Disability Evaluation Under Social Security (Also Known as the 'Blue Book')

摘要

The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers two programs that provide benefits based on disability: the Social Security disability insurance program (title II of the Social Security Act (the Act)) and the supplemental security income (SSI) program (title XVI of the Act). Title II provides for payment of disability benefits to individuals who are 'insured' under the Act by virtue of their contributions to the Social Security trust fund through the Social Security tax on their earnings, as well as to certain disabled dependents of insured individuals. Title XVI provides for SSI payments to individuals (including children under age 18) who are disabled and have limited income and resources. The Act and SSA's implementing regulations prescribe rules for deciding if an individual is 'disabled.' SSA's criteria for deciding if someone is disabled are not necessarily the same as the criteria applied in other Government and private disability programs.