The Social Security Disability Program

Abstract

The 1965 amendments to the Social Security Disability Program have enabled persons under 65 years of age with nonpermanent disabilities to qualify for monthly benefits and to collect retroactive benefits. Thus, the physician can help his disabled patients by advising them about the program, reporting data needed for evaluating the patient's disability, and motivating rehabilitation under special provisions of the program. The amendments also extended benefits to the physician in private practice, thus providing a potential source of supplemental income should he become disabled.