Can You Collect SSI and SSDI Together?

Disability can significantly impact an individual’s ability to maintain financial stability. In the United States, various federal programs provide financial support to those unable to work due to a medical condition. Understanding the distinctions between these programs and how they interact is important for individuals seeking assistance. These support systems offer a safety net, helping to cover basic living expenses.

Supplemental Security Income Explained

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal assistance program managed by the Social Security Administration (SSA) for aged, blind, and disabled individuals with limited income and resources. This needs-based program determines eligibility by an applicant’s financial situation, not work history. Its purpose is to provide a guaranteed minimum income for basic needs.

To qualify, an individual must be 65 or older, blind, or have a disability. For adults, the SSA defines disability as a medically determinable physical or mental impairment preventing substantial gainful activity (SGA) for at least 12 continuous months or resulting in death. For 2025, the monthly SGA limit for non-blind individuals is $1,620, and for blind individuals it is $2,700.

Financial eligibility for SSI involves strict income and resource limits. For 2025, an individual’s countable income generally cannot exceed $967 per month, and a couple’s limit is $1,450. Countable resources, including cash, bank accounts, stocks, and bonds, are limited to $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple. Excluded assets include a primary residence, one vehicle, household goods, and some burial expenses.

SSI provides monthly cash payments to eligible individuals. The maximum federal amount for an individual is $967 per month in 2025, and $1,450 for an individual with an eligible spouse. The actual payment can be lower based on countable income, as the monthly amount is reduced by subtracting this income. Some states also provide supplementary SSI payments.

Social Security Disability Insurance Explained

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal insurance program for individuals who have worked and paid Social Security taxes. Unlike SSI, SSDI benefits are based on an individual’s work history and contributions to the Social Security system through FICA taxes. This program provides monthly benefits to those unable to work due to a severe, long-term disability.

To be eligible, individuals must meet the SSA’s disability definition and have accumulated sufficient work credits. Work credits are earned through covered employment by paying Social Security taxes on earnings. For 2025, one work credit is earned for each $1,810 in wages or self-employment income, up to four credits per year.

The number of work credits required depends on an individual’s age when disability began. Generally, individuals aged 31 or older need 40 work credits, with at least 20 earned in the 10 years immediately preceding disability onset. Younger workers may qualify with fewer credits; for instance, those under age 24 typically need 6 credits earned in the 3 years before their disability.

SSDI does not provide for partial or short-term disabilities. Eligible individuals receive monthly benefits, and after a 24-month waiting period from benefit entitlement, they typically become eligible for Medicare coverage.

Concurrent Benefits: Receiving Both SSI and SSDI

Individuals can receive both Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) concurrently. This situation, known as “concurrent benefits,” arises when an individual meets the distinct eligibility criteria for both programs. While both are administered by the Social Security Administration, they serve different purposes and have different qualification rules.

Concurrent benefits often occur when an individual’s SSDI payment is low, and they also meet SSI’s strict income and resource limits. For example, a person might qualify for a modest SSDI benefit based on work history, but that amount may not cover basic living expenses. If their income and resources, including the SSDI benefit, fall within SSI limits, they may also qualify for supplemental SSI payments.

Receiving both benefits is not automatic; it requires applying for and being found eligible for each program independently. The SSA assesses each application against its specific criteria, including disability, work history for SSDI, and financial need for SSI. The combined benefit amount is carefully calculated, considering both program rules.

This dual eligibility ensures individuals with a work history and limited financial means receive combined support, providing a more adequate safety net when SSDI benefits alone are insufficient. The interaction between the two benefits impacts the final payment.

Factors Influencing Concurrent Benefit Amounts

When an individual qualifies for both SSI and SSDI, the combined benefit amount is determined by specific income counting rules. The SSDI benefit is considered “unearned income” for SSI purposes. This means the SSDI payment typically reduces the SSI benefit dollar-for-dollar after certain exclusions.

For instance, the first $20 of most unearned income, including SSDI, is generally excluded. After this exclusion, the remaining SSDI benefit directly offsets the SSI payment. This ensures the combined total of SSDI and SSI payments does not exceed the maximum federal SSI benefit amount.

Other income or resources can also affect the combined benefit. Any additional unearned income, such as pensions or gifts, can further reduce the SSI payment. Earned income from work also impacts SSI, though it is treated differently with various exclusions designed to encourage work. For example, the first $65 of earned income and half of the remaining earned income are generally excluded.

The strict resource limits for SSI also remain in effect when receiving concurrent benefits. An individual must maintain countable resources below $2,000, or $3,000 for a couple, to remain eligible for SSI. This ensures the need-based aspect of the SSI program is maintained, even when an individual also receives SSDI. The interplay of these rules provides a baseline level of financial support, adjusting for all income and assets.