SSI VS. SSDI - THE ESSENTIAL DIFFERENCES

The US Social Security Administration (SSA) administers two very different programs for the disabled and aging:

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

SSDI, also called Title II, is based on the claimant's work record where FICA taxes were withheld from paychecks, matched by employers, and placed into the SSDI trust fund.  When the worker proves disability, benefits may be paid out of this trust fund.  There is no means testing for SSDI benefits.  A person need not be poor or have limited financial resources to get SSDI, since he or she paid for the insurance during his her working career.  The two essential requirements to get SSDI benefits are:
  • The claimant has sufficient work history to be insured under the Title II of the Social Security Act, and
  • A severe and medically determinable impairment can be proven which significantly limits the ability to work
 SSDI beneficiaries will usually qualify for Medicare insurance after they have been eligible for SSDI payments for 24 months.
SSI, or Supplemental Security Income,(called Title XVI), requires no work history and there is no trust fund from which benefits are paid.  They are paid from general federal and/or state tax revenues.  While the proof of disability is the same as with SSDI, the benefits are much lower.  The maximum SSI monthly benefit in Alabama is $733 in 2016 (compared to over $2,500 maximum for SSDI benefits).  Also, SSI benefits are means tested.  An individual is required to have less than $2,000 in resources and limited income to get SSI.  A couple can have no more than $3,000 and must have limited income.  (Not all resources count against these limits because some resources may be exempted--  For example, the home you live in, one car, etc.).  SSI beneficiaries usually get Medicaid insurance.

The rules and requirements for SSDI and SSI are rather complicated.  You should speak to either the Social Security Administration or a qualified attorney / non-attorney advocate when contemplating either an SSDI or SSI claim. 
________
Posted for general information only. Information is believed to be correct at the time of posting; however, things can change over time.  The Forsythe Firm is not affiliated with the Social Security Administration or the US government.  Do not rely on information here for advice for any particular claim or situation.  Seek professional advice.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

GETTING MONEY FROM SSDI

SSDI stands for Social Security Disability Insurance .  When you first began working, the Government deducted a percentage of your wages, called a FICA tax.  This continued as long as you worked, in most cases.  This money was matched by your employer and set aside in a government trust fund to help you if you later became disabled and could not work. SSDI is a type of government sponsored insurance program, usually called "Social Security disability insurance."  To get benefits out of SSDI, you must prove  that you have a medical disability so severe that you cannot work any full-time job; that this disability has lasted, or is expected to last, for at least 12 consecutive months. That sounds simple but Social Security has made it rather difficult to prove that you are disabled.  One reason is that their definition of 'disability' is so strict.  You usually must prove that you cannot perform even simple, unskilled work at the sed...
Read more

POST HEARING EVIDENCE

Many people assume that a Social Security disability case is over when the hearing has been held.  This isn't always the case.  Often there is post hearing work that should be done to achieve the best chance of a favorable decision. Everyone at a disability hearing works under pressure.  This includes the claimant, the representative, the vocational expert and even the administrative law judge.  Hearings are generally limited to less than one hour.  The judge will ask questions that place the claimant under stress to answer correctly.  The representative or attorney will be asked to respond to procedural issues or points of law that place him or her under pressure.  The judge must constantly conduct the hearing so that it follows Social Security laws, rules and regulations.  Further, the judge must form accurate hypothetical questions for the vocational expert based on the medical and vocational evidence in the file and upon the claimant's testi...
Read more

CAN YOU GET DISABILITY FOR SLEEP DISORDERS? HOW?

Many of my clients who file for Social Security disability have severe sleep disorders.  The question is, do these sleep problems equate to disability? The answer is, how do the sleep problems restrict the ability to perform full-time work?  What are the symptoms?  How frequent and how severe are the symptoms. Symptoms of insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy or other sleep disorders often include: excessive daytime sleepiness fatigue loss of memory lack of concentration, persistence and pace irritability - unable to get along with supervisors, co-workers or customers at work If the medical record indicates treatment for these symptoms which has failed, then a finding of disability may be appropriate.  For example, if a person has obstructive sleep apnea which can be corrected by using a CPAP machine, then it is not disabling.  If a CPAP has been tried and failed to fix the problem, then we have valid medical problems that may hel...
Read more