SSA
SSI
SSI Disability
SSA, SSI, DIWC and SSD
- What Do These Terms Mean?
Social Security Administration Speaks a Language of Its Own
by Jonathan Ginsberg
Atlanta Social Security disability lawyer
When you apply for Social Security disability benefits, you will be asked to select one or more types of disability benefits in your application form. The abbreviations used by the Social Security Administration in its SSA.GOV web site and in paper documents can be confusing and if you fail to check the correct box, you could lose out on thousands of dollars of disability benefits available to you.
Here is what you need to know:
SSA - this abbreviation stands for “Social Security Administration.” The main disability benefit programs operated by SSA are “Disability” (SSD), “Supplemental Security Income” (SSI) and “Disabled Widows Benefits” (DIWB). The Social Security Administration is a division of the United States government. SSA does not operate or administer private disability insurance programs. Therefore, if you see the name or logo of a private insurance company like UNUM, UNUM-Provident or Prudential, you are not reading about an SSA disability program.
SSA has its own web site at SSA.gov, although this web site can be confusing in that it addresses numerous Social Security programs, not just disability. If you are researching Social Security disability on the Internet, there are a number of good private web sites that can offer you useful information. Examples of some useful Social Security disability web sites include:
- Atlanta, Georgia Social Security Disability Law web site - detailed and informative web site published by Social Security lawyer Jonathan Ginsberg in Atlanta, Georgia.
- Georgia Social Security Disability law site - Jonathan Ginsberg’s Georgia Social Security Disability web site
- Social Security Disability resource site - this web site offers a number of useful articles about strategies for winning a Social Security disability case based on a number of common medical conditions.
- Social Security Disability blog - Jonathan Ginsberg’s Social Security blog
- Social Security Disability podcast - Jonathan Ginsberg’s video and audio blog
SSD or SSDI - this abbreviation refers to Social Security disability as set out under Title II of the Social Security Act. SSD benefits are available to individuals who have worked and who have paid Social Security taxes. As a general rule, in order to be eligible for SSD benefits, you will need a work history of approximately 5 years out of the past 10 years.
It is important to find out if you are “insured” for Title II SSD benefits. You can find out by calling SSA at 800-772-1213, or by downloading and submitting Form SSA-7004 to SSA. Click here to download a copy of this form. This and other Social Security disability forms is thoroughly explained in the Disability Answer Guide.
SSA uses various formulas to determine whether you are eligible for Title II SSD benefits. If you are not sure, it is a good idea to check the SSA application box.
SSI - this abbreviation stands for “Supplemental Security Income” and is a welfare benefit program available to those individuals who have little or no income and little or no personal possessions. Here, too, there is no harm or penalty for checking the SSI box - if you are not eligible, SSA will advise you further along in the process.
DIWB - this abbreviation stands for “disabled widows (or widowers) benefits. You can collect disability benefits based on your deceased spouse’s earnings record if:
- you are between the ages of 50 and 60
- you became disabled within the past 7 years
- you meet the definition of disability (unable to engage in substantial gainful activity)
Like most governmental agencies, SSA uses abbreviations and acronyms to identify its programs as well as components of its programs. If you are not sure what an abbreviation means, look it up on the SSA.gov web site, or by calling SSA’s toll free number - 800-772-1213.
Back to Social Security disability forms main Page