Disabled people in the United States may be eligible to obtain different types of federal disability benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA). The two major types of federal disability benefits are the Social Security Disability Insurance program (or SSDI) and the Supplemental Security Income program (or SSI). Although these two types of disability programs sound very similar to one another, it is critical to understand that there are many significant distinctions between SSDI and SSI benefits. It is important to learn more about both types of federal disability benefits and to seek help with your application from a disability benefits lawyer.
Insurance-Based Versus Income-Based Programs
Both SSDI and SSI are benefit programs for disabled Americans, but there are notable differences between them. The major difference between SSDI and SSI is that SSDI provides benefits to a disabled worker who is insured as a result of working long enough and paying enough Social Security taxes to be eligible, while SSI provides benefits to disabled people who have low incomes and have a financial need for benefits.
To be clear, SSDI is a federal disability program that provides benefits to disabled workers, and SSI is a federal disability program that provides benefits to low-income individuals in financial need of payments regardless of their work histories. While some people may be concurrently eligible for both SSDI and SSI benefits—the two programs are not mutually exclusive—it is certainly possible that a person will only qualify for one or the other.
Qualifying for SSDI Versus SSI
Since the SSDI and SSI programs provide benefits based on different circumstances, you should know that there are separate eligibility requirements for each program. You must provide different information to qualify for SSDI benefits than you would provide to qualify for SSI benefits.
To qualify for SSDI benefits, all of the following must be true:
- You meet the Social Security Administration’s definition of a disability, which means that you have a disabling injury, condition, or disease that is expected to last for at least 12 months or to result in your death, and you cannot engage in any substantial gainful activity as a result;
- You worked long enough to qualify (you must have earned 40 work credits total—which a person earns based on their total wages with $1,470 totaling one credit in 2021—with the possibility for a maximum of 4 credits per year); and
- You must have worked recently enough to qualify (at least 20 of the 40 required work credits must have been earned in the last 10 years prior to your becoming disabled), and in some situations, a much younger worker may be able to qualify for SSDI benefits with fewer than 40 work credits.
To qualify for SSI benefits, you must:
- Be disabled or blind or aged 65 or older;
- Have limited income and limited resources.
For both SSDI and SSI benefits, the Social Security Administration’s definition of “disabled” applies. If you have questions or concerns about your eligibility for SSDI or SSI benefits, you should seek advice from a disability benefits attorney who can help.