You cannot receive the full benefit amount from both SSI and SSDI simultaneously, but you can receive a partial SSI payment while also collecting SSDI

The Social Security Administration treats SSI and SSDI as separate programs with different rules, but they are linked in one important way: if you receive SSDI, that payment reduces your SSI payment dollar-for-dollar. This means you will not get the combined total of both programs. However, if your SSDI payment is lower than the SSI federal benefit rate, you may receive a small SSI top-up payment to bring your total to the SSI maximum.

The scenario where this happens most often is when someone becomes disabled before age 22 and receives Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefits on a parent's Social Security record, then later becomes may have access to to their own SSDI based on their work history. In that case, you keep the DAC benefit and receive SSDI, but SSA will coordinate the two payments so you do not receive more than you are may have access to to under each program's rules.

Key Takeaways

  • If you receive SSDI, your SSI payment is reduced by the full SSDI amount, so you cannot collect the maximum from both programs at once.
  • You may receive a partial SSI payment if your SSDI is lower than the federal SSI benefit rate, which varies by state and household composition.
  • Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefits and SSDI can both be paid to you, but they are coordinated so the total does not exceed what you are may have access to to under Social Security rules.
  • If you are already receiving SSI and then become may have access to to SSDI, Social Security will automatically recalculate your payments and notify you of any changes.
  • Your state SSI supplement, if you receive one, may continue even if your federal SSI payment drops to zero due to SSDI income.

How the Payment Offset Works

When you receive both SSDI and SSI, Social Security uses a process called deemed income to calculate your SSI payment. Your SSDI is counted as income against your SSI limit. The federal SSI benefit rate for 2024 is $943 per month for an individual (this amount changes yearly). If your SSDI payment is $943 or more, your federal SSI payment becomes zero.

If your SSDI is $700 per month, for example, Social Security would calculate your SSI as $943 minus $700, which equals $243 per month in SSI. You would receive both payments: $700 SSDI plus $243 SSI, for a total of $943. You do not receive $1,643 (the sum of both full amounts).

This offset applies only to the federal SSI payment. If you live in a state that provides a state SSI supplement, that supplement may continue even if your federal SSI drops to zero. States like California, New York, and Massachusetts have their own supplemental programs with their own income limits and payment amounts.

When You Might Receive Both Programs

The most common situation is when someone has a work history but their SSDI benefit is low. This can happen if you worked for only a few years before becoming disabled, or if your average earnings were low. A younger person with limited work history might receive SSDI of $400 per month, which is below the SSI federal rate, so they would receive both SSDI and an SSI top-up.

Another scenario involves Disabled Adult Child benefits. If you became disabled before age 22 and received DAC benefits on your parent's record, you continue receiving those benefits even after you turn 18. If you later work enough to earn your own SSDI, you can receive both the DAC payment and your own SSDI. Social Security will pay whichever is higher, not both in full.

A third situation occurs when someone receives SSI, then later becomes may have access to to SSDI (for example, after working and paying into Social Security for several years). When this happens, Social Security automatically recalculates your payment and notifies you of the change. Your SSI does not stop; it adjusts downward based on your new SSDI amount.

What Counts as Income That Reduces SSI

SSDI is counted as income for SSI purposes, but not all of it. Social Security excludes the first $65 of monthly SSDI income plus half of the remainder. This is called the SSI income exclusion. However, this exclusion applies mainly to earned income (wages from work). For unearned income like SSDI, the rules are different and more restrictive.

In practice, your full SSDI amount is counted against your SSI limit. There is no $65 exclusion or half-benefit rule for SSDI when calculating SSI. This is why receiving SSDI almost always reduces your SSI payment by the full amount of the SSDI.

Other income sources also count: wages from work, pensions, unemployment benefits, and certain other government payments. If you have income from multiple sources, Social Security adds them all together and subtracts the $65 general exclusion (which applies once per month, not per income source) and half of your remaining earned income.

How to Report Changes if You Receive Both

If you receive both SSDI and SSI, you must report changes to Social Security, but the reporting rules differ slightly between the two programs. For SSI, you must report changes within 10 days. For SSDI, there is no strict reporting deadline, but you should report changes promptly to avoid overpayments.

Changes you must report include: starting or stopping work, a change in your living situation, a change in who lives with you, a change in your income or resources, a change in your citizenship status, or a change in your medical condition. You can report changes online through your My Social Security account, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office.

If you report a change that affects your SSI payment, Social Security will recalculate both your SSDI and SSI to make sure the offset is correct. This can take several weeks. If the change results in an overpayment, Social Security may ask you to repay the difference, though they sometimes waive repayment if you were not at fault.

State SSI Supplements and SSDI Coordination

Some states provide additional SSI payments on top of the federal amount. These state supplements have their own income limits and rules. In most cases, your SSDI is also counted as income against the state supplement limit, so receiving SSDI will reduce your state payment as well.

However, a few states have different rules. For example, some states do not count SSDI as income for their supplement, or they count it differently. If you receive a state supplement, contact your state's SSI program office to understand how your SSDI affects your state payment. The Social Security office can provide you with your state program's contact information.

If you move to a different state, your state supplement may change. Some states are more generous than others. If you are considering a move and receive SSI, contact the SSI program in the state you plan to move to and ask how your payment would change.

What Happens to Your Medicare and Medicaid

If you receive SSDI, you are may have access to to Medicare after 24 months of receiving benefits (or after receiving SSDI for 24 months if you are blind). This is automatic; you do not need to apply separately. If you also receive SSI, you are may have access to to Medicaid in most states, and Medicaid usually continues even if your SSI payment drops to zero because of your SSDI.

In some states, SSI and Medicaid are linked: if your SSI payment stops, your Medicaid stops too. In other states, you can continue Medicaid even if your SSI payment becomes zero. This is called SSI-related Medicaid or 1619(b) Medicaid. Ask your state Medicaid office or your Social Security representative which rule applies in your state.

If you lose Medicaid because your SSI stops, you may still be able to keep it under a work incentive program. These programs allow people receiving SSDI to work and earn more money without losing Medicaid coverage. The rules are complex, so contact your local Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) project for help understanding your options.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I get SSDI, will my SSI automatically stop?

No, your SSI does not stop, but it is reduced by your SSDI amount. If your SSDI is less than the SSI federal benefit rate, you will receive both payments. If your SSDI is equal to or higher than the SSI rate, your federal SSI payment becomes zero, though you may still receive a state supplement if your state has one.

Can I work and receive both SSDI and SSI?

Yes, but your earnings will affect both payments. SSDI has work incentives that allow you to earn money without losing benefits immediately. SSI counts your earnings as income and reduces your payment. Contact a Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) project before you start working to understand how it will affect your specific situation.

What if I disagree with how Social Security calculated my offset?

You can request an explanation from Social Security and ask them to recalculate. If you still disagree, you can file an appeal. You have 60 days from the date you receive the notice to request an appeal. Contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 to start the appeal process.

Does my state supplement count toward my SSI limit?

No, your state supplement is separate from your federal SSI payment. However, your SSDI still counts as income against your state supplement limit in most states. Contact your state SSI program to confirm how your state handles this.

If I move states, how will my payments change?

Your SSDI payment stays the same no matter where you live. Your federal SSI payment also stays the same. However, your state SSI supplement may change because each state sets its own supplement amount and rules. Contact the SSI program in your new state before you move to find out what your payment will be.