If you are one of the many residents in California who is not able to work to a level sufficient to provide for yourself due to a disability or a blindness, you may be wondering what type of financial benefits may be available to you. Some people may have disability insurance provided through a current or former employer plan. Other people may have taken out a disability insurance policy of their own. If you do not have these types of plans, you may still be able to receive assistance from the Social Security Administration.
As explained by the SSA, there are two programs through which you may be eligible for disability benefits. In some cases, people may qualify for benefits under both programs. If this happens, you are said to be approved to receive concurrent benefits as you will be able to get assistance from two programs at the same time.
One of the programs through which you may receive assistance is Social Security Disability, or SSDI. This program is funded through contributions employees make via their employers. You do need to have sufficient work history to qualify for these benefits. The other program is called Supplemental Security Income, or SSI. This program is available to persons with low income and does not require you to have a work history that qualifies you for SSDI.
This information is not intended to provide legal advice but is instead meant to give residents in California an overview of how they may qualify to receive both Social Security Disability Insurance benefits and Supplemental Security Income benefits at the same time.
