You would do away with Disability benefits? Is it bigger than Medicare/Medicaid/Social Security? I never really hear the Disability program talked about
@OfTheCross Company Disability Insurance, SSDI, SSI
Company Disability Insurance:
Before I knew my husband, an Engineer employed by a large company, when he was hired he had a choice of two insurance polices - regular life insurance or disability insurance. He took the disability insurance, not know he would need this the rest of his life. He had a bone disease, Ankylosing Spondylitis but did not know it at that time. A few years later, he was walking in his office and fell to the floor. His hip bones had collapsed - they were dying. He never worked there again - that disability insurance kicked in and he had income the rest of his life, along with long term SSDI.
Private companies no longer offer Disability Insurance. Social Security programs are used now.
Below explains SSDI and SSI. Social Security Adm. sent people to me for psychological testing/medical evaluation of past ability and ability now. SS Adm. used my reports to enroll people in these programs or deny them benefits. My report affected the rest of their life. I took this responsibility seriously and my reports ran about 10 pages, single spaced. Here are the two programs:
SSDI, or Social Security Disability Insurance, will help you if you have a long history of work, and you have paid into Social Security in prior work years. To qualify for SSDI, you also need to have been working for five of the last ten years. SSDI will help if you are severely disabled and can't be employed in your field of work. Your medical issue must meet the Social Security disability guidelines, and SSDI will pay eligible family members, as well.
Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, will support you if you have low income and few resources. It will give you cash for your basic needs, like shelter, clothing, and food. SSI pays out money based mainly on your monetary need. The program will award benefits if you have low income and are 65 or older, if you are disabled due to a medical condition, or if you are blind.