SSDI vs. SSI What’s the Difference?

A debilitating medical condition can severely interfere or entirely preclude your ability to work.  If you are unable to work, how will you support yourself or family?   Thankfully, you may qualify for relief through the Social Security Disability Benefits program. The Social Security Administration offers two distinct programs that are set up to provide financial and medical support when an individual is deemed “disabled.”

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) sound similar, but have different requirements and knowing the difference can be essential in getting the help you need!

 

SSDI: Social Security Disability Insurance (Title II)

 

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are generally the more valuable benefit in terms of the monthly financial amount but have more stringent requirements.   To qualify for SSDI benefits, you must be (1) found disabled under SSA criteria and (2) be insured for purposes of SSDI.
 

(1) You could be considered disabled under Social Security rules if:

      • You are unable to perform even a desk job (sedentary) on a competitive basis (eight hours a day, five days a week); or
      • You can no longer preform your previous work if you are over the age of 50

(2) You must have paid into the Social Security program long enough to be covered, or insured.  Most individuals pays into the system automatically through withholding’s in each paycheck.   The date at which you are no longer covered for SSDI purposes is called your date last insured (DLI).   An individual’s date last insured is usually five years into the future after you stop working. To meet the insured requirement for SSDI, the SSA must determine you became disabled before the expiration of this date.

 

Additionally, your physical and/or mental condition must have lasted, or be expected to last, at least 12 months.  If you are employed making over $1,130 per month or your condition does not severely interfere with basic work-related activities, you will not qualify for SSDI benefits.

 

Severity is a major aspect of the decision. Check out this list of immediately qualifying conditions posted on SSA.GOV. If you suffer from any of these disabilities, or if your condition can be equated in severity to any condition on the list you may qualify for expedited benefits. Of course it always helps to have good representation throughout the process.

 

SSI: Supplemental Security Income (Title XVI)

 

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits are very similar to SSDI benefits but do not have any requirement of past work (paying into the system).  To qualify for SSI benefits, you must be (1) found disabled under SSA criteria and (2) have less than $2,000 in assets or resources.

 

(1) You could be considered disabled under Social Security rules if:

      • You are unable to perform even a desk job (sedentary) on a competitive basis (eight hours a day, five days a week); or
      • You can no longer preform your previous work if you are over the age of 50;

(2) Your ability to receive SSI is dependent on income and resources. Any wages, SSA program benefits, food, or shelter may count as monthly income.  In Colorado, your income cannot exceed $733 per month if you wish to apply for SSI benefits. Resources are also taken into account when applying for SSI benefits.  An individual cannot have more than $2,000 in combined resources.  Commonly considered resources include owning real estate, bank accounts, cash, stocks, and/or bonds. The social security administration doesn’t count the home and land where you live, life insurance policies with a face value of $1,500 or less, your first car, or burial plots or funds up to $1,500.

 

How to Apply

 

There are many ways to file a claim for SSDI/SSI benefits.  Let us do the work for you, call our office at 720-515-9012 to speak with our attorneys for a free consultation.  Alternatively, a claim for Social Security Disability Benefits can be filed directly though the SSA website https://secure.ssa.gov/iClaim/dib .  A claim for SSI benefits MUST be filed in person (1-800-772-1213) or through a paper application.

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