You can receive both SSI and SSDI, but the way they work together depends on your work history and how much money you have

The short answer is yes — you can get both programs at once. But they don't simply add together. If you're receiving SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) based on your own work record, SSI (Supplemental Security Income) will reduce its payment to you by the amount of SSDI you get. If you're receiving SSI and then become may have access to to SSDI, your SSI payment shrinks, but you keep both.

The reason this matters is that SSI is a needs-based program — it's designed for people with very little income and resources. SSDI is an insurance program based on work history. When you have both, Social Security treats SSDI as income that counts against your SSI limit. You don't lose SSI entirely, but the payment gets smaller.

Key Takeaways

  • You can hold both SSI and SSDI at the same time, but receiving SSDI reduces your SSI payment dollar-for-dollar above a small exclusion amount.
  • SSI has strict resource limits (usually $2,000 for individuals), while SSDI has no resource limit, which is why some people pursue both.
  • If you're on SSI and become may have access to to SSDI, Social Security will automatically recalculate your SSI to account for the SSDI income.
  • The combination can actually work in your favor if your SSDI payment is low, because SSI can top you up to the federal minimum, though this varies by state.

How the payment reduction works

When you receive both programs, Social Security counts your SSDI as "unearned income" for SSI purposes. SSI allows you to have a small amount of unearned income each month without a reduction — currently $20 — but anything above that reduces your SSI payment by one dollar for every dollar you earn over that threshold.

Here's a concrete example: suppose your SSDI payment is $800 per month and the federal SSI payment is $943 per month (2024 rates, which change yearly). Social Security would count $800 as income, subtract the $20 exclusion, leaving $780 that reduces your SSI. Your SSI payment would drop from $943 to $163 per month. You'd receive $800 SSDI plus $163 SSI, totaling $963 — slightly more than SSI alone, but less than SSDI alone.

Some states add their own money to the federal SSI payment. If you live in one of those states, the reduction calculation uses the state's higher rate, which can change how much SSI you receive when combined with SSDI.

Why someone would want both programs

The main reason to pursue both is when your SSDI payment is very low. This can happen if you worked for only a short time before becoming disabled, or if your earnings record was modest. In those cases, SSI can supplement your SSDI to bring you closer to the minimum monthly amount.

The second reason involves resources. SSDI has no limit on how much money or property you can own. SSI does — currently $2,000 for an individual (the limit is higher if you're married or have dependents). If you have savings or own a home, SSDI won't count those against you, but SSI will. Some people structure their finances to stay under the SSI resource limit while collecting both, though this requires careful planning and sometimes legal advice.

A third reason is Medicaid. In most states, SSI automatically qualifies you for Medicaid, while SSDI alone does not. If you're on SSDI but have low income and need health coverage, getting SSI as well can open that door. This varies significantly by state, so check with your local Medicaid office about how your state handles it.

How to get both programs

You don't apply for both at the same time in most cases. Usually, you apply for one first — often SSDI if you have a work history, or SSI if you don't. Once Social Security determines you're disabled, you become potentially may have access to to whichever program fits your situation.

If you're already receiving one and think you might be may have access to to the other, contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213. Tell them you want to explore whether you can receive both. Social Security will review your work record and current income to determine if you meet the requirements for the second program.

The process can take several months. Social Security has to verify your work history, medical condition, and current income and resources. If you're denied for one program, you have the right to request reconsideration or a hearing before an administrative law judge.

What happens to your benefits if circumstances change

If you're receiving both and your SSDI payment increases — for example, because of a cost-of-living adjustment — your SSI payment will decrease by the same amount (minus the $20 exclusion). This is automatic; Social Security recalculates it every year.

If your SSDI payment decreases or stops, your SSI payment will increase to compensate, as long as you still meet SSI's income and resource limits. If you go back to work and your earnings become too high, both programs can be affected, though there are work incentives that let you keep some earnings without losing benefits entirely.

If your resources grow above the SSI limit — through inheritance, a settlement, or savings — you could lose SSI while keeping SSDI. This is one reason to understand the resource rules before receiving a large sum of money while on SSI.

State variations in SSI payments

Twenty-six states and Washington D.C. provide supplementary payments on top of the federal SSI amount. These state supplements vary widely — some add just a few dollars per month, while others add significantly more. If you live in a state with a supplement, your SSI payment (and therefore the reduction when combined with SSDI) will be higher than the federal rate.

If you move to a different state, your SSI payment may change. Some states have higher supplements than others, and a few states have lower supplements or none at all. This can affect how much total income you receive when combining SSI and SSDI.

Work incentives when you have both programs

Both SSI and SSDI have work incentives that let you earn money without immediately losing benefits. These include earned income exclusions (you can earn a certain amount per month without it counting as income) and trial work periods (for SSDI, a nine-month period where you can work and still get full benefits).

If you're receiving both programs and want to work, the rules interact in complex ways. Your earnings will be counted differently under each program's rules, and you need to report them to Social Security. It's worth asking Social Security about work incentives before you start working, because the wrong move can cost you benefits you didn't expect to lose.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I'm on SSI and get approved for SSDI, do I lose SSI?

No, you keep SSI, but your payment shrinks. Social Security counts your SSDI as income and reduces your SSI accordingly. You'll receive both payments, but the total may be only slightly more than SSDI alone, depending on how much SSDI you get.

Can I have both if I never worked?

No. SSDI requires a work history — you must have worked and paid Social Security taxes for a certain period. If you've never worked, you can only receive SSI. If you become disabled after working, you may become may have access to to SSDI even if you haven't worked recently.

Does having both programs affect my Medicaid?

It depends on your state. SSI automatically qualifies you for Medicaid in most states. SSDI does not, but some states extend Medicaid to SSDI recipients. Having both doesn't hurt your Medicaid status, and in some cases it helps by ensuring you stay under the income threshold.

What if my SSDI payment is higher than the SSI maximum?

Then you won't receive any SSI payment. Social Security will only pay you SSDI. This is common for people with longer work histories or higher earnings records. You'd need to check with Social Security to know for certain whether you'd may have access to for SSI alongside your SSDI.

Can I have both if I'm married?

Yes, but the rules are more complex. Resource and income limits are higher for married couples, and the way your spouse's income and resources are counted differs between the two programs. Contact Social Security to understand how your specific situation would be treated.