Social Security Disability Insurance

• People that cannot work for at least one year due to a disability, including blindness, may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). To qualify, someone must have paid into Social Security for a length of time determined by his age; the older someone is, the longer he needs to have paid into the system.
  
  

Supplemental Security Insurance

• People that have not paid into Social Security long enough to qualify for SSDI may qualify for Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI). People must have limited income and limited resources. SSI provides a monthly check to those that qualify.
  
  

Medicare

• After someone has qualified for SSDI for two years, he becomes eligible for Medicare. Medicare covers medical treatment for the elderly and disabled, including inpatient hospital care, outpatient medical care, and prescription drugs.
  
  

Medicaid

• Disabled and blind people with low incomes usually qualify for Medicaid. Criteria vary slightly from state to state. Medicaid covers a wide range of medical care.
  
  

Veteran's Disability Compensation

• The Department of Veterans Affairs provides disability benefits to people that became disabled or lost their vision during active military service. Benefits vary depending on the severity of a person's disability and how many dependents he has.