Overview of Social Security Disability Programs: SSI and SSDI
The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers two federally-funded disability income benefit programs: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). There are important similarities and differences between these two programs.
SSI and SSDI: A Comparison
The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers two disability income benefit programs: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). These programs have many similarities and some important differences.
Similarities
- Medical and functional disability criteria: Both programs use the same medical criteria for determining disability based on medical evidence and functional abilities.
- Application process: Although there are different forms, both programs utilize the same application process and share one disability determination.
- Health insurance: Each program has an associated health insurance program.
Differences
- The key difference is the non-medical eligibility criteria.
- SSI is based on need.
- SSDI is based on contributions by employees and employers to the Social Security trust fund as authorized by the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA)
- See other differences below.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) |
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) |
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Beneficiaries |
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Non-Medical Eligibility | Based on need: Need is a complete picture of income, living arrangement, and personal resources. | Based on earnings: Employees & employers pay into the Social Security Trust Fund as authorized by the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA). |
Documentation |
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Date of eligibility |
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Benefit Amount | The monthly benefit amount is set each year by Congress; some states provide additional financial support. | Based on FICA contributions. |
If an applicant has never worked, should they only apply for SSI?
In the SOAR model, case workers help individuals apply for both SSI and SSDI for every application. There may be circumstances in which an individual can be eligible based on someone else’s earnings record (e.g. parent or spouse), such as Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefits. Always check with your local Social Security office representative for clarification on individual cases.
Disabled Adult Child (DAC)
An adult who becomes disabled before age 22 may be eligible for “child's” benefits if a parent is deceased or starts receiving retirement or disability benefits. Social Security considers this a child's benefit because it is paid on a parent's Social Security earnings record.
- Applicants must meet the SSA disability criteria for adults and must be unmarried.
- Since benefits are paid based on the parent's earnings record, it is not necessary for the adult child to have ever worked.
- A disabled adult child already receiving SSI benefits should still check to see if benefits may be payable on a parent's earnings record. Circumstances may have changed (e.g. parent’s death, retirement or disability status) since the initial application. Higher benefits might be payable, and entitlement to Medicare may be possible.
- SSDI DAC benefits continue as long as the individual remains disabled.
Details
- Type:
- Article
- Date:
- September, 2012
Other Details
- Topic
- SSA Information