However, there are instances wherein a person will stop working due to various reasons. There may also be cases wherein people may need extra financial help. To address these needs of the people the Early Retirement Security Act (ERISA) was established. One of the ways wherein employees are helped by ERISA is through the welfare benefits that are provided by it.

ERIS law is a federal law which is comprised of provisions that cover almost all of the benefit plans private sectors. One of the benefit plans provided by this law is welfare plans that are maintained, establishes, as well as governed by the Social Security to provide employees with two vital benefits like disability and health benefits.

Disability Benefits

Disability benefits are provided to people who are not able to work because of a condition that they have which is expected to last at least a year or may lead to their deaths. Social Security does not provide disability benefits to people who possess disabilities that are only partial, unlike some other programs. Social Security provided benefits to people through the two programs that they have which are:

?Social Disability Insurance Program (SSDI) ? The SSDI is only given to people with a disability who already worked or became employed for a specific number of years. Persons who are disabled and want to avail the benefit must apply for it immediately because the processing of some applications may take three to five moths. In addition, when applying for this benefit, there are requirements and information needed including:

oyour Social Security number

oyour baptismal and birth certificate

otests and laboratory results

omedical records from your therapists, doctors, clinics, hospitals, and caseworkers that are already in your possession

?Supplemental Security Income (SSI)- The SSI program provides money benefits to people with low income who are 65 years old and above, or are blind, or a disabled.

The SSI governed by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and is paid for by the general funds coming from the U.S Treasury funds, not the Social Security trust funds.

Health Benefits

When the ERISA was amended in order to widen the protection that it provides when it comes to participants as well as health plan beneficiaries, two provisions were added which are:

?Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act (COBRA)- COBRA provides workers as well as their family the right to extend their health coverage for a certain limited time after specific events occur, one of which is when employees lose their jobs.

?Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA)- HIPPA provides essential new protection for working Americans who possess pre-existing medical conditions or might undergo and experience discrimination in health coverage due to the factors relating to their health. Families of these working Americans are also given the vital protection.

Help Acquired Through Welfare Benefits under ERISA Law

Disability and health benefits are only two of the various welfare benefits that are provided by the ERISA law. Various benefits like death benefits, training and apprenticeship benefits, among others, are also given. These benefits that are given will serve as an aid to employees during their time of need.