Medicare Eligibility

The CSR informs Malia that the Social Security Administration (SSA) determines if a person is disabled and eligible to receive SSA cash benefits.

In order to be considered disabled by SSA, a person must have a physical and/or mental impairment that keeps her from working for at least 12 months or is expected to result in death. The impairment must keep her from doing any "substantial" work. Generally, monthly earnings of $800 or more are considered substantial.

A person might also be considered disabled based on blindness.

In most cases, a person is eligible for Medicare after she has received SSA cash benefits for 24 months. (Railroad employees and Federal Government employees may also be eligible for Medicare based on disability.)

Malia tells the CSR that her mother has been receiving SSA cash benefits for nearly 2 years.

Select blindness to view SSA's definition.

Select Medicare eligibility to view a definition of this term.

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Last Updated 11/02/2004