The Social Security Administration (SSA) in the United States provides Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income to people who are unable to work due to a disability (SSI). Although both programs provide monthly compensation to people who are unable to work due to a disability, they differ significantly from one another.
Keep reading to learn more about how they are different. If you are thinking about filing a disability claim, have filed one and been denied, or otherwise have questions about SSDI or SSI, contact PLBH at (800) 435-7542 for help from an experienced attorney.
The programs are funded very differently
The way SSI and SSDI are funded is the primary distinction between the two programs. The Social Security Trust receives funding from FICA Social Security payments, which is how SSDI is paid for. SSI, on the other hand, is supported by general funds. In other words, SSI is not a specific tax that Americans pay. Instead, the program is financed by the taxes that we all pay.
Eligibility is very different between the programs
How you become eligible for benefits is the second distinction. Both schemes require that you have a disability that prevents you from working for a year or more (or that your condition is terminal). The SSA follows a multi-step process to evaluate whether a person has a qualifying impairment and whether that handicap prevents them from working. However, there are additional criteria that SSI and SSDI do not share.
You must have worked for a specified amount of time to be eligible for SSDI because it is based on taxes from payroll taxes. You specifically accrue a set number of labor credits when you work a job that contributes to Social Security. You need to have accrued a certain number of work credits in order to be qualified for SSDI. This quantity varies according to your age, so someone who becomes disabled at a young age won’t need to have as many credits as someone who has worked for over 20 years.
In contrast to SSDI, SSI is a needs-based program. This implies that in addition to showing your inability to work due to a condition, you must also show that your assets and income are extremely limited. A person who is eligible for SSI can also be eligible for other assistance programs, such food stamps.
You can receive benefits from both programs
So, are you able to receive both SSI and SSDI? Yes. You can get both SSI and SSDI at the same time if you qualify for both programs. The important thing to remember is that in order to be eligible for SSI and SSDI, you must also meet the requirements for assets and income.
Contact us today for help
Applying for Social Security benefits can be challenging, especially when it comes to assembling the necessary documentation to demonstrate your inability to work as a result of a condition. We are here for people with impairments at PLBH. From the initial application through any appeals and a final decision, we’ll work together with you to assist you receive the benefits to which you are entitled. Call (800) 435-7542 or send an email to info@plblaw.com to set up a consultation with a California disability benefits lawyer.