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Grant Community.com Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Descriptions |
CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC
ASSISTANCE
96.001: Social Security: Disability Insurance
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| PROGRAM AND AWARD | FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS |
| ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS | FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO. |
| APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS | INFORMATION CONTACTS |
| RELATED PROGRAMS | ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS | POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS |
Applicant Eligibility: A disabled worker is entitled to Social Security disability benefits if he or she has worked for a sufficient period of time under Social Security to be insured, has not attained "retirement age" (65 years old in 2000), has filed an application, and is under a disability as defined in the Social Security law. The insured status requirements depend upon the age of the applicant and the date he or she became disabled. Coverage credits under the social security systems of certain foreign countries with which the U.S. has reciprocal agreements may be taken into account to meet the requirements. Certain family members of disabled workers are also entitled to benefits: (1) Unmarried children under age 18, or under age 19 for students in elementary or secondary school; (2) unmarried adult offspring at any age if continuously disabled since before age 22; (3) wife or husband at any age if child in his or her care is receiving benefits on worker's Social Security record and is under age 16 or disabled; (4) spouse age 62 or over; and (5) divorced wives or husbands age 62 or over who were married to the worker for at least 10 years. (Benefits are also payable to auxiliaries, including certain disabled widow(er)s, disabled surviving divorced spouses, and disabled children of the worker, after the worker dies. See 96.004 "Social Security-Survivors' Insurance.) For workers who are first entitled after 1985 for both (a) a pension based on non-covered employment; and (b) Social Security disability (or retirement) benefits, a less generous benefit formula applies. In addition, Social Security disability benefits are reduced (offset) by the amount that the sum of all disability benefits payable under Social Security and certain Federal, State, or local public disability and workers' compensation laws or plans exceeds the higher of 80 percent of the worker's average current earnings or the total Social Security benefit that would otherwise be payable on the disabled worker's record. The Social Security benefit for a spouse of a disabled worker is subject to a pension offset if the spouse receives a governmental pension based on his or her own work in non-covered employment. However, the offset does not apply if: (i) the person received or became eligible to receive the pension before December 1, 1982, and can meet requirements for Social Security auxiliaries' benefit as they existed in January 1977; or (ii) if the person received, or was eligible to receive, the pension before July 1, 1983, and the person was dependent on his or her spouse for at least one-half support at the time the spouse died, became disabled or became entitled to Social Security benefits. The amount of the public pension used for purposes of the offset against Social Security spouse's benefits is equal to two-thirds of the public pension. The Social Security benefit for the spouse of a disabled worker is also offset dollar for dollar by the amount of any Social Security benefit the spouse receives based on his or her own work. All benefits to spouses and children of disabled workers are subject to an earnings test unless those beneficiaries are age 70 or older. In 2000, benefits are reduced $1 for each $2 of earnings over $10,080 for those under age 65 and $1 for each $3 of earnings over $17,000 for those ages 65 through 69. (NOTE: Legislation is pending to eliminate the earnings test for ages 65 through 69.)
Beneficiary Eligibility: Qualified disabled workers under age 65. Under the definition of disability in the Social Security law, disability benefits are provided to a person who is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months, or to result in death. Disabled widow(er)s' benefits are covered under survivors insurance. Felony-related impairments and confinement-related impairments cannot be considered in determining whether an individual is under a disability if the individual has been convicted of a felony which was committed after October 19, 1980. Effective for claims finally adjudicated on March 29, 1996, (or for claims approved before then, with benefits payable beginning January 1, 1997) eligibility can no longer be based on drug addiction or alcoholism. Public Law 104-121.
Credentials/Documentation: Proof of disability and possibly proof of age. If applying for benefits for family members, additional proofs of age, relationship to disabled worker, or school attendance may be required.
Preapplication Coordination: None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure: Phone or visit the local Social Security Office.
Award Procedure: After review of the application is completed, the applicant (or representative payee) will be notified by mail.
Deadlines: An individual should apply for disability benefits when he or she believes the entitlement requirements may be met. Retroactivity of benefit payments is limited to 1 year before filing.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: Not applicable.
Appeals: Phone or visit any Social Security Office. The appeal process ranges from a reconsideration through hearings and appeals levels to a review by the Federal courts.
Renewals: Not applicable.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals: Not applicable.
Examples of Funded Projects: Not applicable.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance: Monthly cash benefits for a worker disabled in 2000 range up to a maximum of $1,744 based on the level of the worker's earnings and the age at which a worker becomes disabled. The corresponding maximum for such a worker with a family is $2,616.40. As of December 31, 1999, the average benefit paid to a disabled worker alone was $741 and the average amount payable to a disabled worker with eligible dependents was $1,256. This takes into account stipulations set forth in Public Law 96-265 and Public Law 97-35. Under Public Law 97-123, the minimum amount is no longer applicable for workers who either become disabled or first met the insured status requirements after December 1981, and a lesser amount can be paid, depending on the worker's average earnings.
Federal Agency: SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
Type of Assistance: Direct Payments with Unrestricted Use; Direct Payments for Specified Use.
Obligations: (Benefit Payments) FY 99 $50,425,000,000; FY 00 est $53,964,000,000; and FY 01 est $58,292,000,000.
Budget Account Number: 20-8007-0-7-651.
Authorization: Social Security Act of 1935, Title II, as amended; 42 U.S.C. 401; 42 U.S.C. 402; 42 U.S.C. 416; 42 U.S.C. 420-425.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature: Code of Federal Regulations, Title 20, Parts 401, 402, 404, 422, 423, 429, 430, and 498. "Disability" and other publications are available from any Social Security Office without charge. The Social Security internet address is www.ssa.gov and it includes copies of all disability-related laws, regulations, rulings, and free publications, as well as other information about the disability insurance programs.
Regional or Local Office: Consult Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Headquarters Office: Office of Public Inquiries, Room 4100, Annex, Social Security Administration, Baltimore, MD 21235. Phone: (410) 965-2736. Use the same number for FTS.
(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)
Formula and Matching Requirements: This program has no statutory formula or matching requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Not applicable.
Uses and Use Restrictions: Monthly cash benefits are paid to entitled disabled persons and to entitled auxiliary beneficiaries throughout the period of disability generally after a 5-month waiting period. Costs of vocational rehabilitation also are paid for certain beneficiaries. There are no restrictions on the use of benefits received by beneficiaries, although the right to future benefits is not transferable or assignable. In general, State agencies make initial disability determinations for the Federal Government. The Federal Government gives the States funds, in advance or by way of reimbursement, for necessary costs in making disability determinations under 20 CFR 404 Subparts P and Q. Necessary costs are direct as well as indirect costs as defined in 41 CFR 1-15, subpart 1-15.7 of the Federal Procurement Regulations System for costs incurred before April 1, 1984; and 48 CFR 31, Subpart 31.6 of the Federal Acquisition Regulations System and Federal Management Circular A-74-4, as amended, or superseded for costs incurred after March 31, 1984.
Reports: Any change in address or other requirement (such as improvement of disabling condition or work activity) must be reported to the local Social Security Office when it occurs.
Audits: Persons are contacted periodically to see if they continue to qualify for benefits.
Records: Not applicable.
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Last Updated, November, 2000
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