SSDI vs. SSI: Difference Between Social Security Disability Insurance & Supplemental Security Income

Most people only think about Social Security for retirement. But many people rely on the system for other benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers two key disability benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Both SSDI and SSI are federal benefits intended to protect workers who are unable to work because of a physical or mental disability. However, each has different eligibility requirements. For more information about qualifying for SSDI and SSI benefits, talk to a Social Security disability lawyer.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal program funded by contributions to payroll taxes. It covers workers who have paid into the system for a minimum length of time. The benefits you receive depend on what you have earned while you work. The higher your wages were while working, the higher your benefits could be. However, SSDI benefits have a monthly maximum.

Receiving other payments, such as workers’ compensation or unemployment benefits, may lower your SSDI benefits. Payments are usually also adjusted each year to account for changes in the cost of living. In 2025, the maximum monthly SSDI benefit payment is $4,018.

To receive Social Security Disability Insurance, you must have a qualifying illness or medical condition. A qualifying condition limits your ability to do basic work activities. This includes sitting, standing, seeing, or remembering things. The condition must be expected to continue for at least one year or to result in death.

Eligibility for SSDI

Eligibility for SSDI includes meeting a few requirements, including:

• You are disabled based on the Social Security Administration’s standards
• You made contributions as part of your Social Security taxes (or your parents or spouse must have made contributions)
• You made contributions for a minimum number of quarters (known as Social Security quarters of coverage), which varies based on your age

Once the SSA approves your Social Security application, your benefits will start on the sixth full month after your disability begins. You’ll also automatically receive healthcare coverage after two years. Some SSI recipients qualify for Medicare. In addition, Medicaid eligibility is generally automatic in most states, though exceptions exist.

SSDI Benefits for Children

Children and some young people can get SSDI benefits even if they didn’t accumulate enough work credits. A child can receive up to 50% of their parent’s retirement benefits. To qualify, children have to have a disability that prevents them from working. The impairment or medical condition must result in marked and severe functional limitations.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) depends on financial need and not work history. SSI is for people who are disabled or older people. To receive SSI, you must have limited income and assets. Benefit payments are limited to federally set maximum amounts. In 2025, the maximum monthly SSI payment is $967 for one person and $1,450 for couples.

If you earn money while receiving SSI, your financial assistance benefits will depend on how much you work. For every $2 you earn from a job, your SSI payment will lower by about $1.

SSI Claim Requirements

Some key eligibility requirements to receive SSI include:

• Being 65 years of age or older, blind, or disabled
• Having income and assets (such as property or insurance) under the maximum threshold, which is currently $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for married couples
• Living in the United States or the Northern Mariana Islands and being a U.S. citizen or national

Some assets won’t count for SSI eligibility. This includes the house you live in, a single vehicle, and household goods.

In most states, SSI program recipients will qualify for Medicaid health insurance programs. Some states also have needs-based supplemental payments and provide food assistance.

Can You Get Both SSI and SSDI?

You can receive both SSI and SSDI. To do so, you must meet the eligibility requirements for both. You need to have paid into the SSDI system for long enough and have limited income and assets. Your SSDI benefit must keep you under the income limit to receive SSI. Talk to a Social Security lawyer for information about other benefits you can receive.

Can You Receive Both Social Security Disability and Retirement Benefits?

If you’re receiving SSDI benefits, your benefits will automatically change to retirement benefits when you reach the full retirement age. For people born in 1960 or later, the full retirement age is 67. You can’t get both disability and retirement benefits.

Depending on your work credit history and your spouse’s work record, you could get more benefits based on your spouse’s work benefits. You are eligible for the higher of your work record benefits or your spousal benefits. Spousal benefits amount to 50% of your spouse’s retirement benefits.

What Happens if My Social Security Disability Claim Is Denied?

The SSA can deny your disability claim for any number of reasons. The SSA should provide information about the reasons for the denial and include the process for an appeal. Generally, the SSA denies SSDI benefits because the worker doesn’t meet the disability criteria or doesn’t have enough work credits for benefits.

A Social Security lawyer can review your claim and identify why you weren’t approved. Your lawyer can gather medical records and information necessary to support your disability claim. They can also file an appeal and represent you before the Social Security Administration. For more information about your Social Security benefits, talk to a Social Security disability lawyer.