The Social Security Disability program started in 1956, and since then, there have been several changes to the law. Changes include health care delivery, technology, updated vocational information and medical care.
Despite these changes, many people have benefitted from SSDI for over 60 years.
The purpose of SSDI
According to the Social Security Administration, the plan to establish the SSDI program was put in place in the 1930s. After its actualization, people began contributing to the Social Security Fund and drawing financial benefits from it. Generally, the purpose of SSDI is to ensure you have financial protection when you are no longer able to do substantial work.
The first Social Security Congress occurred in 1954. Before the congress, you could face penalties for not contributing to the Social Security Fund, even if you had a disability. The first congress introduced a disability freeze with the goal of protecting retirement benefits even when a person is not able to contribute to the fund due to a disability.
Access to benefits
Many people consider the program a success because of the number of beneficiaries that share positive stories. The Social Security Administration says that millions of Americans lead good lives even without contributing to the fund.
Defining what should be a disability is challenging, and filling out the forms correctly on the first try is difficult for many people. Initial rejections are common. It is often difficult for people with short-term or partial disabilities to gain access to SSDI, even if they have contributed earnings to it up to this point. If you get impaired severely, and the situation seems to last for over a year, you are a beneficiary. It may be worth a person’s time to file an appeal with guidance if he or she has initially received a rejection for access to SSDI in spite of having a disability.