WHO CAN GET SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS?
If you are unable to work because of a severe illness, certified by doctors, that has lasted at least 12 months or is expected to last at least 12 months or end in death, you may be able to get Monthly Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments for yourself and eligible family members (such as a spouse, unmarried ex-spouse, child, or adult disabled child).
For these additional family members, the amount is in addition to the worker’s benefit and there is a maximum amount that can be paid to any one family.
When you become disabled you have several options.
You may be entitled to State Disability Insurance (see section on Workers Rights and Unemployment under “What If I Get Injured and Can’t Work”).
However, you should also apply immediately for disability benefits under Social Security.
You may also want to apply for SSI (see section on SSI)
SSDI does not require low family income, but SSI does. Also, SSDI provides Medicare eligibility, while SSI provides Medi-Cal. SSDI requires that the applicant have a record of at least some wages earned during each of 20 quarters (three-month periods) of covered employment in the last 10 years before becoming disabled
SSI has no work history requirement.
Because both SSI and SSDI can take several months from application to approval, while waiting you can also apply for “Medi-Cal Only” at the welfare office. It is important not to wait until your state disability benefits have run out before applying for federal disability benefits. If you have not yet received your SSI or SSDI and your state disability benefits have run out, you should apply for General Assistance (see section on General Assistance.)