JAV socialinės apsaugos sistemos finansinė parama, teikiama neįgaliems žmonėms

Abstract

People with disabilities are one of the most vulnerable, socially isolated groups in the whole population. Being citizens of their own country, they have the same rights to participate in the life of society, in decision-making processes, in spite of the nature of disability to feel dignified and equal community members.
An article analysis social security system of United States of America in rendering financial support (pensions, disability benefits and other monetary payments) to persons with disabilities. It describes two main programs in social security system: Social Security Disability Insurance program and Supplemental Security Income program, their operation principles and criteria, effectiveness. Those two programs follow the same principle – to guarantee to persons financial means that compensate their disability, meet their special needs. They both are put under the same requirements and evaluation criteria, apply the same process of decision making and appeals, are oriented to the same social category – persons with disabilities. That is why those programs are concurrent and complement each other. One of them guarantees financial assistance to those disabled persons who have lost work income because of their disability, another – assures livelihood for those disabled people who have no working ability and means of subsistence.
The article also discusses powers and competency of US social security system‘s participating parties – benefit recipients, professionals and institutions; presents the procedure of disability evaluation under social security, its criteria and requirements. Social Security administration coordinates and controls both programs and all cases when providing financial support to persons with disabilities. Laws provide very clear and detailed regulation of the whole social security system: disability evaluation process, requirements and criteria for benefit recipients, decision making and appealing procedures, etc. This determines effectiveness and expedition of the system, its accessibility to benefit recipients, secures the possibility to control the course of individual financial support receiving process.
Upon detailed analysis of various legal Federal and different US State acts, studies of scientific materials, informational and statistical data, practical experience the author presents conclusions on the effectiveness and operation of USA social security system, guaranties for persons with disabilities to receive an adequate and sufficient financial support.
In consideration of the detailed review of US social support system, the brief comparison of US social security system and social security system of Lithuania is presented. The most important Lithuanian legislature and main functioning programs, guaranteeing financial assistance to persons with disabilities are discussed and conclusions on some possible developments are presented.