[GRAPHIC: Crowe & Shanahan, The Social Security Law Group, 877-213-7793, www.croweshanahan.com, 720 Olive Street, Suite 2300 | St. Louis MO 63101]
BOB CROWE: A lot of people think there's just one thing called Social Security Disability benefits. But that's not so.
There are four benefit programs. There's disability insurance for people who've worked and paid in Social Security tax and built up insurance coverage. There's SSI, Supplemental Security Income. And that's for low-income disabled people, even if they've never paid in Social Security tax. There's two others that are a little bit rare. There's a special disability program for disabled widows and widowers who can get something on their late spouse's account if they've paid in Social Security tax themselves once the widow or widower is 50 years of age. And there's another one they call childhood disability benefits, which is actually for young adults. If someone becomes disabled by the time they're 22, they can get a disability benefit based on their parents' Social Security tax account in some cases.
Social Security's disability rules are complicated. It makes a difference to be represented by someone who's experienced and who knows the law.
[GRAPHIC: Crowe & Shanahan, The Social Security Law Group, 877-213-7793, www.croweshanahan.com, 720 Olive Street, Suite 2300 | St. Louis MO 63101]
