You can receive both SSI and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) at the same time, but the rules about how much money you get are strict

The short answer is yes — you can be on both programs simultaneously. However, receiving both does not mean you get the full amount from each program. Instead, your total monthly payment is capped, and the way the programs interact depends on which one you were approved for first and how much each one pays you.

The key thing to understand is that SSI is a needs-based program (it looks at your income and resources), while SSDI is an earned-benefit program (it is based on your work history and Social Security contributions). When you receive both, SSDI payments count as income that reduces your SSI payment. This means the more SSDI you receive, the less SSI you will get.

Key Takeaways

  • You can receive both SSI and SSDI, but your total payment is limited by SSI's income rules and resource limits.
  • SSDI payments reduce your SSI payment dollar-for-dollar after a small income exclusion, so higher SSDI means lower SSI.
  • If your SSDI payment is high enough, you may lose SSI entirely, though you keep Medicaid in some states under "1619(b)" rules.
  • The order in which you are approved (SSI first or SSDI first) affects how your payments are calculated and what happens to your benefits.
  • You must report any change in income or resources to both programs within ten days, or you risk overpayments and having to repay money.

How SSDI income affects your SSI payment

When you receive SSDI, that money counts as income for SSI purposes. SSI allows you to earn or receive a small amount of income without losing benefits — currently $65 per month plus half of any remaining income. However, this exclusion applies mainly to work earnings, not to SSDI payments.

Here is how it works in practice: suppose your SSI payment would be $943 per month (the federal rate in 2024, though it varies by state). You are then approved for SSDI at $800 per month. Your new SSI payment becomes $143 per month — the program subtracts your SSDI income from your SSI amount. If your SSDI payment reaches or exceeds the full SSI rate, your SSI payment drops to zero, though you may still retain Medicaid coverage.

This is called the "deemed income" rule, and it applies whether the SSDI comes from your own work record or from a family member's record (if you are receiving SSDI as a spouse or child).

When you lose SSI but keep Medicaid

Many people worry that if their SSDI payment is high enough to eliminate their SSI, they will also lose Medicaid. In some states, this does not happen. Under a rule called Section 1619(b), you can continue to receive Medicaid even after your SSI payment stops, as long as you remain disabled and your income stays below a certain threshold set by your state.

This threshold is usually higher than the SSI payment amount, which means you can have SSDI income that wipes out your SSI but still may have access to for Medicaid. However, 1619(b) rules vary significantly by state — some states are more generous than others, and a few states do not participate in the program at all. You should contact your state Medicaid office or your local Social Security office to find out whether 1619(b) applies where you live and what your specific income limit is.

If you are in a state that does not offer 1619(b) protection, losing SSI means losing Medicaid at the same time. This is a major reason to understand your state's rules before your SSDI is approved.

Resource limits and how they work when you have both programs

SSI has a strict resource limit: you can own no more than $2,000 in countable resources (or $3,000 if you are married and both spouses are on SSI). Resources include cash, bank accounts, stocks, and property — but not your home or one car. SSDI has no resource limit at all.

When you receive both programs, the SSI resource limit still applies to you. This means if you accumulate more than $2,000 in resources, your SSI payment will stop, even if your SSDI continues. Some resources are excluded from the count — for example, your home, one vehicle, household goods, and certain work-related items. But money in the bank counts, and it counts fully.

If you are receiving both benefits and you inherit money, receive a settlement, or save money from work, you need to report it to Social Security within ten days. Failing to report can result in an overpayment that you will have to repay later.

What happens if you are approved for SSI first, then SSDI

If you are already on SSI when you are approved for SSDI, your SSI payment will be reduced by the amount of your SSDI payment (minus the small income exclusion). The reduction happens automatically once Social Security processes your SSDI approval. You will receive a notice explaining your new payment amount.

In this scenario, you keep both programs active. Your SSI case file remains open, and you continue to report any changes in income or resources to SSI. You will also have an SSDI case file, and you must report changes to that program as well. Some changes (like a change of address) only need to be reported once, but income and resource changes must be reported to both programs.

What happens if you are approved for SSDI first, then SSI

If you are already on SSDI when you apply for and are approved for SSI, Social Security will calculate your SSI payment by subtracting your SSDI income from the SSI federal rate. In most cases, this results in a small SSI payment or no SSI payment at all — which raises the question of why you would apply for SSI in the first place.

People in this situation usually apply for SSI because they need Medicaid coverage that SSDI does not provide, or because they have resources or income from other sources that make them ineligible for SSI but still in need. Once approved, you must report changes to both programs. If your SSDI payment changes, your SSI payment changes too.

Reporting changes and avoiding overpayments

When you receive both SSI and SSDI, you are responsible for reporting certain changes to Social Security within ten days. These include: a change in your living situation, a change in who lives with you, a change in your income (including new work earnings or money from other sources), a change in your resources, a change in your marital status, or a change in your address.

Failing to report changes on time can result in an overpayment — money Social Security paid you that you were not supposed to receive. Once Social Security determines you were overpaid, you will be asked to repay the money. If you do not repay voluntarily, Social Security can withhold future benefits or refer the debt to a collection agency.

The best practice is to contact Social Security as soon as a change occurs, rather than waiting until your next scheduled report. You can report changes by phone, online through your My Social Security account, or in person at your local Social Security office.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I am on SSI and get approved for SSDI, will I lose my Medicaid?

Not automatically. In most states, Section 1619(b) allows you to keep Medicaid even after your SSI payment stops, as long as your income stays below your state's threshold. However, rules vary by state. Contact your state Medicaid office to confirm whether you are protected and what your income limit is.

Can I work while receiving both SSI and SSDI?

Yes, but the rules are different for each program. SSDI has a higher earnings threshold and work incentives that allow you to test your ability to work. SSI has stricter limits and counts most work earnings as income. You should contact Social Security before starting work to understand how your earnings will affect each benefit.

What if my SSDI payment changes — does my SSI change too?

Yes. If your SSDI payment increases or decreases, your SSI payment will adjust accordingly. An increase in SSDI reduces your SSI further; a decrease in SSDI increases your SSI. You do not need to reapply — Social Security makes the adjustment automatically once it processes the SSDI change.

Do I have to report changes to both programs separately?

Some changes (like address) only need to be reported once, and Social Security updates both your SSI and SSDI files. However, to be safe, it is best to report all changes to both programs within ten days. You can do this in one phone call or online through My Social Security.

What counts as a resource for SSI when I am also on SSDI?

The SSI resource limit of $2,000 applies to you even though you are on SSDI. Cash, bank accounts, stocks, and most property count. Your home, one car, household goods, and certain work-related items are excluded. SSDI has no resource limit, so extra resources only affect your SSI payment.