What is Social Security?

Social Security was designed to give security and protection from unexpected disasters to individuals by means of spreading certain risks amongst all the members of the society with the intention to ensure that no family will put up with the full weight of certain incidents.

What is Social Security Act?

The Social Security Act is a law that strives to give the basic needs of individuals with disabilities and those who have retired.

This act was signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt on August 14, 1935. Roosevelt was the one who introduced the Social Security Act in response to the predicament, which was the Great Depression.

What are the programs under the Social Security Act?

Under the Social Security Act, there are programs that provide benefits to certain qualified individuals. Some of these programs are listed below:

• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

The Social Security Disability Insurance or SSDI is one of the programs administered by the Social Security Administration or SSA that gives benefits to people with disabilities or are blind that are "insured" by the contributions of employees to the trust fund of the Social Security. The contributions of workers are based on your earnings or those of your spouse's or parents' as required by the Federal Insurance Contributions Act or FICA. The Title II of the Social Security Act authorizes the benefits provided by the SSDI.

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

The Supplemental Security Income or SSI is the federal government's income supplement program that is financed, not by Social Security taxes, but by general tax revenues.

The SSI is intended to aid individuals who are disabled, aged, or blind and have little or no income at all. This program gives cash to meet the many basic needs of people such as shelter, food, and clothing.

• Medicaid

Medicaid is health insurance program for individuals who are needy and have low income. This program is jointly funded by the federal and state governments.

Medicaid covers a lot of individuals, including children and those who are aged, blind, and disabled, as well as others who are eligible to receive income maintenance payments, which are federally assisted.

Under 32 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Medicaid is provided for those individuals who are eligible to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. The application for Medicaid in these states is also the application for SSI and the eligibility starts the same time as the eligibility of the SSI.

Here is a list of the jurisdictions that use the same rules and regulations in deciding Medicaid eligibility as the Social Security Administration uses for SSI but requires filing a separate application:

1. Alaska

2. Idaho

3. Kansas

4. Nebraska

5. Nevada

6. Northern Mariana Islands

7. Oregon

8. Utah

Other states have their own laws for Medicaid eligibility that are different from the rules and regulations of the Social Security Administration's Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in which a separate application has to be filed for Medicaid, These states are include the following:

1. Connecticut

2. Hawaii

3. Illinois

4. Indiana

5. Minnesota

6. Missouri

7. New Hampshire

8. North Dakota

9. Ohio

10. Oklahoma

11. Virginia

Los Angeles Social Security Lawyers

If you are in L.A. and you are applying for any of the programs administered by the SSA, it is important to consult with skillful Social Security lawyers in Los Angeles to assist you in your legal concerns.