Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income benefits are available for individuals who have been or are expected to be unable to work for at least twelve months due to either physical or mental impairments. If an illness or impairment is expected to end in death an individual is also entitled to disability benefits. The amount of the benefit you receive depends on how long you have worked and how much you earned.
Disabled children and adults who do not have a significant earnings history may be entitled to Supplemental Security Income. The time frames for obtaining benefits and the process by which Social Security determines if an individual is disabled and entitled to benefits is discussed below.