If you live with a disability, you can receive either SSI or SSDI, though these benefit programs have slightly different qualification criteria. If you’re on SSDI, you can also be eligible for Medicare before age 65. If you receive SSI, you’re eligible for Medicaid.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a benefit program for those with disabilities who have worked and paid taxes in the United States but now cannot work due to their disability.
On the other hand, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a benefit program for people with disabilities and limited income, regardless of how long they have worked.
This article delves deeper into the distinctions between SSDI and SSI in terms of benefits, eligibility criteria, and eligibility for either Medicare or Medicaid.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) decides whether you qualify for SSI or SSDI by evaluating your situation against certain criteria. The following chart summarizes the key eligibility differences between SSI and SSDI as well as the differences in benefits.
| SSI | SSDI | |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility criteria | -65+ years old -blind or living with another disability -assets under $2,000 per person or $3,000 per couple – monthly income below $2,019 | -living with a disability -worked and paid taxes for at least 5 of the last 10 years. |
| 2025 financial benefits | –$967 monthly for an individual – $1,450 for a couple | varies but around$1,500 monthly |
| Health insurance eligibility | gives eligibility for Medicaid | gives eligibility for Medicare under age 65 after a waiting period of 24 months |
Keep in mind that for SSI eligibility, you’re considered to be living with blindness if your stronger eye can’t see much or your field of vision is severely limited, even with glasses.
For both SSI and SSDI, the SSA defines disability as a physical or mental condition that makes working difficult and has lasted at least a year.
When calculating your income, the SSA counts your paycheck and any other benefits you receive. Your resources include everything from the cash in your wallet to your house, car, jewelry, life insurance, or anything you could sell if you had to.
If you live with a qualifying disability and a limited income and have worked and paid taxes for the required period of time, you may qualify for both SSI and SSDI simultaneously.
If you already receive disability benefits, you may wish to know whether you are receiving SSI, SSDI, or both. You can verify this by checking your benefit letter or SSA monthly benefit statements. Alternatively, you can log in to your SSA online account.
That said, if you’re eligible for both programs, these benefits don’t simply stack, and you won’t collect more than what you would get under SSI alone. This means that when your SSDI payments fall short of the SSI threshold, the total benefit adjusts to $967 for individuals or $1,450 for couples. Conversely, if your SSDI exceeds the SSI amount, the government reduces the payment to match the SSI limit.
You can apply for either SSI or SSDI through the SSA.gov website. You’ll need to submit relevant documentation such as your income, work history, and details of your condition.
Alternatively, you can apply by visiting a local SSA office or calling 800-772-1213 between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. SSA representatives can also answer any questions about eligibility, benefits, or the application process.
Before applying, you can print a Disability Starter Kit from the SSA. This kit includes a thorough FAQ sheet about the benefits application process, a detailed checklist of all necessary documents and information, and a useful worksheet to help you gather and organize all the essentials for your application.
If you have any additional questions or need support with the application process, consider speaking with an attorney specializing in Social Security benefits or contacting local disability rights organizations in your area. SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) is a national organization that may also provide support.
The federal government runs two separate disability programs: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). To qualify for SSI, you need to demonstrate an income and assets below a certain threshold, regardless of your work background. On the other hand, to be eligible for SSDI, you must have worked and paid taxes in the United States for a required period of time.
People on SSDI also get eligibility for Medicare, while SSI recipients become eligible for Medicaid coverage. The Social Security Administration evaluates which program fits your situation. In some cases, you might qualify for both programs at once, though you won’t receive more than the SSI maximum payment in total.