How Much Do SSI and SSDI Pay Together?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) manages various programs designed to provide financial support to millions of Americans. These programs offer assistance to retirees, individuals with disabilities, and survivors of deceased workers. Understanding how individuals might qualify for more than one benefit can be complex. This article clarifies how certain Social Security benefits can be combined and how such combined payments are calculated.

Understanding SSI and SSDI Separately

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are distinct programs administered by the Social Security Administration, each with unique eligibility criteria and funding mechanisms. SSI is a needs-based program providing financial assistance to aged, blind, or disabled individuals who have limited income and resources. It is funded by general tax revenues, not by Social Security taxes. The payment for SSI is a standard federal amount, known as the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR), which can be reduced if an individual has other countable income or resources.

In contrast, SSDI is an earned-benefit program for individuals who have worked and paid Social Security taxes, and are now disabled. Eligibility for SSDI is tied to an individual’s work history and the accumulation of sufficient work credits. The amount of the SSDI benefit is determined by the individual’s average indexed monthly earnings (AIME) over their working years, reflecting their contributions to the Social Security system. While both programs support individuals with disabilities, their foundational principles—needs-based versus earned-benefit—differ significantly.

Qualifying for Both Concurrent Benefits

Individuals may be eligible for both Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) simultaneously, a scenario often called “concurrent benefits.” This typically occurs when a person qualifies for SSDI based on their work history, but their monthly SSDI benefit amount is relatively low. If this low SSDI payment falls below the financial thresholds set for SSI, the individual may also meet the income and resource requirements for a partial SSI payment.

For SSI eligibility, SSDI payments are considered “unearned income.” The Social Security Administration evaluates this unearned income against the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR) for SSI. If the SSDI amount, combined with any other countable income, is less than the FBR, an individual may receive a partial SSI benefit to supplement their income. To qualify for both, an individual must meet the disability criteria common to both programs and satisfy SSI’s strict financial limits, even while receiving an SSDI payment.

Calculating Concurrent Payments

When an individual receives both SSI and SSDI, the calculation of their combined payment involves a specific offset mechanism. There is a general income exclusion of $20 per month applied to unearned income. After this initial $20 exclusion, every dollar received in SSDI directly reduces the SSI payment by one dollar.

For example, if the monthly Federal Benefit Rate for SSI is $967 and an individual receives $600 in SSDI benefits, the calculation proceeds as follows: First, $20 is excluded from the $600 SSDI payment, leaving $580 as countable unearned income. This $580 is then subtracted from the SSI Federal Benefit Rate of $967. In this hypothetical case, the individual would receive $387 in SSI ($967 – $580 = $387), in addition to their $600 SSDI payment, resulting in a combined total of $987 per month. This demonstrates how the SSDI payment directly offsets the potential SSI benefit, ensuring the total combined amount does not exceed certain limits.

Factors Affecting Your Total Payment

Beyond the direct offset of SSDI against SSI, several other factors can influence the total payment an individual receives when on concurrent benefits. Any additional income, whether earned or unearned, can further reduce the SSI portion of the payment. For instance, earned income from work is subject to specific exclusions, but a portion of it will generally lead to a reduction in SSI benefits. Other unearned income, such as pensions or veterans’ benefits, also directly impacts the SSI amount after the initial $20 general exclusion, similar to how SSDI affects it.

An individual’s living arrangements also play a role in determining the SSI payment. If a person lives in someone else’s household and receives in-kind support and maintenance, their SSI benefit may be reduced by a certain percentage. Some states provide supplemental payments in addition to the federal SSI benefit, which can increase the total combined amount, depending on the state of residence. Lastly, SSI has strict resource limits, and exceeding these limits can lead to ineligibility for SSI, thereby affecting the total amount received even if SSDI benefits continue.