Social Security Introduction | SocialSecurityLawFirms.com

The social security act and the Social Security Administration were created by President Roosevelt during the Great Depression. It was a plan to provide a guaranteed income to older workers when they reached age 65. Eventually through various amendments, the program was expanded to provide benefits to disabled workers, a workers dependents, and death benefits if a worker died prematurely.

How is Social Security Funded?

Each worker pays into the social security system through the payroll taxes that are taken out of their paycheck based on a formula. Your employer also pays payroll taxes into the system. Social Security is a form of insurance; it is not a government handout. You get out what you put in.

Types of Social Security Benefits

Today’s Social Security provides retirement benefits, disability benefits, survivor’s benefits, supplemental security income, and Medicare.

Retirement benefits are paid to a worker based on the amount of funds they paid into the system through their social security taxes and if they have enough work credits. You must have 40 work credits or 10 years of work to eligible for benefits.
Disability benefits are paid to persons because they cannot work because of a medical condition that is expected to last at least one year or result in death. Federal law requires this very strict definition. Social security does not pay partial or short-term disability like some other programs.
Survivor’s benefits are paid to the surviving spouse or children of a deceased worker. The amount a survivor receives is based on the average lifetime earnings of the deceased wage earner, the higher the earnings, the higher the benefit amount to the survivors. Survivors’ benefits can be larger than individual life insurance.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) makes payments to people who are low income and have limited resources, blind, disabled or 65 and over. Blind and disabled children can also receive SSI benefits.
Medicare is the health insurance program for people 65 and older. Adults and children who are disabled can also receive Medicare benefits. Medicare does not cover all medical expenses or the cost of long-term care.

Get Help with Social Security

You do have the right to have representation concerning any aspect of social security. Your representative can be an attorney or other qualified person. Legal representation is advisable when dealing with the technical nature of disability claims or issues involving eligibility. Social Security will pay fees to this person if you have a fee agreement or a fee petition is filed. Social Security will not pay more than 25% of past due benefits or $6,000 whichever is less.

Summary

Social Security was created to provide a guaranteed income to workers when they reached 65. It has since expanded to include survivor’s benefits, disability benefits, supplemental security income, and Medicare. Social Security will pay fees to your representative if you have a fee agreement or a fee petition is filed.

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