“There are two kinds of benefits you might receive if you apply for disability benefits.”
“The first is Title II Disability. The amount you receive is based on how much you paid into the system. Thus, a server is going to get a smaller check than a doctor does unless she is a REALLY high paid server. It is with Title II disability that you receive Medicare, but you do not receive Medicare until you’ve been disabled and on benefits for two years and five months.”
The second kind is Title XVI Supplemental Security Income, or SSI. “In order to receive Title II benefits, you must have a sufficient number of time worked or what SSA calls “quarters of coverage”. If you don’t, you then qualify for SSA. Another way to qualify for SSA is if your Title II check is so small that you are below poverty level. Believe me, when I say poverty level, I mean true poverty level. The amount changes every year, but it is probably around $600 this year. Thus, if your Title II check were only $500, you would receive an SSI check for $100.”
“Children receive SSI benefits if they become disabled and their family’s income is low enough for them to qualify.”
Besides SSI, children can also receive benefits under Title II despite never having worked. They can draw off their parents under certain circumstances. If the parent is deceased, disabled, or retired, the child may draw off that parent’s Title II account if that child becomes disabled. In another scenario, a child may draw auxiliary benefits from his parent’s account when that parent becomes disabled if his parent has paid enough into the system. The child need not be disabled to receive auxilliary benefits.
“Do not worry if you are not sure whether you’re signing up for the right benefit. The Social Security Administration is duty bound to help you sign up for whatever benefit you may qualify.”
to read more about these two types of benefits from this article, CLICK HERE