Most developed countries have social security allowances for citizens who need them.

Plainly, social security is the protection that a society provides to individuals and households to ensure access to health care and to guarantee income security, particularly in cases of old age, unemployment, sickness or loss of a breadwinner.

In cases of disabilities that hamper certain students from continuing education, if the student is willing, there are different social security disability scholarship options for them.

Due to the nature of the disability and the family’s financial state, this might keep them in a realm of financial struggles so scholarships like this aim to support the disabled and remove the strain of education for the family.

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Are All Disabilities Eligible Social Security Disability Scholarship?

Technically yes. As long as you would be able to learn—and you are willing, then you can claim this scholarship. 

However, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has a list of disabilities, both physical and mental, that qualify an applicant for Social Security disability benefits (SSDI). They include:

• Musculoskeletal problems, such as back and joint injuries
• Cardiovascular conditions, such as heart failure or coronary artery disease
• Senses and speech issues, such as vision and hearing loss
• Respiratory illnesses, such as COPD, cystic fibrosis, or asthma
• Neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, or epilepsy
• mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, autism, or intellectual disorder (low IQ)
• Immune system disorders, such as HIV/AIDS, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis
• Various syndromes, such as Sjogren’s Syndrome and Marfan Syndrome
• Skin disorders, such as dermatitis and soft tissue injuries like burns
• Digestive tract problems, such as liver disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Kidney disease and genitourinary problems
• Cancer, 
• Blood disorders, such as hemolytic or sickle cell anaemia or bone marrow failure.

This sufficiently is what is considered as disabilities eligible for social security. But as a student who wants to claim this scholarship, the following disabilities are also accepted;

• Autism Spectrum
• Deaf & Hard of Hearing
• Learning & Cognitive
• Physical Disabilities or Chronic Illness
• Speech
• Visual
• Veterans with Disabilities

Sometimes, these social security scholarships are granted to students in groups eg; for students who are visually impaired.

Regardless, as long as you have any of the above, you are likely qualified for a social security scholarship for disabled students.

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Social Security Disability Scholarship Requirements:

Like every other scholarship or special grant, you need to meet certain criteria to be able to receive this social security disability scholarship and they are;

1. You must be unable to work or resume school because you have a medical condition that is expected to last at least one year or result in death.

2. Unfortunately, you must have a partial or short-term disability. This is to ensure that people, students who are saddled with a lifelong disability actually receive maximum help.

3. Meet SSA’s definition of a disability; as stated above.

4. Be at least eighteen years old.

5. You must not be currently receiving benefits on your own Social Security record

6. You should have not been denied disability benefits in the last 60 days. If your application was recently denied for medical reasons, the Internet Appeal should be made for your request to be reviewed.

If you meet the requirements, then we should proceed with the application.

How To Apply For Social Security Disability Scholarship:

There are two methods of applying for a Social Security Disability Scholarship.

You can either apply from the comfort of your home online or go to your local Social Security office to get an appointment with a Social Security representative.

To apply there are certain things you need to do/know; some of the listed requirements you might not be able to provide if you are an undergraduate, as the work requirements and if you can not provide it, that’s fine.

But if you are a postgraduate student or continuing education student then you should be able to provide.

1. Print and review the Student Disability Checklist.

2. Complete the Disability Benefit Application.

3. Provide Information About You such as;

• Your date and place of birth and Social Security number
• The name, Social Security number and date of birth or age of your current spouse and any former spouse—if any. You should also know the dates and places of marriage and dates of divorce or death (if appropriate)
• Names and dates of birth of your minor children—if any
• Your bank or other financial institution’s Routing Transit Number and the account number, if you want the benefits electronically deposited

4. Proper and complete Information About Your Medical Condition, including a doctor’s report 

5. Name, address and phone number of someone who knows about your medical conditions and can be contacted to help with your application.

6. Detailed information about your medical illnesses, injuries or conditions such as:

• Names, addresses, phone numbers, patient ID numbers and dates of treatment for all doctors, hospitals and clinics;
• Names of medicines you are taking and who prescribed them; and
• Names and dates of medical tests you have had and who sent you for them.

7. You need to provide also, information About Your Work that states;

• The amount of money earned last year and this year
• The name and address of your employer(s) for this year and last year
• A copy of your Social Security Statement
• The beginning and ending dates of any active U.S. military service you had before 1968
• A list of the jobs (up to 5) that you had in the 15 years before you became unable to work and the dates you worked at those jobs

8. Information about any workers’ compensation, black lung, and/or similar benefits you filed, or intend to file for. These benefits can be:

Be temporary or permanent in nature;

• Include annuities and lump sum payments that you received in the past;
• Be paid by your employer or your employer’s insurance carrier, private agencies, or Federal, State or other government or public agencies; and
• Be referred to as:
• Workers’ Compensation;
• Black Lung Benefits;
• Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation;
• Civil Service (Disability) Retirement;
• Federal Employees’ Retirement;
• Federal Employees’ Compensation;
• State or local government disability insurance benefits; or
• Disability benefits from the military (This includes military retirement pensions based on disability but not Veterans’ Administration (VA) benefits.)

9. Complete the Medical Release Form

10. Provide Birth certificate or other proof of birth;

11. Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status if you were not born in the United States 

12. You should have your Medical evidence already in your possession. This includes medical records, doctors’ reports, recent test results or other proof of any temporary or permanent workers’ compensation-type benefits you received 

If you have these documents, you should either mail them or bring them to the closest Social Security office and if you qualify for disability benefits, certain members of your family may be eligible to receive benefits based on your record.

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Conclusion:

Once you have sent your documents, they would be reviewed and the feedback would be sent to you whether you are eligible to receive them or not.

And once you do receive it, you should know that the authorities would keep an eye on you to ensure that you attend your doctor’s appointments while keeping a good GPA in school.