The two main disability programs that the Social Security Administration (SSA) offers are Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). But is SSDI harder to get than SSI?
Yes, SSDI is much more difficult to qualify for compared to SSI. This is because SSDI has other requirements, such as work credits, that SSI doesn’t. However, SSDI also has a much higher payout than SSI.
Keep reading below to find out which program is best for you and which you should apply for depending on your situation.
SSDI vs SSI: Eligibility Criteria
There are some basic differences between the two programs, and the differences in their eligibility criteria are likely the most prominent ones.
The SSDI program has two basic eligibility requirements:
- You must have worked long enough and paid social security taxes to collect a sufficient number of work credits
OR
You must qualify through your relationship with either a parent or spouse based on their work record.
- Your condition must satisfy the SSA’s definition of “total disability.”
The SSI program has two basic eligibility requirements:
- Regardless of your work history, your income and assets must be below a specific SSA limit.
- You must either meet the SSA’s criteria for “total disability”, be blind, or be over the age of 65.
The criteria for disability require that:
- You cannot engage in substantial gainful activity, which means your income must fall below $1470 monthly (in 2023) or $2460 if you are blind.
- You have a disability that is listed on the SSA’s Blue Book listing of impairments, another similar disability that is equivalent in terms of severity and symptoms, OR the combined effect of your non-listed conditions is equivalent in terms of severity and symptoms.
- Your condition prevents you from doing the work you did before your disability or retaining any other kind of employment.
- Your condition has or is expected to last at least 12 months.
- Your condition is supported by medical records.
Is SSDI Harder to Get than SSI?
The common belief is that SSDI is harder to get than SSI. This is understandable, considering that SSDI has additional work credit requirements that SSI does not. However, the statistics are a bit contradictory.
In 2022, 51% of SSDI applicants were approved, compared to just 36% of SSI applicants. In this section, we will compare which of the programs is harder to get based on a number of variables.
Initial Stage
The denial obtained at the very first step of the evaluation process is known as a “technical denial”. This is based on non-medical criteria, such as income and assets. According to the statistics, a total of 45% of SSDI applicants were given a technical denial, whereas only 18% of SSI applicants were denied at this stage.
This is interesting because SSI’s income and asset requirements are stricter than those of SSDI.
Disability Determination
This is an evaluation process that is completed in a total of five steps and determines whether an individual is able to engage in substantial gainful activity. Each step is concerned with a specific question:
Step 1: Is the applicant still working?
If you are still working at the time of your application, the SSA will determine whether you are engaging in substantial gainful activity. If you are earning over $1470 per month (or $2460 for blind applicants), then you will be considered to be engaging in substantial gainful activity.
In that case, your application will be denied. However, substantial gainful activity is not only limited to income requirements but also to the exertion involved in your work activities.
Step 2: Is the applicant’s condition severe?
In order for your condition to be considered severe, it must impact your daily and work-related activities, which would ultimately prevent you from retaining employment.
Your condition must also be proven through medical records and documentation. Lastly, your condition must have lasted or be expected to last for at least 12 months.
Step 3: Is the applicant’s condition listed in the SSA’s Blue Book?
The Social Security Administration has a Blue Book that lists a number of conditions that automatically qualify an applicant for disability benefits, if the requirements for the condition are met.
In the event that the applicant has a condition that is not listed in the Blue Book, the SSA will determine whether their condition is equivalent in terms of severity.
Step 4: Is the applicant able to do previous work?
If the applicant’s condition does not match the Blue Book’s listing, either directly or through severity, then SSA will consider whether they are able to do their past work.
Step 5: Is the applicant able to do any other kind of work?
If the applicant is unable to do their past work, SSA will consider whether they are able to engage in other forms of employment. The other types of employment are based on a list of occupations and their demands established by the Department of Labor in 1991.
It should be noted that approximately 41% of SSDI applicants had their applications approved at this stage, as compared to only 37% of SSI applicants.
A disability attorney may be an invaluable resource at this stage since they are able to collect all of the required evidence through medical practitioners and present it to the SSA, building a strong case for you. Incomplete evidence is a major reason for denials at this stage.
Age of the Applicant
Age is not a deciding factor when evaluating eligibility for SSI. But it does impact your chances of success if you are an SSDI applicant. A younger applicant has a lower chance of approval compared to an older applicant.
This is related to the fact that, as we age, our conditions can have a more severe effect on our ability to work. But it also has to do with work history. Older applicants are likely to have had a longer work history and will have paid into the system longer compared to their younger counterparts, so they are more likely to satisfy the work credit requirement.
Conclusion
So, although the general perception is that SSDI is much harder to get than SSI, the statistics tell us otherwise. It is hard to say for sure which program is easier to get, but depending on your specific situation and medical condition, one might be easier to get than the other. Understanding the process and ensuring all your paperwork is in order will help maximize your chances of success.
