What are the three types of Social Security disability?
James Craig
Published Mar 29, 2026
The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers two types of disability benefits: SSI, or Supplemental Security Income; and SSDI, or Social Security Disability Insurance. While both benefit programs are designed for disabled individuals, their eligibility requirements and benefits differ.
What does it mean when someone is on Social Security disability?
in any substantial gainful activity
The law defines disability as the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity (SGA) by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment(s) which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.
How does Social Security help people with disabilities?
Our approach to providing Disability Assistance, set out below, has been developed by listening to individuals who have a lived experience of the current social security system and organisations representing disabled people or people with long term health conditions.
How are long term disability and Social Security benefits coordinated?
In order to best advise your client, an attorney who handles either type of case should have a working understanding of how the two benefits are coordinated. II. Long term disability benefits usually are offset for social security benefits.
Is the Social Security Disability Act controlled by ERISA?
Often, insurance companies attempt to recover our clients’ back benefits, when they are awarded social security disability benefits. Most of our client are covered under LTD policies provided at work, and most of those claims are controlled by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), 29 U.S.C. 1001 et. seq.
How are benefits normally calculated for Social Security disability?
If your client purchased the policy directly from an insurance company, or if your client’s employer was a church or government entity, then any claims under the policy are governed by state law. A. Calculating the benefits and overpayments. 1. How LTD benefits are normally calculated.
