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Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are both administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA). The terms can get confusing if you’re new to it all. In this article, we’re going to talk about both SSDI and SSI and what is the difference between the two. In general, SSDI is work-related and SSI is income-related.
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Contents
What is Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)?
SSDI provides financial benefits for disabled workers who are unable to continue working due to a certain mental or physical impairment.
You’re eligible for SSDI if you meet these criteria:
- You have received a physical or mental illness, injury, impairment, or disability that has rendered you incapable of continuing to do gainful work.
- The disability should be a year-long or potentially a year-long with a risk of death.
- You must be under retirement age as this is mainly employment or work-oriented. In other words, you must be younger than 65 to claim SSDI.
Applying or filing for SSDI is pretty easy. It can be done online or through the local SSA office. Getting it approved and receiving the benefits is where things get difficult. You most definitely need a medical disability attorney Los Angeles if you wish to fast-track the proceedings and ensure a successful claim.
What is Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?
SSI is a federal program that provides cash benefits to low-income people who are blind or have disabilities. If you are eligible for SSI, you may receive monthly payments based on your income and family size.
SSI is a type of federal cash assistance for very low-income individuals who meet the eligibility requirements. SSI benefits are paid by the Social Security Administration and administered by the Social Security Administration’s Office of Disability Adjudication and Review.
SSI was created in 1972 to provide financial support for people with severe and chronic disabilities, who have limited income and resources and have no other means of support. Eligibility for SSI is based on financial need and status as a disabled person under the Social Security Act. It does not depend on age or immigration status.
You must be aged 18 or older, blind or disabled to receive SSI benefits. The disability must be severe enough that you cannot do most of your daily activities without substantial assistance from others.
In addition to meeting certain work requirements, you must also:
- Be under age 65 at the time of application.
- Have earned income less than $1,170 per month (or $1,090 per month if you are blind).
- File an application with SSA within 12 months after reaching age 18.
- Have had no monthly income from any job since age 16 (unless one has been obtained since then).
- Not having enough income from other sources (such as regular earnings or Social Security) to live on your own without an income supplement.
You can apply online at the SSA website.
SSI is a federally funded program that provides cash and other resources to individuals who are unable to support themselves due to a disability. The program provides financial assistance so that SSI recipients can live in the community and participate in society.
It’s available to people who meet the eligibility requirements, which are based on age, disability, and income. The income limits for SSIs vary by state but usually range from $2,000-$4,000 annually.
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What are the main differences between SSDI and SSI?
Whereas SSDI mental illness claims are work-related, SSI support is for people who don’t make enough money to sustain a livelihood.
SSDI provides temporary benefits to disabled workers and their families who have worked long enough and paid into the system. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides financial assistance to provide cash for basic necessities for people with disabilities in need.
SSDI is a program that provides disabled workers and their families with income when they can no longer work. SSI is an income security program for people who are blind or have other disabilities.
SSI is a program that provides cash benefits to eligible individuals with disabilities and the elderly. The Supplemental Security Income program provides cash benefits to people who need extra help to meet their daily living expenses such as autism benefits for adults.
The federal government pays SSI benefits to eligible individuals who meet the requirements of the program. Benefits are based on a person’s resources and income, not on the amount of medical care he or she receives.
You might also be wondering, is it harder to get SSI or SSDI? If you meet the eligibility criteria for both, then SSI is easier to get whereas SSDI needs a lawyer’s help, most likely. But the lawyer’s help will not cost you anything upfront as they only charge 25% of the past dues if you win the case and this amount is generally capped at $6,000. In other words, if you lose and your application doesn’t go through for SSDI, you don’t pay the lawyer.
Final verdict
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal program that provides income to people who are temporarily disabled due to a work-related injury or illness. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal program for people who are blind or disabled and have limited income.
The core difference is that one is work or employment related whereas the other is based on your average income. If you qualify for both, it’s easier to get SSI approved than SSDI but your mileage may vary.
Moreover, for those who have such dangerous work as policemen, firemen, doctors, etc. For such people, the government provides some special payments like psychiatric workers’ comp settlements.