If you are disabled and live in California, you may qualify for various disability benefits, depending upon your circumstances. In addition to Social Security disability benefits and disability benefits through private insurers, California residents may also be eligible for state disability insurance, or SDI for short.
Without a doubt, all of these benefits can be tremendously helpful for those who are struggling to treat their conditions while often unable to work and provide for themselves and their families as they otherwise would. You may wonder if you qualify for any of these types of benefits and, if so, how long those benefits might last. Let’s take a closer look together.
Social Security Disability Benefits
The Social Security Administration offers two types of disability benefits. Depending upon your circumstances, you may qualify for one or both. They include:
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): SSDI benefits are benefits offered by the Social Security Administration to individuals with a qualifying medical condition that has rendered them disabled for at least one calendar year or more. In addition, recipients must be “insured” – meaning that they worked a qualifying job for a sufficient length of time, through which they paid a portion of their salary in taxes to the Social Security Administration.
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI): SSI benefits, like SSDI benefits, are intended for individuals with a qualifying medical condition that has rendered them disabled for at least one calendar year or more. Unlike SSDI benefits, those who receive SSI benefits need not be “insured.” They do, however, have to have income and resources below a certain threshold established by the Social Security Administration.
Those who are approved for Social Security disability benefits of either kind can continue to receive those benefits for as long as their disability lasts – or until age 65. At this time, SSDI benefits will transition to Social Security retirement benefits. SSI benefits do not terminate or transition at age 65, however.
What Are SDI Benefits?
As a California resident and an employee, you may have noticed that a small percentage of your wages are regularly withheld for state disability insurance. For California employees who develop an injury or illness that causes them to be unable to work, the SDI program will provide weekly benefits to replace a portion of the injured employee’s lost income. In addition, the program provides benefits for women who cannot work because of pregnancy and, in certain circumstances, for those who need paid family leave to care for a newborn baby or a sick relative.
Those who want to apply for SDI benefits should:
- Be able to verify their identity with essential information. That might include a copy of your driver’s license, passport, Social Security card, or other identifying information.
- Provide accurate information concerning your most recent employment.
- Offer medical documentation of the illness or injury that has caused you to be unable to work.
- Submit your application for benefits to the California SDI administrators. You can do this by either opening an account on the California SDI website or by ordering a hard copy of the application to be delivered by mail. Generally, the applicant will fill out Part A of the application, while the doctor or other medical professional treating the employee for the disability will fill out Part B.
Typically, benefits are issued approximately two weeks after the application is submitted, although this can vary depending upon particular circumstances. Typically, SDI benefits in California are paid for a maximum of 52 weeks.
Disability Benefits Through Private Insurers
Another option for individuals struggling with disabilities are short-term and long-term disability benefits through private insurers.
Typically, short-term disability insurance is intended to replace a portion of an employee’s income for a certain amount of time while the employee is recovering from an injury or illness. Long-term disability plans are, as they sound, intended for injuries and illnesses from which an employee may not recover as quickly.
Sometimes, individuals choose to purchase their own short-term and long-term disability plans, and in other cases, they are provided by an employer. Regardless, the length of time the benefits are paid will depend upon the particular terms of the policies involved.
Sackett Law – Your Disability Attorneys
At Sackett Law, we understand that when you’re struggling with a disability, it can seem overwhelming to also have to deal with the stress and anxiety of wondering if and how to move forward with a claim for benefits, and how long those benefits might last. That’s why we’re here to help. Our knowledgeable and experienced attorneys understand every aspect of disability law, and we’ll fight tirelessly for the benefits you need and deserve. If you’re ready to get started, give us a call today. We look forward to speaking with you soon.
Leave A Comment