Basic Guidelines Regarding RSDI Benefits

The Retirement, Survivors and Disability Insurance (RSDI) is considered the largest program offered by the Social Security Administration (SSA). The RSDI was created to provide monetary benefits to SSA contributors in case they retire or get disabled. There are three types of benefits that employees and their relatives can receive once they satisfy the requirements.
Retirement
In an employee’s career, there will always be a time when it is time to retire. Under the Title II of the Social Security Act, SSA contributors will receive retirement benefits, commonly called pension, once they retire from employment. The amount of benefits a beneficiary will receive depends on the amount of his contributions and how long he paid taxes.
Who are eligible?
• Employees who have contributed to the SSA for at least 10 years.
• Contributors who have reached the retirement age as stated by the law.
Survivors
Unlike retirement benefits where the claimant should have been employed for a certain amount of time, survivor benefits do not require their beneficiaries to contribute to the SSA. As long as their relative has been a regular contributor to the SSA, they would be eligible to receive benefits on his behalf. Benefits would also be paid monthly as long as the deceased’s relatives satisfy the conditions.
Who are eligible?
• The deceased’s spouse who have reached full retirement age.
• Disabled and widowed spouses may receive survivor benefits when they reach the age of 50.
• Widowed spouses who are taking care of the deceased’s children who are 16 years old or younger, or disabled.
• The deceased’s children who are 18 – 19 years old and are unmarried.
• Children who are disabled or have become disabled before they reach 22 years of age.
• Dependent parents of the deceased who are 62 years old or above.
Disability
Disability benefits can be paid to claimants at any age as long as they sustain a severe type of disability that prevents them from doing any substantial gainful activity (SGA). The disabled employee would receive benefits as well as his dependents (if he is the family’s breadwinner) provided they meet the requirements of the SSA.
Who are eligible?
• The disabled employee should have been contributing to the SSA for at least 5 years over the last 10 years.
• An employee who has a disability that is expected to continue for at least 12 months or result in death.
Eligibility to receive RSDI benefits is relatively difficult because the SSA screens all benefit applicants thoroughly. With the help of an RSDI benefit specialist such as an attorney, you would find it easier to receive monetary benefits.