Social Security Disability
Accessible Web Courtesy FAQ

Disability under Social Security for an adult is based on your inability to work because of a medical condition. To be considered disabled:

• You must be unable to do work you did before and we decide that you cannot adjust to other work because of a medical condition.
• Your disability must last or be expected to last for at least one year or to result in death.

Social Security pays only for total disability. No benefits are payable for partial disability or short-term disability.

For adults, we use a five-step evaluation process to decide whether you are disabled under Social Security. The process considers any current work activity you are doing, and your medical condition and how it affects your ability to work. For more information, we recommend that you read the publication, Disability Benefits (SSA Publication No. 05-10029)

Yes. You can apply for Social Security Retirement benefits, Spouse's benefits or Disability benefits online by going to: www.socialsecurity.gov/applyforbenefits and following the instructions. When your application is received in your local social security office, we will make sure that we have all the information we need to make a decision on your claim.

You will find helpful links to all the online forms you need to apply for disability benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability. Reviewing and collecting the information shown in the Disability Starter Kit will help prepare you for your disability interview or help you to complete your online Disability Report. The Disability Report Form asks for information about your conditions or impairments that prevent you from working.

To prepare for filing retirement benefits, see How to Apply for Retirement Benefits (link to www.socialsecurity.gov/r&m2.htm).

At this time, you cannot apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits online. If you wish to file for SSI benefits (aged, blind or disabled), contact the Social Security Administration immediately at 1-800-772-1213, so that you do not lose any potential benefits.

If you are filing for SSI disability for an adult or a child, you can complete the Disability Report online. You can also view the Fact Sheet and Checklist in the Disability Starter Kit to see what information you will need and the kinds of questions we will ask when you have your disability interview in your local Social Security office or over the phone. Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit your local Social Security office right away so that you do not lose potential benefits, even if you complete the Disability Report online.

The answer is "maybe."

Some people who get Social Security benefits have to pay income taxes on them. This will apply to you only if you have other substantial income in addition to your benefits (for example, wages, self-employment, interest, dividends and other taxable income that you have to report on your tax return). No one pays taxes on more than 85 percent of his or her Social Security benefits and some pay on a smaller amount, based on these IRS rules:

• If you file a federal tax return as an "individual" and your combined income* is between $25,000 and $34,000, you may have to pay income tax on 50 percent of your Social Security benefits. If your combined income is above $34,000, up to 85 percent of your Social Security benefits is subject to income tax.
• If you file a joint return, you may have to pay taxes on 50 percent of your benefits if you and your spouse have a combined income* that is between $32,000 and $44,000. If your combined income is more than $44,000, up to 85 percent of your Social Security benefits is subject to income tax.
• If you are married and file a separate tax return, you probably will pay taxes on your benefits.

*On your 1040 tax return, your "combined income" is the sum of your adjusted gross income, plus nontaxable interest, plus one-half of your Social Security benefits.

Every January you will receive a Social Security Benefit Statement (Form SSA-1099) showing the amount of benefits you received in the previous year. You can use this statement when you complete your federal income tax return to find out if your benefits are subject to tax. Although you're not required to have federal taxes withheld from your Social Security benefits, you may find it easier than paying quarterly estimated tax payments. See here for information on how to have taxes withheld.

For more information about your taxes, see Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Publication 554, Tax Information for Older Americans, and Publication 915, Social Security Benefits and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits. Both publications have worksheets to help you figure out whether your benefits would be taxable.

You also can call the IRS toll-free number, 1-800-829-3676 to ask for copies of these publications.

NOTE: Both publications require the Adobe Acrobat Reader software to view.

Keep in mind, Social Security is not an authority on tax matters. For more information, call the Internal Revenue Service's toll-free telephone number, 1-800-829-3676, to ask for Publication 554, Tax Information for Older American's and Publication 915, Social Security Benefits and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits. People who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the IRS toll-free TTY number, 1-800-829-4059. You can also access these publications on the IRS Web site at: http://www.irs.gov.

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Yes. You can apply for Social Security Disability benefits online by going to: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability/ and following the instructions.

You will find helpful links to the online forms you need to apply for disability benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability. Reviewing and collecting the information shown in the Disability Starter Kit will help prepare you for your disability interview or to complete your online Disability Report. The Disability Report Form (SSA-3368) asks for information about your conditions or impairments that prevent you from working.

At this time, you cannot complete an application for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability online. If you are filing for SSI disability, you can complete the Disability Report Form online. You can view the Fact Sheet and Checklist in the Disability Starter Kit to see what information you will need and the kinds of questions we will ask when you have your disability interview in your local Social Security office or over the phone.

We have special rules called "work incentives" that help you keep your cash benefits and Medicare while you test your ability to work. For example, there is a trial work period during which you can receive full benefits regardless of how much you earn, as long as you report your work activity and continue to have a disabling impairment. The trial work period continues until you accumulate nine months (not necessarily consecutive) in which you perform what we call "services" within a rolling 60-month period. We consider your work to be "services" if you earn more than $590 a month in 2005. For 2004, this amount was $580. After the trial work period ends, your benefits will stop for months your earnings are at a level we consider "substantial," currently $830 in 2005. For 2004, this amount was $810. Different amounts apply to people who are disabled because of blindness.

For an additional 36 months after completing the trial work period, we can start your benefits again if your earnings fall below the "substantial" level and you continue to have a disabling impairment. For more information about work incentives, we recommend that you read the leaflet, Working While Disabled-How We Can Help (SSA Publication Number 05-10095).

The Social Security Administration is responsible for two major programs that provide benefits based on disability: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), which is based on prior work under Social Security, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Under SSI, payments are made on the basis of financial need.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is financed with Social Security taxes paid by workers, employers, and self-employed persons. To be eligible for a Social Security benefit, the worker must earn sufficient credits based on taxable work to be "insured" for Social Security purposes. Disability benefits are payable to blind or disabled workers, widow(er)s, or adults disabled since childhood, who are otherwise eligible. The amount of the monthly disability benefit is based on the Social Security earnings record of the insured worker.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a program financed through general revenues. SSI disability benefits are payable to adults or children who are disabled or blind, have limited income and resources, meet the living arrangement requirements, and are otherwise eligible. The monthly payment varies up to the maximum federal benefit rate, which may be supplemented by the State or decreased by countable income and resources. See here for an explanation of SSI benefit payment rates.

For an adult to be considered disabled by Social Security, you must have a medical condition that prevents you from working and that is expected to last for at least one year or result in death. We use a five-step process to decide whether you are disabled. As part of that process, we check to see if you have a condition as described in the listing of impairments. If you do, we consider your medical condition to be disabling. Even if your particular medical condition is not on the list, you may still be found disabled.

For more information about the disability decision process, we recommend that you read the booklet, Social Security Disability Benefits (Publication No. 05-10029). The booklet explains the requirements for receiving disability benefits and the five-step process.

You also can find descriptions of the conditions that appear in our Listing of Impairments in the publication, "Disability Evaluation Under Social Security" (SSA Publication No. 64-039), also referred to as "The Blue Book." This publication is intended primarily for physicians and other health professionals.

There are two Social Security disability programs that include disabled children.

Under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, a child from birth to age 18 may receive monthly payments based on disability or blindness if:

• He or she has an impairment or combination of impairments that meets the definition of disability for children and
• the income and resources of the parents and the child are within the allowed limits.

Under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, an adult child (a person age 18 or older) may receive monthly benefits based on disability or blindness if:

• He or she has an impairment or combination of impairments that meets the definition of disability for adults; and
• the disability began before age 22; and
• the adult child's parent worked long enough to be insured under Social Security and is receiving retirement or disability benefits or is deceased.

Under both of these programs, the child must not be doing any "substantial" work, and must have a medical condition that has lasted or is expected either to last for at least 12 months or to result in death.

You will find helpful links to the online forms and the steps you need to take to apply for childhood disability benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability. At this time, you cannot complete an application for SSI childhood disability online, but you can complete the Child Disability Report Form online. You can also view the Fact Sheet and Checklist in the Child Disability Starter Kit to see what information you will need and the kinds of questions we will ask when you have your disability interview in your local Social Security office or over the phone. The Disability Report asks for information about the child's conditions or impairments.

Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit your local Social Security office right away so that you do not lose potential benefits, even if you complete the Disability Report Form online.

The length of time it takes to receive a decision on your disability claim is from 3 to 5 months. It can vary depending on several factors, but primarily on:

• the nature of your disability;
• how quickly we obtain medical evidence from your doctor or other medical source;
• whether it is necessary to send you for a medical examination in order to obtain evidence to support your claim; and
• If your claim is randomly selected for quality assurance review of the decision.

If you have further questions, you may call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 or TTY 1-800-325-0778. Our representatives will be glad to help you in any way they can.

No. Your disability benefits will continue as long as your medical condition has not improved and you cannot work. Your case will be reviewed at regular intervals to make sure you are still disabled.

If you are still receiving disability benefits when you reach full retirement age, they will automatically be converted to retirement benefits.

You may be able to receive SSI in addition to monthly Social Security benefits, if your Social Security benefit is low.

The amount of your SSI benefit depends on where you live. The basic SSI check is the same nationwide. Effective January 2005, the SSI payment for an eligible individual is $579 per month and $869 per month for an eligible couple. For January 2004, the SSI payment for an eligible individual is $564 per month and $846 per month for an eligible couple. However, many states add money to the basic check.

Following is a list of all States that supplement the basic SSI amount with a link to more information about that State:

• California
• Hawaii
• Massachusetts
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Vermont
• Washington D.C.

If you get SSI, you also may be able to get other help from your state or county. For example, you may be able to get Medicaid, food stamps, or some other social services. For information about all the services available in your community, call your local social services department or public welfare office.

For more information, you should read Social Security pamphlet "Supplemental Security Income".

You should call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213, to find out if you might be eligible for SSI in your state.

No, We have several work incentives that may help you to return to work without losing your benefits.

For more information about Social Security's work incentives you should: - call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213; - contact your local Social Security office; or - visit our special "Worksite" at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/work/. Click here for more information on SSA's work incentive rules.

You will begin receiving your Social Security disability benefits after you have been disabled for 5 full months. These 5 months are called the "waiting period."

Click here to see the regulation on the five-month waiting period.

When you reach full retirement age, nothing will change, except for Social Security purposes, your benefits will be called retirement benefits instead of disability benefits.

Starting with the month you reach full retirement age, you will get your benefits with no limit on your earnings. These new rules apply for the entire year of 2000, starting in January.

What is Your Full Retirement Age?

Credits are the "building blocks" we use to find out whether you have the minimum amount of covered work to qualify for each type of Social Security benefits. If you stop working before you have enough credits to qualify for benefits, your credits will stay on your record. If you return to work later, you can add more credits so that you can qualify. No benefits can be paid if you do not have enough credits.

You earn up to a maximum of 4 credits for each year by working in jobs covered by Social Security or by operating your own business as a self-employed person.

Before 1978, when employers reported your wages every 3 months, we called credits "quarters of coverage", or QCs. Back then, you got a QC or credit if you earned at least $50 in a 3-month calendar quarter.

Starting with 1978, employers report earnings just once a year. Credits are now based on your total wages and self-employment income during the year, no matter when you do the actual work. You might work all year to earn your 4 credits, or you might earn enough for all 4 in a much shorter length of time.

The amount of earnings it now takes to earn a credit changes each year. In 2005, you earn one credit for each $920 of your earnings. So if you have earned at least $3680 during the year, you get the maximum 4 credits.

During your lifetime, you will probably earn more credits than the minimum number you need to be eligible for benefits. These extra credits don't increase your benefit amount, however; it is your average earnings over your working years that determine how much your monthly payment will be. (NOTE: You do not earn credits for pension payments or for interest or dividends on savings and investments. You do not pay Social Security tax on that kind of income.)

About your credits for last year and this year: When we prepare a Social Security Statement at your request, your earnings for last year may not be on record yet and this year's earnings won't be reported until next year. Therefore, we use the earnings information you gave us on your request form to assume that you have up to additional 8 credits for those years (1-4 credits per year, depending on the earnings amount). For the automatic Statements, we use your latest posted earnings for either last year or the year before to give you these credits. (In 2005, the years we look at are 2004 and 2003.) If you don't have any earnings on record for either year or don't tell us about your earnings on your request form, we don't give you any assumed credits for this period.

No. Your Social Security disability benefit is based on the amount of your lifetime earnings before your disability began and not the degree or severity of your disability.

For more information go to: www.socialsecurity.gov/dibplan/dapproval2.htm

You can complete some or all of the forms online or call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an appointment and we will help you in person or by phone. You can apply for disability benefits online at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability.

You can find the most convenient Social Security office at www.socialsecurity.gov/locator/

People who are deaf or hard of hearing may call our toll-free "TTY" number, 1-800-325-0778, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Disability Starter Kit will help you get ready for your disability interview or help you complete the online application. Kits are available in English and Spanish for adults and for children under age 18.

The starter kit provides information about the specific documents and the information that we will request from you. We will ask for more details during the disability interview or when you complete the online Child or Adult Disability Report Form.

The kits also provide general information about the disability programs and our decision-making process that can help take some of the mystery out of applying for disability benefits.

Each Disability Starter Kit contains a:

• Factsheet that answers questions most people ask about applying for disability benefits,
• Checklist of documents and information we will request, and
• Worksheet to help you gather and organize the information you will need for your disability interview or to complete the online forms.

There is no minimum age as long as you meet the very strict social security definition of disability . But to qualify for disability benefits you must have worked long and recently enough under Social Security to earn the required number of work credits. You can earn up to a maximum of four work credits each year. The amount of earnings required for a credit increases each year as general wage levels rise.

The number of work credits you need for disability benefits depends on your age when you become disabled. Go to http://www.socialsecurity.gov/dibplan/dqualify3.htm to see how many credits you may need to qualify for disability benefits.

A brother had an accident at work last year and is now receiving Social Security disability benefits for himself, his wife, and daughter. Before his accident, he helped support another daughter by a woman to whom he has never been married. Is the second child entitled to some benefits as well?

Even though the brother wasn't married to the second child's mother, the child can qualify for Social Security benefits if he or she meets the requirements of the Social Security law. An application should be filed on the child's behalf so that we can determine if the child can qualify for benefits. Each child is entitled to equal benefits.

The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act was signed on December 17, 1999. This law includes several important opportunities for people who receive Social Security and /or Supplemental Security Income disability benefits who want to go to work.

This new law:

1. Increases beneficiary choice in obtaining rehabilitation and vocational services to help them go to work and attain their employment goals;
2. Removes barriers that require people with disabilities to choose between health care coverage and work; and
3. Assures that more Americans with disabilities have the opportunity to participate in the workforce and lessen their dependence on public benefits.

The Ticket Program will offer SSA beneficiaries with disabilities a greater choice in obtaining the services they need to help them go to work.

Disability payment you receive from workers' compensation and/or another public disability payment may reduce you and your family's Social Security benefits.

Your Social Security disability benefit will be reduced so that the combined amount of the Social Security benefit you and your family receive plus your workers' compensation payment and/or public disability payment does not exceed 80 percent of your average current earnings. (Note that the unreduced benefit amount is counted for income tax purposes.)

A workers' compensation payment is one that is made to a worker because of a job-related injury or illness. It may be paid by federal or state workers' compensation agencies, employers, or insurance companies on behalf of employers.

Public disability (PDB) payments that may affect your Social Security benefit are those paid under a federal, state, or local government law or plan. A PDB is not usually based on a work-related disability. They differ from workers' compensation because the disability that the worker has may not be job-related. Examples are civil service disability benefits, military disability benefits, state temporary disability benefits, and state or local government retirement benefits which are based on disability.

For more information, see How Worker's Compensation And Other Disability Payments May Affect Your Benefits.

A "disability freeze," also called a "period of disability," refers to a period of time you were found to be disabled or blind by Social Security. During the period of disability you may not have any earnings, or your earnings may be very low due to your disability or blindness. You can have more than one period of disability on your record.

In general, we do not count your period(s) of disability when we determine whether you have enough work credits to get Social Security disability benefits.

If you are blind or disabled, you can apply to have a period of disability established on your earnings record. Most workers who have a period of disability may also qualify for monthly disability insurance benefits. Even if you do not get disability insurance benefits for your period of disability, a "disability freeze" on your record may help you and your family get future Social Security benefits based on your disability or retirement, or as survivors on your account.

A "period of disability" (i.e., a "disability freeze") may also affect how we compute the monthly benefits amounts payable to you and your family. Usually, if we take your period of disability into account when determining monthly benefit amounts, the benefit amount will be higher.

We will ignore your "period(s) of disability" if it is to your advantage to do so. This can happen when you or your family may be entitled or get a higher monthly benefit amount by ignoring your period of disability.

The number of work credits you need to qualify for disability benefits depends on your age when you become disabled. Also, the credits must have been earned within a certain time period. Generally, you need 20 credits earned in the last 10 years, ending with the year you become disabled.

Younger workers may qualify with fewer credits. For example:

• A worker who becomes disabled before age 24 needs to have earned six credits in the three-year period ending when disability starts.

• A worker who becomes disabled between age 24 to age 31 needs to have credits for half the time between age 21 and the time disability starts. If disability starts at age 27, the worker would need credit for three years of work (12 credits) out of the past six years between age 21 and age 27.

For additional information, we recommend that you read our publication, Disability (SSA Publication No.05-10029)

The trial work period allows Social Security disability beneficiaries to test their ability to work for at least nine months. During the trial work period, you can receive full benefits no matter how much you earn, as long as you continue to have a disabling impairment and you report your work activity. The trial work period continues until you have completed nine trial work months within a 60-month period.

In 2005, any month in which you earn $590 or more counts as one of the trial work months. For 2004, this amount was $580.

After your trial work period ends, we then look at your earnings to determine whether you are working at a level we consider substantial. If you are, your cash benefits will stop. In 2005, average monthly earnings of $830 are considered substantial. For 2004, the amount was $810. There are different limits for people disabled because of blindness.

If you continue to work, there are other rules that allow you to receive benefits. For 36 months following completion of the trial work period, you can receive your full Social Security disability benefit for any month in which your earnings fall below the "substantial" level. You can find more information about available work incentives in our leaflet, Working While Disabled-How We Can Help (SSA Publication No. 05-10095).

If you become disabled a second time within five years after your previous disability benefits stopped, there is no waiting period before benefits start. If your claim is approved, you can receive benefits for the first full month of disability.

It can take from three to five months to get a decision on a disability claim, depending on how long it takes to obtain your medical records and any other information we need to decide whether you are disabled. You can help shorten this time by providing as much information as possible when you apply for benefits.

For more information about applying for benefits, we suggest that you review our booklet, Disability (SSA Publication No.05-10029) or you can go to www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability to learn how you can file a claim online.

Social Security does provide SSI disability benefits to certain low birth weight infants, whether or not they are premature. A child who weighs less than 1200 grams (about 2 pounds, 10 ounces) at birth can qualify for SSI on the basis of low birth weight, if otherwise eligible. A child who weighs between 1200 and 2000 grams at birth (about 4 pounds 6 ounces) AND who is considered small for his or her gestational age may also qualify. For this second category of low birth weight infants, the following chart shows the gestational age at birth and corresponding birth weight that satisfies our "small for gestational age" criterion.

Even if a child who was born prematurely does not fall into one of the "low birth weight" categories, he or she may still qualify for SSI if the evidence in his or her record shows that he or she meets the definition of disability for children for another reason (link to definition for disability in the Child factsheet). Go to www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or contact your local office for more information.

Yes. The requirements for disability benefits for a person with a terminal illness are no different than the requirements for disability benefits for a person with a non-terminal illness. However, we have special procedures for deciding claims involving terminal illnesses more quickly than other claims. We may become aware of the potentially terminal illness through statements from the disabled person, a friend, family member, doctor or other medical source. Other indications, such as the registration of a person in a Medicare-designated hospice, or a person receiving hospice care, also indicate a potentially terminal illness.

No. You do not have to wait a year after becoming disabled to file for disability benefits. In fact, you should apply as soon as you believe you are unable to work.

If your application is approved, your first Social Security disability benefit will be paid for the sixth full month following the date your disability began.

Example: If the state disability determination services agency decides that your disability began on May 15, your first disability benefit will be paid for the month of November, the sixth full month of disability. Social Security benefits are paid in the month following the month for which they are due, so you will receive your November benefit in December.

It would be helpful to review our booklet, Disability (SSA Publication No.05-10029), which provides more information about applying for disability benefits and how we decide whether you are disabled.

No. Your eligibility for Social Security disability benefits is not affected by any private insurance you may have. But, you may be interested to know that worker's compensation and certain other public disability payments may affect your Social Security benefit.

Starting January 1, 2001, SSA does not review the medical condition of a person receiving disability benefits if that person is using a Ticket to Work. Starting January 1, 2002, Social Security disability beneficiaries who have been entitled to benefits for at least 24 months will not be asked to go through a disability review because of the work they are doing.

SSA has contracted with MAXIMUS, Inc. to serve as the Program Manager for the Ticket Program. MAXIMUS will help us to manage the program. You can get information about the Ticket Program by calling MAXIMUS at their toll-free numbers, 1-866-968-7842 (1-866-YOURTICKET) or 1-866-833-2967 TTY (1-866-TDD 2 WORK).

If your benefits have ended because of work, you can request that we start your benefits again without having to file a new application. There are some important conditions:

- You have to be unable to work because of your medical condition.
- The medical condition must be the same as or related to the condition you had when we first decided that you should receive disability benefits.
-You have to file your request to start your benefits again within 60 months of the date you were last entitled to benefits.

You should take your Ticket to an Employment Network. The Employment Networks are private organizations or public agencies, including the State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, that have agreed to work with Social Security to provide services under this program.

You may contact MAXIMUS at the toll-free numbers shown below for information about Employment Networks that serve the area where you live. If you use the internet, you can find this information on SSA's special "Worksite".

Also, some Employment Networks may contact you to offer their services. SSA has contracted with MAXIMUS, Inc. to serve as the Program Manager for the Ticket Program. MAXIMUS will help us to manage the program. You can get information about the Ticket Program by calling MAXIMUS at their toll-free numbers, 1-866-968-7842 (1-866-yourticket) or 1-866-833-2967 TTY (1-866-TDD2work).

Social Security has a strict definition of disability for children under the SSI program. A child is disabled if he or she:

• Is not working at a job that we consider to be substantial work; and
• Has a physical or mental condition (or a combination of conditions) that results in "marked and severe functional limitations." This means that the condition(s) very seriously limits his or her activities; and
• The condition(s) has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 1 year or is expected to result in death.

To decide whether your child is disabled, we look at medical and other information (such as information from schools and from you) about his or condition(s), and we consider how the condition(s) affects his or her daily activities. We consider questions such as:

• What activities is your child not able to do, or is limited in doing?
• What kind of and how much extra help does your child need to perform age-appropriate activities -- for example, special classes at school, medical equipment?
• Do the effects of treatment interfere with your child's day-to-day activities?

Click here for additional information on how we decide if a child under age 18 is disabled.

You can give us some of the information we need about your child by completing the online Disability Report. The Child Disability Starter Kit can help you to get ready to complete the report or prepare for the disability interview. Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit your local Social Security Office right away so that you do not lose potential benefits.

Ticket to Work is available in all 50 states, District of Columbia, as well as American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

For details about the program in all locations, click here

We will send the Ticket in the mail, along with a notice and a booklet explaining the Ticket to Work Program.

The law includes several important changes to Medicaid. It gives states the option of providing Medicaid coverage to more people ages 16-64 with disabilities who work, even if they no longer receive benefits.

To find out if these provisions are available in your state, call the State Medicaid office in your area or click here to check the State Chart of Work Incentives Activity.

No. The Ticket Program is voluntary.

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).

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.

Yes, there are several services and products that are readily available. Social Security's booklet, If You Are Blind Or Have Low Vision - How We Can Help, is a good source that explains the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income programs. The booklet also refers to other special services available for people who are blind, as well as various publications available in braille. Social Security`s Braille Services Team offers publications in Braille, large print, audio cassette, and disk formats.

Click here for a list of available publications and instructuons for ordering publications in alternative formats.

Yes. Starting October 1, 2000, the law extended Medicare coverage an additional four and one-half years for most disability beneficiaries who work. This is a total of 8 1/2 years of Medicare coverage after you first return to work.

You may contact MAXIMUS at the toll-free numbers shown below for information about Employment Networks that serve the area where you live. If you use the Internet, you can find this information on SSA's special "Worksite."

Also, some Employment Networks may contact you to offer their services. SSA has contracted with MAXIMUS, Inc. to serve as the Program Manager for the Ticket Program. MAXIMUS will help us to manage the program. You can get information about the Ticket Program by calling MAXIMUS at their toll-free numbers, 1-866-968-7842 (1-866-YOURTICKET) or 1-866-833-2967 TTY (1-866-TDD 2 WORK).

You can contact any Employment Network in your area to see if it is the right one for you. Both you and the Employment Network have to agree to work together. You are free to talk with as many Employment Networks as you choose without having to give one your Ticket. And you can stop working with one Employment Network and begin working with another one.

SSA has contracted with MAXIMUS, Inc. to serve as the Program Manager for the Ticket Program. MAXIMUS will help us to manage the program. You can get information about the Ticket Program by calling MAXIMUS at their toll-free numbers, 1-866-968-7842 (1-866-YOURTICKET) or 1-866-833-2967 TTY (1-866-TDD 2 WORK).