You may be entitled to Social Security disability benefits if you have significant physical or mental impairments that keep you from working. Your disability has to have lasted or be expected to last at least 12 months. You must also have a work history and have paid enough Social Security taxes in the recent past to be financially eligible. The Social Security Administration uses a complicated evaluation process to determine if you are disabled. SSA considers not only your medical condition, but your age, your education, and your past work experience in making its decision. Having an attorney familiar with this evaluation process can be critical to success.

SSI benefits are paid to persons who do not qualify for SSA Disability and Disability Insurance Benefits. Even if you have never worked, or have not worked long enough to satisfy the requirements for SSD, you may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits. A person’s disability would be determined by the same standard of SSA Disability and Disability Insurance Benefits. Eligibility for SSI does require a resources test. The resources test involves the amount of money received in a household and/or any other property.

Widow’s or Widower’s Disability benefits are paid based on the earnings record of a deceased spouse. However, to be eligible, the surviving spouse must be at least 50 years of age and disabled, and meet time limitations and certain other requirements.

Adult children can collect Social Security disability benefits based on their parents’ earnings record. The child must be over the age of 18, disabled and unmarried.

Disabled children under the age of 18 years may qualify for SSI benefits if their family’s income and assets are below certain guidelines. The definition of disability is different for children then for adults.