Social Security pays benefits to workers who become disabled for 12 months or more. Social Security pays benefits to wives and husbands of disabled workers at their 60... In other words, every month, Social Security pays retirement and disability payments to workers and their families and survivors' benefits to the dependents of workers who have died, plus Medicare to people 65 or older and certain disabled people. Social Security is a program you can count on now and in the future. It's Medicare for people 65 or older and certain disabled people. Thank you.