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Simple English definitions for legal terms
disability benefits
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A quick definition of disability benefits:
Disability benefits are money given by the government to people who have disabilities. To get these benefits, a person must meet the government's definition of disability. This means they cannot do a job because of a physical or mental problem that will last for at least a year or could cause death. There are two types of disability benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Some states also have their own disability programs.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Disability benefits are money provided by the government to people with disabilities. These benefits are available under Title II of the Social Security Act as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and under Title XVI of the Social Security Act as Supplemental Security Income (SSI). To qualify for these benefits, a person must meet the Social Security Administration's definition of disability.
The Social Security Administration defines disability as "the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months".
For example, Maria Gutierrez was denied disability benefits by the Social Security Administration, but she appealed the decision and won her case in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in 2016. Kilpatrick v. Kijakazi is another case that dealt with disability benefits.
Some states also have their own disability programs, known as disability insurance.
Overall, disability benefits are a way for the government to provide financial assistance to people with disabilities who are unable to work and support themselves due to their condition.