The core difference: who paid in, and how much you need

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is for people who worked and paid Social Security taxes. You get it based on your own work record — the amount depends on how much you earned before you became unable to work. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is for people with very low income and resources, regardless of work history. You do not need to have worked at all to receive it.

The two programs use the same definition of disability — you must be unable to work due to a medical condition expected to last at least 12 months or result in death — but they are separate systems run by the Social Security Administration. Your age, income, and savings determine which one you might receive, and some people receive both at the same time.

Think of SSDI as insurance you paid into through your paychecks. SSI is a needs-based program for people with disabilities who have little money or property. The program you receive depends almost entirely on your work history and current financial situation, not on how severe your disability is.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI requires a work history and Social Security tax payments; SSI does not require any work history at all.
  • SSDI payments are based on your past earnings; SSI payments are the same for everyone in your state and depend on your current income and resources.
  • SSI has strict limits on how much money and property you can own ($2,000 for an individual in most states); SSDI has no resource limit.
  • You can receive both SSDI and SSI at the same time if your SSDI payment is very low.
  • Family members can receive benefits on your SSDI record; they cannot receive benefits based on your SSI.

Work history and how you paid into the system

SSDI is built on a work record. To receive it, you must have worked long enough and recently enough to have earned enough Social Security credits. The exact number of credits you need depends on your age when you become disabled, but generally you need 40 credits total, with 20 of them earned in the 10 years before you became unable to work. You earn one credit for each $1,640 of wages in 2023 (the amount changes yearly), up to four credits per year.

SSI has no work requirement. You can have never worked, worked only briefly, or worked many years ago. The program is designed for people with disabilities who have little income and few resources, whether or not they ever paid into Social Security. A child born with a disability can receive SSI. A person who stopped working 20 years ago can receive SSI. Work history does not matter.

How much money you receive each month

SSDI payments vary by person because they are based on your earnings record. The Social Security Administration calculates your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) using your average earnings over your working years. Someone who earned $60,000 a year will receive more than someone who earned $20,000 a year. In 2024, the average SSDI payment is around $1,550 per month, but payments range from a few hundred dollars to over $3,800 depending on your work history.

SSI payments are the same for everyone in your state (with small variations for living situation). In 2024, the federal SSI payment is $943 per month for an individual living independently, but many states add money on top of that. Some states pay $1,100 or more; others pay exactly the federal amount. Your payment does not change based on how much you earned before — it is based on your current income and resources.

If you receive SSDI and your payment is very low, you may also receive SSI to bring your total income up. This is called "concurrent receipt" and happens when your SSDI payment falls below the SSI limit for your state.

Resource and income limits

SSI has strict limits on how much money and property you can own. In most states, you can have no more than $2,000 in countable resources if you are an individual, or $3,000 if you are a couple. Resources include savings accounts, cash, stocks, and vehicles (with some exceptions). Your home and one vehicle are usually not counted. If you go over the limit, you lose SSI until your resources drop back down.

SSDI has no resource limit. You can own a house, have $100,000 in the bank, own multiple vehicles, and still receive your full SSDI payment. The only limit is on how much you can earn from work — if you work and earn more than $1,550 per month (in 2024), your benefits may be reduced or stopped.

Both programs count income, but differently. SSI counts almost all income — wages, pensions, gifts, help from family — and reduces your payment dollar-for-dollar after the first $65 per month. SSDI counts only earned income from work, and has a higher threshold before benefits are affected.

Who else can receive benefits on your record

If you receive SSDI, your spouse, children, and in some cases your parents can receive benefits based on your work record. A spouse at full retirement age can receive up to 50 percent of your benefit amount. Children under 19 (or 19 if still in high school) can receive 75 percent of your benefit. These family members do not need to have disabilities themselves. The total amount paid to your whole family is capped at 150 to 180 percent of your own benefit, but multiple family members can share it.

SSI is an individual program. Only you receive money based on your own SSI case. Your spouse or children cannot receive SSI benefits because you receive it. They can apply for their own SSI if they meet the requirements, but they do not get a portion of your payment.

Medical review and continuing disability

Both programs require you to prove you still have a disability that prevents work. The Social Security Administration conducts periodic reviews to make sure you still meet the definition of disability. How often you are reviewed depends on whether your condition is expected to improve. If improvement is possible, you may be reviewed every one to three years. If improvement is unlikely, reviews may happen every five to seven years or less often.

If the Administration determines you are no longer disabled, both programs can stop your benefits. However, SSDI has a trial work period that allows you to test your ability to work without immediately losing benefits. You can work and earn any amount for nine months (not necessarily consecutive) without affecting your benefits. After the trial work period, there is a 36-month period where benefits can continue even if you earn above the work limit, though they may be reduced.

SSI does not have a trial work period, but it does have work incentives that allow you to keep some benefits while you work. These vary by state and program.

How to understand which program you might receive

If you worked and paid Social Security taxes, you are potentially may be able to access for SSDI. The amount you receive depends on your earnings record, not your current financial situation. If you have little income and few resources, you may also be may be able to access for SSI to supplement your SSDI, or SSI alone if you do not have a work record.

If you never worked or did not work long enough to earn SSDI, SSI is the program available to you. Your payment will be the same as others in your state with SSI, and you must stay below the resource limit to keep receiving it.

Some people receive both programs at the same time. This usually happens when someone has a work record that qualifies them for SSDI, but the SSDI payment is very low — below the SSI limit for their state. The Social Security Administration pays the SSDI first, then adds SSI to bring the total to the SSI payment level.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive both SSDI and SSI at the same time?

Yes. If you have a work record that qualifies you for SSDI but your SSDI payment is below the SSI limit for your state, you can receive both. Social Security pays your SSDI first, then adds SSI to reach the SSI payment amount. This is called concurrent receipt.

If I worked part-time or had low earnings, can I still get SSDI?

You can receive SSDI if you have enough work credits, even if you earned very little. The amount of your payment will be lower than someone who earned more, but you can still be may be able to access. You may also receive SSI if your SSDI payment is very low and you meet the resource limits.

What happens to my SSI if I inherit money or receive a gift?

Gifts and inheritances count as resources. If they push you over $2,000 (or $3,000 for a couple), you will lose SSI until your resources drop back down. Some money can be excluded under specific rules — for example, money set aside in a special needs trust — so contact Social Security before accepting a large gift or inheritance.

Does my spouse's income affect my SSDI or SSI?

Your spouse's income does not affect your SSDI payment. For SSI, your spouse's income is counted as your income, which reduces your SSI payment. If you are married and one spouse receives SSI, the other spouse's earnings will reduce the SSI payment.

Can I work while receiving SSDI or SSI?

Yes, both programs have work incentives. SSDI allows a nine-month trial work period where you can earn any amount without losing benefits. SSI allows you to work and keep some benefits, though the rules vary by state. Earnings above certain limits will reduce your payment, but you do not automatically lose benefits if you work.