Social Security Disability actually refers to several related programs. The most familiar of which is Disability Insurance Benefits. It pays benefits to workers who have paid in to the Social Security system and have now become disabled.

Disabled Widows Benefits is for those widows and widowers who are disabled and whose spouses had paid into the social security system prior to their death.

Disabled Adult Child Benefits go to the children of persons who are deceased or who are drawing Social Security disability or retirement benefits. The child must have become disabled before age 22.

For each of the above benefits the following must be true in order to be eligible. The person claiming benefits must meet the SSA's definition of disabled and the person claiming benefits must be eligible due to payments to the social security system either of their own, their deceased spouses, or their parent(s). Eligibility is not based on wealth or lack thereof.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is different in that it is not dependant on having paid into the social security systems and it is dependant on assets and income. For more information on SSI click here.