What is the difference between Social Security Disability and SSI?

Though Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income are both programs overseen by the Social Security Administration, the programs have significant differences and implications for those who are applying for benefits.

SSDI Vs. SSI

Social Security Disability Insurance is a support program for disabled individuals who have a qualifying work history, whether it is through their own employment history or a family member. Supplemental Security Income is a program that provides a minimum level of basic financial assistance to older adults and persons with disabilities who otherwise have limited resources at hand. Additionally, SSI benefits may be supplemented by state programs that share a mission with the federal program. Every state except Arizona, Mississippi, North Dakota, and West Virginia payout for state supplemental benefits. In reading this, you may see some overlapping programmatic similarities since disability is a consideration for eligibility for both, but the major difference is in age versus established work history.

Benefits

To break things down further, it is worth looking at when benefits begin, the average monthly benefit, and the maximum monthly payment received. For SSI, benefits begin the first full month after the claim was filed. If the claim comes later, then the date will be when the applicant was found eligible for SSI. The average monthly payment for SSI, as of November 2020, is $577, and the maximum benefit is $749 for a single individual and $1191 for married individuals.

For SSDI, benefits begin during the sixth full month on disability, with the six-month period beginning the first full month after the date that the Social Security Administration determines that the disability began. Average monthly payments for SSDI are $1,128, while the maximum benefit, as determined by the individual’s work history, is $3,148. Under SSDI, a disabled recipient’s spouse and child dependents are eligible for partial dependent benefits, otherwise known as auxiliary benefits. However, one must be over the age of 18 to receive the SSDI disability benefit.

Qualifications

Other security net programs are involved when applying for both SSI and SSDI. When qualifying for SSI, recipients automatically qualify for health care through Medicaid, while SSDI recipients must wait 24 months from the time they receive disability payments to qualify for Medicare. One distinction is for individuals with ALS, who are waived the 24-month waiting period for SSDI. Since SSI is a “means-tested program,” meaning that it has nothing to do with your work history and strictly takes into account the individual’s financial need (having less than $2000 in assets or $3000 for a couple), most applicants will also qualify for food assistance.

It is not guaranteed that an application for either program will be met with acceptance. SSDI has a strict definition of qualifying as disabled. Individuals are considered disabled if they meet the following standards:

• They cannot do the work they previously did because of their medical condition.
• They cannot adjust to another type of work due to their medical condition.
• The disability has lasted or is expected to last, for at least one year or to result in death.

Next Steps

If you are able to meet this standard, then your chances of getting SSDI are greatly improved. If you are denied initially, then it is recommended that you get an experienced Social Security attorney to file your appeal.

Author Bio

Steven Harris is a family law & divorce attorney in Huntsville, Alabama. He lives with his lovely wife of fifteen years and regularly writes informative articles online about domestic relations law and other related topics.