduce their past mistakes and have them entered as Class A Misdemeanors.  ( See  new I.C. s 35-50-2-7). In order to reduce a Class D Felony conviction and have it entered as a Class A Misdemeanor: 1.  The offense cannot be of a sexual or violent nature (as defined in I.C. 11-8-8-5); 2.  The offense did not result in bodily injury to another person; 3.  The offense did not involve perjury or official misconduct. 4.  At least three (3) years must have passed since the sentence was completed (if any); 5.  At least three (3) years must have passed since any other obligations were satisfied; and 6.  The defendant has no pending criminal charges. If you meet these criteria and would like to have your Class D Felony conviction reduced to a Class A Misdemeanor in Indiana    Attorney Fort Wayne Indiana . ...
Read more

A discussion on the problems with vocational expert testimony

The following is a link to an article I published with respect to the problems with vocational expert testimony in Social Security Disability hearings. The article has been posted on Traver & Traver, S.C., a nationally recognized Social Security Disability law firm who has been advocating for a practical approach that is both scientific and reliable: http://ssaconnect.com/content/view/7/175/
Read more