Can I Receive both SSI and SSDI at the Same Time?
Many individuals able to receive both Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits at the same, which is referred to by the SSA as “concurrent benefits”.
To receive concurrent benefits, you must be approved for benefits, but receive low monthly payments through the program. A low monthly SSDI benefit is caused by several factors:
- You have worked very little or not at all in the last 10 years
- You had very little work history at the time you became disabled
- You became disabled at a young age, before building a significant work history
- You earned relatively low wages throughout the course of your employment history
All of these factors can influence the amount of SSDI benefits because payments are based on meeting minimum health eligibility requirements and having sufficient “work credits” built up over the course of your employment history. To learn more about work credits, click here.
SSI benefits is an income-based or financial need-based program. All income from “countable sources” is reviewed to determine whether you meet the requirements for the SSI program.
Countable income is made up of earned income as well as several types of “unearned income”. SSDI payments are considered to be “unearned income”. In other words, any money you earn cannot exceed established minimums under the SSI program.
In most instances, SSI unearned income limits are set at $710 per month; however, in some states the limit is higher.
Eligibility for the SSI program is fairly complex. Income – both earned and unearned – is considered when determining financial-need, but so are other financial resources or assets.
Just as there is a monthly limit on income for SSI eligibility, there is also a total available asset limit. Asset limits are set at $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for married couples.
If your income and assets are too high to qualify for SSI benefits, you may still meet the criteria for SSDI. Likewise, even if you don’t have the work history/credits to receive SSDI benefits, you may still qualify for SSI. However, if you meet the financial and medical requirements, there are instances in which you can qualify to receive both SSI and SSDI at the same time.
You may be eligible to receive $3,345 each month. Fill out a Free Disability Evaluation today!
What is the Difference Between SSI and SSDI?
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are two of the most common financial assistance programs administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA).
What is SSI?
SSI stands for Supplemental Security Income; it is administered by the SSA. SSI benefits are paid out to people with limited income and resources who are disabled, blind, or age 65 or older.
Blind and disabled children can also get SSI benefits as well. In most states people on SSI benefits can get medical assistance from Medicaid, which can help pay for hospital visits, medical bills and prescription drugs.
In addition, if you receive SSI benefits, many states offer payments to certain SSI recipients to supplement individual’s income.
This benefit provides the minimum basic financial help to persons who have been diagnosed with a disability who only have a limited income and resources. It is funded out of taxation and does not require that the applicant has made any prior contributions.
To be considered for SSI, your income must fall below a monthly maximum before any calculation is completed. The greater the income of the applicant the lower the SSI will be. The maximum 2023 SSI benefit amount for an eligible person is $914. The maximum SSI benefit for an eligible couple is $1,371. In November 2022, the average monthly SSI payment for people 65 and older was $508.84.
What is SSDI?
SSDI stands for Social Security Disability Insurance; it is also administered by the SSA. SSDI is an entitlement program. SSDI is available to anyone who has paid into the Social Security system for at least ten years, regardless of current income and assets.
SSDI benefits are for workers who at one point could work, but are unable to work anymore because of a disability or a serious ailment.
To qualify for SSDI, a person needs to have a serious disability that makes it impossible for them to work, as well as enough work credits from their work history.
Individuals on SSDI. People on SSDI automatically qualify for Medicare after a two year waiting period from time SSDI begins.
SSDI supports individuals who are disabled and have a qualifying work history, either through their own employment or a family member (spouse/parent). SSDI is an earned benefit. As with Social Security retirement benefits, you qualify by working and paying Social Security taxes. How long you must have worked to be eligible depends on your age when you are diagnosed with a disability.
The main difference between SSI and SSDI is that SSI is based on age/disability and only having a limited income and resources, whereas SSDI determination is based on disability and work credits.
How to I Know If I Get SSI or SSDI?
There are couple of ways you will know if you get SSI or SSDI. Both SSI and SSDI have the same medical requirements. You will need to meet a Blue Book listing. Then to determine whether you qualify for SSDI or SSI, you will need to determine your work ability. For example, if you at one point could work, but you can no longer work anymore because of a disability or a serious ailment like cancer, you will most likely get SSDI.
That is because SSDI eligibility is based on the severity of your disability and if you have enough work credits through your own employment.
The way you know if you will get SSI, is that if you have a disability or a serious ailment and with limited or no income and resources.
If you have very little income and resources, plus you get a low monthly payment from SSDI, there is a chance that you can qualify for SSI as well. To which you will be able to receive concurrent disability benefits from the SSA.
How Much Does SSI and SSDI Pay Together?
The amount you received from SSI and SSDI can vary depending on your condition, cost of living, and daily needs. The maximum SSI limit someone can receive in a month is $914 in 2023 while the maximum amount of SSDI is $3,627. Your combined SSI and SSDI amount cannot be higher than the maximum SSI benefit. SSI will be reduced by the amount you are awarded in SSDI.
For example, if you are awarded the 2023 maximum SSI amount $914 while also being awarded an SSDI amount of $500. You'll SSDI will be reduced by $480:
$500 - $20 general income exclusion = $480
$914 - $480 = $434.
You would now receive $434 in SSI and $500 in SSDI.
Can You get SSI and Social Security Retirement at the Same Time?
Fortunately, you are able to receive SSI and Social Security retirement at the same time. Your overall monthly value will not change.
For example, if you earn $794 per month in SSI benefits, which is the maximum amount you can receive in SSI in 2021, once you hit retirement age and you receive $400 in monthly retirement benefits, you will still receive $794 per month. The breakout however will be $400 from retirement benefits and $394 from SSI benefits.
The only way that you will not be able to receive SSI and Social Security retirement at the same time is that if your retirement benefits and SSI benefits exceed the SSI maximum disability monthly amount, which is again as of 2021 $794 per month.
If your SSI monthly income does not exceed $794, you will be able to receive SSI and Social Security retirement at the same time.
