Sometimes it is difficult for disability claimants to understand that Social Security has different types of disability programs available. A disability claim generally consists of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Although these are both types of Social Security disability programs it’s important to understand that two different people are in charge of processing each claim, which can lead to some confusion.
After Social Security determines that a claimant is indeed disabled claim’s representatives at the agency have to determine how much money a claimant will receive in past-due benefits and monthly benefits. Benefits for SSDI are calculated based on a claimant’s career earnings and SSI benefits are based on a claimant’s income and asset allocation. Not everyone will qualify for SSI benefits if there is not a financial need found, but some people can qualify for both types of benefits.
Social Security will notify claimants if they qualify for both programs and eventually award letters are issued separately. A claimant may receive one of the program’s award letters in the mail and become upset because it does not indicate what they thought they would be receiving in benefits, which happens quite regularly. As a Social Security disability law firm we represent clients where this is all too familiar. We inform clients facing this situation to wait a little bit longer because they are indeed qualified for one of the other two programs, but the award letter has yet to be issued.
Although two different Social Security employees work on issuing the two separate award letters, it would make things less confusing to claimants if they would issue the award letters at the same time, but as is the case sometimes with Social Security the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing.
