Understanding the difference between SSDI and SSI

Social Security Attorney

SSDI and SSI are pretty confusing since their existence. They are both disability programs that offer cash benefits for those who are disabled. However, when it comes to financial eligibility, they hugely differ from each other.

The main difference lies in their spelling, which is conspicuous. SSDI (Social Security Disability Income) is applicable to those workers who have been successful in accumulating a convincing number of word credits. On the other hand, Ssi Attorney St George, which is also known as     Supplemental Security Income, is a disability benefit that is solely reserved for those who fail under the category of individuals with low-income. They belong to two main categories-

  • The individuals who have never worked before.
  • The individuals who were not able to secure enough credits to qualify for SSDI.

Both SSDI and SSI are administered as well as managed by the Social Security Administration. Furthermore, even the medical eligibility for the disability in both cases is determined in the same process. However, they are still quite different and thus, they exist as two individual programs.

SSI in Brief

Supplemental Security Income is a program that is strictly based on needs. Besides, they are also closely associated with income and assets. Also, SSI is funded by the general fund taxes and not by the Social Security trust fund.

SSI is also said to be “means-tested program,” which implies that it does not depend on work history, but solely depends on financial need. If you want to claim SSI income requirements, your total assets must worth less than $2,000 or less than $3,000 if you are a couple. Besides, you should have a very limited income.

The disabled people who are eligible for SSI, based on their income, shall also receive Medicaid in the state they reside in.

What’s with SSDI?

Social Security Disability Attorney UtahInsurance is a disability grant that is credited through payroll taxes. SSDI recipients are known to be “insured” because they have worked for a certain period of time and also contribute to the Social Security trust fund, in the form of FICA Social Security taxes.

The candidates qualifying for SSDI candidates must be younger than 65. Furthermore, they must also have earned a specific number of “work credits.” Once an individual completes two years from the date he had started receiving SSDI, the disabled person will become eligible for Medicare.

Under SSDI, the spouse of the disabled person and the children dependents can receive partial dependent benefits. These benefits are termed as auxiliary benefits. However, only the adults, who are over the age of 18, are eligible to receive the SSDI disability benefit.

To receive SSDI, you have to wait for five months. In other words, SSA would not be paying you benefits for the first five months after you become disabled. Once the waiting period is over, you would be receiving the benefits. However, the amount of the monthly benefits that you will receive will depend on your earnings record. This is quite similar to the Social Security retirement benefit.