There’s Plenty You Should Know About Social Security Disability Benefits!

Posted on January 19, 2017 by Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications

Life is unpredictable. When something interrupts your plans, it’s good to know there’s a way to supplement your income, in case of an unexpected life event.

Social Security has a strict definition of disability based on your inability to work and provide for yourself and your family. Disability benefits are available only to people with impairments so severe that they prevent any kind of significant, profitable work. Social Security pays only for total disability. No benefits are payable for partial disability or for short-term disability. Continue reading →

Celebrating Those Who Provide Care

Posted on December 21, 2016 by Stacy Rodgers, Chief of Staff, Social Security Administration

November was National Family Caregivers Month. In his Presidential Proclamation in celebration of caregivers, President Obama reminds us that our great nation was founded on the ideal that we all do better when we look out for one another. For millions of Americans, this concept is more than an ideal. It’s a day-to-day reality. Continue reading →

Keeping our Disability Programs Updated

Posted on December 15, 2016 by Gina Clemons, Associate Commissioner, Office of Disability Policy

As we continue to reflect on the 60^th anniversary of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) this year, it’s worth noting some of the ways the program has evolved over time. A lot has changed since DI started in 1956! We continuously work to ensure our programs keep pace with rapid changes in medical care, healthcare delivery models, assistive technology, and workplace requirements. Continue reading →

Obamacare Offers New Protections for LGBTQ Americans

Posted on December 8, 2016 by Katie Keith, Steering Committee Member, Out2Enroll

As we celebrate LGBTQ Enrollment Week of Action, millions of Americans—including many LGBTQ people—are already covered by health insurance thanks to the Affordable Care Act. And millions more can get covered before January 31, 2017.

For many in the LGBTQ community, access to health care might not seem like much of a priority. But health is an LGBTQ equality issue. Why? Because the LGBTQ community faces health disparities in areas like obesity, smoking, cancer screening, and HIV. LGBTQ people are disproportionately likely to be uninsured and to face discrimination by health care providers when in need of care. Continue reading →

Disability Insurance (DI) Facts

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Doug Walker, Deputy Commissioner, Communications

Social Security disability payments are modest, but they keep some families financially afloat.

Relief for Thousands Suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease

Posted on November 29, 2016 by Robert Egge, Alzheimer’s Association, Chief Public Policy Officer

Today, there are nearly 5.4 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease. While most people associate the disease with old age, there are 200,000 Americans under the age of 65 living with it today. As with all forms of the disease, Early Onset Alzheimer’s is a progressive, terminal disease, which cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed.

Since the onset can occur in people as early as their thirties and forties, it often strikes during an individual’s prime working years, and as the disease progresses it prevents gainful employment. As a result, individuals are coming to grips with a devastating diagnosis all while losing employment and the salary and benefits that come with being employed. These individuals and their caregivers then must figure out how they will pay for their care. Continue reading →

We Need Your Insights on Telehealth and Telemedicine

Posted on October 11, 2016 by Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications

What is the National Disability Forum?

The National Disability Forum is an open conversation where members of the public, community leaders, and Social Security employees come together to talk about the disability programs. Social Security uses these meetings to listen to you and your community leaders so we can learn what’s important to you.

Your input is important to Social Security. We use what we learn from you and your community to improve our rules and policies to help people with disabilities. The National Disability Forum does not replace Social Security’s normal rule-making process, but it does help us hear from you before we make any new rules. Learn more about the National Disability Forum here. Continue reading →