No they are not allowed access to your bank statements and your assests. Other programs that provide assistance like medicaid etc. look at your assests etc. They will not be able to control your money, but they give a determined amount by the court and that goes by how much you have put in the system and other factors. They probably have that info on their website which shouldnt be hard to find try something like social security disability.gov. I know if you wait too many years after stopping working before applying than you wont qualify.

I hear they have changed some things since I started receiving disability in 2007, so I dont want to give you the wrong info. Please do your research.

They have access to your income, but not your bank account.

Social Security Disability is not "need based" - it's based solely on whether or not they deem you too disabled to do any kind of work.

Your benefit, as milily said, is based on how much you have put into the system, in terms of how many quarters you have worked, and how much money you made.

It is important, if you're going to apply, to do it fairly promptly, because, again as milily said, you will be disqualified if you wait too long after stopping work.

You should be able to find a lot of information on the Social Security website - I was just in the local office this week and they practically beat you over the head there with "you could have found this on the web."