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Understanding Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income are two separate federal programs that provide monthly cash payments to people with disabilities. While both programs serve people with disabilities, they work differently and have different rules about who can receive benefits.

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SSDI is based on your work history and the Social Security taxes you've paid. You become insured for disability benefits by working and paying into the Social Security system. The amount you receive depends on your earnings record. According to the Social Security Administration, as of 2024, about 8.1 million people receive SSDI benefits, with an average monthly payment of around $1,550. This program is designed for people who worked long enough to build up work credits before becoming unable to work.

SSI, on the other hand, is a needs-based program. You don't need a work history to receive SSI. Instead, the program looks at your current financial situation. If your income and resources fall below certain limits, you may be able to receive SSI payments. The federal SSI payment amount for 2024 is $943 per month for individuals. Some states add extra money on top of the federal amount. About 7.3 million people currently receive SSI benefits.

Understanding which program might be relevant to your situation is the first step. Some people receive both SSDI and SSI, though usually not at the full amount of each program. The programs also differ in their rules about working, receiving other income, and owning resources like a home or car. Learning the basic differences helps you understand what information you might need to gather.

Practical Takeaway: Write down whether you have a significant work history. This will help you determine which program information in the guide is most relevant to your situation. Many people are surprised to learn that work history isn't always required to receive disability benefits.

Medical Requirements and How Disability Is Defined

Social Security has a specific definition of disability that differs from how people use the word in everyday life. To receive SSDI or SSI, Social Security defines disability as a medical condition that prevents you from doing substantial work and is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. This is a strict definition, and understanding it helps you understand why some conditions qualify and others don't.

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Social Security maintains a list called the Blue Book, which contains descriptions of medical conditions that automatically meet the disability requirements. These conditions are organized by body system—such as the nervous system, cardiovascular system, respiratory system, and others. If your condition matches a listing in the Blue Book, and the medical evidence supports it, you may be found disabled based on that listing. For example, the Blue Book includes specific listings for conditions like cerebral palsy, HIV/AIDS, cancer, heart disease, and severe mental health conditions. However, having a condition on the list doesn't automatically mean you'll receive benefits—the medical evidence must support that your condition meets the specific requirements in the listing.

If your condition doesn't match a listing in the Blue Book, Social Security will evaluate your residual functional capacity (RFC). This is an assessment of what work-related activities you can still do—like sitting, standing, lifting, walking, concentrating, or remembering instructions—despite your medical conditions. Social Security uses this information to determine if you can perform your past work or other work that exists in the economy. This process is more complex and typically requires detailed medical evidence from doctors and other treatment providers.

Medical evidence is crucial to any case. Social Security needs to see records from doctors, hospitals, therapists, or other healthcare providers who have examined and treated you. They want to see test results, imaging reports, therapy notes, and medication histories. Self-reported symptoms alone are not enough. The guide discusses what kinds of medical evidence carry the most weight and how to organize your records effectively.

Practical Takeaway: Gather medical records from all your healthcare providers over the past few years. Start by making a list of every doctor, specialist, hospital, or clinic that has treated you. These records form the foundation of understanding whether your medical situation might meet Social Security's definition of disability.

Work History, Earnings Records, and Work Credits

For SSDI purposes, Social Security tracks your work history through something called work credits. You earn work credits by paying Social Security taxes through payroll deductions from your wages (or self-employment taxes if you're self-employed). In 2024, you earn one work credit for each $1,730 in wages or self-employment income, up to a maximum of four credits per year. Most people need 40 work credits to be insured for SSDI—typically meaning they worked for at least 10 years. Younger workers may need fewer credits.

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Your earnings record can be checked through a free Social Security account online. You can create an account at ssa.gov to view your earnings history. This shows how many work credits you have accumulated and whether you have enough to be insured for disability benefits if you became unable to work. The guide discusses how to access this information and what to do if you find errors on your record—errors do happen, and correcting them is important.

If you have worked but don't have enough credits, you're not automatically disqualified from benefits. You could still be eligible for SSI if your income and resources are low enough. Additionally, if you're younger and haven't worked much, there are special rules. For example, people who became disabled before age 22 may be able to receive benefits based on a parent's work record if that parent is retired, disabled, or deceased. This is called "Disabled Adult Child" (DAC) benefits, and it provides an important pathway for young people with disabilities who haven't had much chance to build their own work records.

The guide includes information about what counts as income and resources when determining need. For SSDI, earnings from work can affect your benefits through something called the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit—in 2024, this is $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals. If you earn more than this amount, Social Security may consider you able to work and potentially end your benefits. However, there are work incentives available, and the guide discusses programs that allow SSDI beneficiaries to work while still receiving some benefits.

Practical Takeaway: Create a free my Social Security account online at ssa.gov to view your earnings record and verify you have enough work credits. If you're younger or don't have work credits, note any family members who are retired, disabled, or deceased—you might have other options through their records.

The Application Process and What to Expect

While this guide cannot complete government transactions for you, it provides information about how Social Security's application process works so you understand what to expect. You can begin providing information to Social Security through several channels: in person at your local Social Security office, by phone at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), or online through ssa.gov. Many people find the online option convenient because you can work at your own pace and save your progress.

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When you provide information to Social Security, you'll need to share details about your medical conditions, your doctors and hospitals, your work history, your family situation, and your income and resources. The guide walks through what information you'll need to gather beforehand so you're prepared. Having this information organized before you contact Social Security makes the process smoother. For example, you should have a list of all medical providers you've seen in the past several years, including their names, addresses, and phone numbers. You should also have information about any medications you take and any surgeries or hospitalizations you've had.

After you provide information to Social Security, the agency will contact your doctors and other medical sources to obtain your medical records. This process takes time—Social Security must send requests, wait for responses, and review the information. On average, the initial decision on a claim takes three to six months, though this varies by case complexity. During this time, you can check the status of your case through your my Social Security account or by calling Social Security.

The guide discusses what happens after Social Security makes a decision. If the decision is favorable, you'll be notified of your monthly benefit amount and when payments will begin. If the decision is not favorable, you'll receive an explanation of why, and you'll have information about your options, including reconsideration and appeal procedures. Understanding these procedures is important because many people do file appeals after an initial unfavorable decision.

Practical Takeaway: Before you contact Social Security, create a folder (