Can I Get SSI and SSDI at the Same Time?

Amidst the rising inflation and economic crisis, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) come as a great relief for older people and those with medical conditions and disabilities that keep them from working. One of the frequently asked questions is: Can one get SSI and SSDI at the same time?

Yes, you can qualify and receive both SSI and SSDI benefits at the same time, and it is called concurrent benefits. However, those who qualify for both benefits may be more likely to get a smaller amount in SSDI benefits.

This article provides a detailed guide to getting both SSI and SSDI at the same time. 

Can I get SSI and SSDI at the Same Time? 

You can get Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance at the same time. ‘Concurrent’ is a term that the Social Security Administration (SSA) uses when you are eligible for both SSI and SSDI.

However, if you have qualified for both, SSDI benefits can reduce your SSI benefits or make you ineligible for one. That’s due to differences in the programs’ intent and eligibility criteria.

SSDI and SSI both offer benefits to people who meet Social Security’s definition of a disability, which they define as a severe physical or mental condition preventing you from performing substantial work for at least a year.

SSDI provides benefits regardless of a person’s financial status, linking eligibility to work history and Social Security tax payments, with benefit amounts being based on the average lifetime earnings of the person applying for SSDI.

In contrast, SSI is income-dependent, benefiting those with disabilities, blindness, or who are at least 65 years old and have lower incomes and limited financial resources. It disregards employment history, making it available even if no work or Social Security taxes were paid.

However, SSI eligibility is restricted if your “countable” income surpasses the federal threshold amount stablished by the SSA—$914 monthly for individuals and $1,371 for couples (in 2023), also serving as maximum federal SSI payments. Some states supplement SSI benefits. Countable income differs every year, so make sure you are looking at the most up to date information.

The monthly maximum federal amounts for 2024 are $943 for an eligible individual, $1,415 for an eligible individual with an eligible spouse, and $472 for an essential person.

Social Security counts SSDI and other benefits as income, but exempts $20 monthly. If your SSDI benefit exceeds $934, you’re ineligible for SSI. If it’s less, you may qualify for reduced SSI, with the reduction nearly equaling your SSDI amount.

For instance, if you are eligible for SSI and receive a $500 SSDI benefit (with a $20 exemption), your SSI decreases by $480. The total remains $500 in SSDI and $434 in SSI ($914 minus $480).

According to the SSA’s annual statistical report, one out of every 10 disabled SSDI beneficiaries also gets SSI benefits.

Who Can Receive Concurrent Disability Benefits?

SSI and SSDI appear to be similar at first, but they are not due to different income limits imposed on the claimants. 

However, they are similar, as both provide financial assistance to older people as well as people with medical conditions and disabilities. It may, therefore, not be surprising that some people qualify for both SSI and SSDI. But how is this possible?

Most of the time, people are eligible for concurrent benefits because they have been qualified for SSDI but receive a low benefit amount. Many people qualify but don’t get the maximum amount, which is $3,627 (for 2023). The average amount that an eligible person gets for SSDI is $1,358 each month. 

The average recipient receives $2,269 less than the maximum amount, and it does account for people receiving less than the average amount. 

There can be many reasons for this, but low salaries and a limited work history are common factors that can cause the a reduction in the claimant’s Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. 

The reasons for low SSDI payments can be many, but they often pave the way for eligibility for concurrent benefits. Nevertheless, you must adhere to certain conditions and guidelines to be approved and receive concurrent benefits. 

Requirement for Receiving SSI and SSDI at the Same Time

As mentioned, the Social Security Administration has set a special income limit for receiving SSI and SSDI. However, these limits are subject to change every year due to economic changes and to accommodate Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). The Substantial Gainful Activity table of the Social Security Administration shows that these limits are increasing every year. 

Federal Benefit Rate is a term used for an annual increase in SSI’s limit. It increases every year. For example, it increased from $841 in 2022 to $914 in 2023 and to $934 in 2024 for an eligible individual. How, then, do these income limits impact the concurrent benefits of receivers?

In order to qualify for SSI in addition to SSDI, your income should not cross the Federal Benefit Rate, which is $914 in 2023. 

The Social Security Administration employs a highly complicated calculation to determine the amount of your income included in the SSI limit. It is, therefore, not as straightforward as it appears at first glance. 

In simple terms, not all wages are included toward the SSI threshold, so you may be making $914 or $950 each month and still qualify for SSI. This is an example of the SSA’s many exclusions. In this case, the first $65 of your monthly earnings will not be counted.

You should be aware that if your Social Security Disability Insurance payments are high, you may not be eligible for SSI. 

Not everything a person receives is income for SSI purposes. Generally, if the amount received cannot be used to obtain food or shelter, it will not be considered income. 

For example, if someone pays a person’s medical bills, offers free medical care, or receives money from a social services agency that is a repayment of an amount he/she previously spent, that value is not considered income to the individual. In addition, some items that are income are excluded when determining the amount of an individual’s payment.

Principal unearned income exclusions:

• The first $20 per month
• Income set aside or being used to pursue a plan for achieving self-support by a disabled or blind individual
• State or local assistance based on need that is wholly funded by the state or local area in the state
• Rent subsidies under HUD programs and the value of supplemental nutrition assistance (formerly referred to as food stamps)
• The first $60 of infrequent or irregularly received income in a quarter

Principal earned income exclusions:

• The first $65 per month and any unused portion of the $20 unearned income exclusion, plus one-half of the remainder
• Impairment-related work expenses of the disabled and work expenses of the blind
• Income set aside or being used to pursue a plan for achieving self-support by a disabled or blind individual
• The first $30 of infrequent or irregularly received income in a quarter

How Do I Apply for both SSI and SSDI?

If you want to apply for both SSI and SSDI, you will need to apply for both programs separately. The SSA will decide after reviewing your income and assets, as well as your spouse’s income and assets. The evaluation process will be the same, no matter how your claim is defined. 

In order to qualify for SSI and SSDI, depending on your situation, you may need to meet the defined medical requirements. The Social Security Administration uses the Blue Book to check if the necessary medical criteria have been met. 

The Blue Book contains hundreds of listings, each with its own set of medical conditions. You can review the book with your doctor to see if your condition is covered. You must be able to prove the medical condition that prevents you from working. Make sure you have all the necessary documents to back up your claim. There may be other conditions that you must meet. 

What Other Benefits Can I Get with SSI and SSDI?

If you have been approved for either SSI or SSDI, you may be eligible for additional benefits. You can use the disability payments from the Social Security Administration for either medical or living costs, though they may not always be enough. Therefore, along with SSI or SSDI, you may be able to receive:

Medicare

After receiving Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, you will be enrolled in Medicare for 24 months. 

The Medicare convergence depends on the region and county you live in, and sometimes it can also cover all your medical expenses, so you don’t need to spend money you receive from the SSA on such expenses. 

SNAP

You and your family may also qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or food stamps that can help you with your food budget. However, there are income thresholds that limit your participation in SNAP. 

Eligibility for SNAP will not be affected by the money you receive from the SSA. You can continue to receive your benefits from SSI or SSDI even if you meet the criteria for SNAP. 

Workers Compensation

If you are receiving worker compensation after being injured at work, you may be eligible for SSI and SSDI. 

However, it is important to note that the disability benefits that you are receiving will be reduced by the SSA by the amount of worker compensation benefits. If your worker compensation, SSI, or SSDI exceeds 80% of the average earnings, your SSI or SSDI payment will be reduced.

VA Disability Compensation

Disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will not be reduced if you are receiving disability benefits due to a service-related injury or illness. Your VA disability benefits will not go away after being qualified for either SSI or SSDI. 

What If I Don’t Qualify for SSI and SSDI?

The SSA turns down about 70% of first-time applications. 

However, the good thing is that you can file an appeal, and those who do so get more chances of being approved. About half of all applications are accepted after this step. The type of rejection that you receive will define your next course of action.

If your application for both SSI and SSDI is disapproved or rejected, it may mostly be on medical grounds. The SSA may require additional documents and evidence to prove your disability or medical condition. 

At this stage, the best option is to file an appeal. You can also hire an attorney to represent you  during the appeals process, which may increase your chances of being accepted by SSA.

If your application for only one program is rejected, this kind of rejection can be due to technical grounds (such that your income may be too high to qualify for SSI or you are not meeting SSDI work criteria). 

This kind of rejection is less likely to be overturned by an appeal. The only legitimate way to overturn the judgment is to provide evidence for either your work history or disability. 

Does SSI Pay More, or Does SSDI? 

Which program can offer you more monthly income benefits? The answer is not black and white, as is often the case with government programs. 

For SSDI, people who are eligible used to work in the past but stopped working due to their disability. People who are eligible for SSI are generally older people with low income or who are or have disabled children.  

Most of the time, the benefits offered by SSDI are greater than those of SSI, but again, this is not without exception. In order to choose the best option, you need to see how close you are to retirement age. 

If you are below the age of retirement and do qualify for SSDI, you will get more income from it as compared to SSI. But once you reach retirement age, depending on your situation, you may or may not be eligible for SSI or SSDI. 

How to Calculate your Social Security Benefits Amount

The method to calculate your Social Security and disability benefits is the same. The first thing to do is determine your average index monthly earnings (AIME). While calculating your benefits, the SSA will look at all your past years of earnings.  

Your income up to the taxable limit will be included and indexed for inflation for each of those years. 

Final Thoughts

While it is possible to get SSI and SSDI, it is important to make sure you have the right documents and a thorough understanding of the Social Security disability application process.