Can You Qualify for Both SSDI and SSI Disability Benefits?

Some people who are eligble for SSI get a modest amount of Social Security disability benefits, if they worked. Making an application for both benefits is called a "concurrent claim."

In particular circumstances, you can collect SSI and SSDI at the same time (called "concurrent benefits"). This takes place when a disability applicant is approved for Social Security Disability (abbreviated as SSD or SSDI) but gets merely a low monthly payment. (A low SSDI payment can be brought on by not working a great deal in the past few years or making low wages.)

Qualifying for SSI

To qualify for an SSI payment in addition to an SSDI payment, your unearned earnings must be less than $721 per month. The SSI income limits are relatively confusing, however; this limit is greater in certain states, and if you are working and making some cash, another limit is applicable. The SSI program also offers asset limits.

If your revenue and possessions are low enough to be entitled to Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and you worked long enough in a job that paid taxes into the Social Security system to qualify for Social Security disability insurance (SSDI), it is not unlikely you'll receive both types of benefits at once. (However, remember your SSDI payment is included in determining your eligibility for SSI. Quite often, your SSDI payment is going to be so high you simply won't be considered for SSI.)

Monthly Payment of Concurrent SSDI and SSI Benefits

You will not get a higher monthly combined benefit than you would under the SSI program by itself. Your SSI payment will be lowered by your SSDI payment to suit the absolute maximum SSI payment. If your SSDI benefit is underneath the current SSI monthly payment amount and you qualify for SSI, you'll receive an SSI payment. Simply put, if your SSDI benefit is below the set maximum per month, you are able to receive both SSI and SSDI benefits at once.

How You Apply for Concurrent Benefits

Whether you apply for SSI, SSDI (often known as SSD), or both, the Social Security office will choose whether your claim is concurrent, depending on your income and assets. The category of your claim will make no difference as to the way the claim is processed. In other words, an SSI claim will be completed in much the same way as an SSDI claim. The same definition of disability and the same disability review process is used for both programs.

The Benefits of a Concurrent Claim

The benefit to getting SSI when you are collecting a lower monthly SSDI benefit is that the SSI payment will lift up your benefit up to the maximum per month.

The benefit to having the capability to collect SSDI when you're eligible for SSI is that you may be eligible to get on Medicare as an SSDI recipient (although you must wait two years from when your SSDI eligibility begins).

In contrast, SSI recipients are eligible for Medicaid alone. Although Medicaid does provide payment for more services than Medicare, more physicians acknowledge payments from Medicare, so it may be much easier to find a provider.

Kassin And Carrow are ready and willing to help you receive all of the benefits that you deserve, whether SSI, SSDI, or both!