The Main Types of Disability Benefits
The federal government runs two separate disability programs, and they pay different amounts based on different rules. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) pays you based on your own work history and the taxes you paid into Social Security. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) pays you based on financial need, not work history. Some people receive both at the same time, though the total amount is reduced. A third program, Veterans Disability Compensation, exists only for military service members and veterans and is run by the Department of Veterans Affairs, not Social Security.
Which program you can receive depends on whether you worked and paid Social Security taxes, how much money and property you own, and whether you served in the military. You do not choose between them — your work history and assets determine which one you may have access to for. Understanding which program applies to you matters because the monthly payment, the rules about working, and the process for getting benefits all differ.
Key Takeaways
- SSDI is based on your work history and Social Security tax payments, while SSI is based on financial need and has strict asset limits.
- SSDI has no limit on how much money you can have in savings, but SSI limits you to $2,000 in countable resources ($3,000 if you are married).
- SSDI payments are typically higher than SSI payments because they are based on your prior earnings, not a federal minimum.
- You can receive both SSDI and SSI at the same time, though your total monthly payment will be reduced by the SSDI amount.
- Veterans may receive disability compensation from the VA instead of or in addition to Social Security benefits, depending on their service and disability rating.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
SSDI is a program for people who worked and paid Social Security taxes but can no longer work because of a disability. Your monthly payment is based on your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is calculated from your average earnings over your working years. The more you earned and the longer you worked, the higher your SSDI payment will be. There is no maximum asset limit — you can have as much money in savings as you want and still receive SSDI.
To may have access to for SSDI, you must have worked long enough and recently enough to have earned enough work credits. Generally, you need 40 work credits total, with at least 20 earned in the 10 years before you became disabled. If you became disabled before age 24, the rules are different and require fewer credits. Once you start receiving SSDI, you can continue to work part-time and earn up to a certain amount per month without losing benefits — this is called the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit, which changes each year.
SSDI payments typically range from several hundred to over $3,000 per month, depending on your work history. Family members may also receive benefits based on your work record — your spouse, ex-spouse, and children under 19 (or 22 if in school) can each receive a portion of your benefit amount. The total family benefit is capped at a percentage of your PIA, usually between 150 and 180 percent.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
SSI is a needs-based program for people with disabilities, blindness, or who are age 65 or older, regardless of work history. You do not need to have worked to receive SSI. Instead, the program looks at your current financial situation — how much money you have, what property you own, and your monthly income from all sources. If your resources and income fall below the federal limit, you may receive a monthly payment to bring you up to that limit.
SSI has strict asset limits: you can have no more than $2,000 in countable resources if you are single, or $3,000 if you are married and both spouses receive SSI. Countable resources include cash, bank accounts, stocks, and property you own (but not your home or one vehicle). Some items do not count toward the limit, such as household goods, personal effects, and life insurance policies under $1,500. If you own property or have savings above these limits, you are not may be able to access for SSI until your resources drop below the threshold.
The federal SSI payment amount is the same for all recipients in a given month, though it changes each year based on cost-of-living adjustments. Many states add money to the federal payment, so the total amount varies by state. SSI recipients also typically receive Medicaid automatically, which covers health care costs. Like SSDI, SSI allows you to work part-time and earn a small amount each month without losing all your benefits, though the rules are different.
How SSDI and SSI Payments Differ
| Factor | SSDI | SSI |
|---|---|---|
| Based on | Your work history and earnings | Financial need only |
| Asset limit | None | $2,000 (single) / $3,000 (married) |
| Monthly payment range | Varies widely based on earnings history | Federal base amount plus state supplement (varies by state) |
| Family benefits | Spouse, ex-spouse, and children may receive benefits | Only the individual receives payment |
| Health insurance | Medicare after 24 months of SSDI | Medicaid (usually automatic) |
| Work incentives | Substantial Gainful Activity limit; earnings test applies | Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS); different earnings rules |
Receiving Both SSDI and SSI at the Same Time
Some people may have access to for both SSDI and SSI. This happens when you have a work history that qualifies you for SSDI, but your SSDI payment is very low — so low that you also fall below the SSI income limit. Social Security will pay your SSDI first, then add SSI on top to bring your total to the SSI federal benefit rate for your state.
When you receive both, your total monthly payment is the SSI amount, not SSDI plus SSI. For example, if your SSDI payment is $400 and the SSI federal rate is $943, you would receive $400 in SSDI and $543 in SSI, for a total of $943. The SSI portion is reduced by the SSDI amount. You must still meet all SSI rules, including the $2,000 asset limit, even though you also receive SSDI. This combination is sometimes called concurrent benefits.
Veterans Disability Compensation
If you served in the military and have a service-connected disability, you may receive disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) instead of or in addition to Social Security benefits. VA disability payments are based on your disability rating, which ranges from 0 to 100 percent in 10-point increments. The higher your rating, the more you receive each month. VA disability is not based on work history or financial need — it is based solely on your service-connected condition.
VA disability payments do not affect your ability to receive SSDI or SSI. You can receive all three at the same time if you meet the requirements for each. However, if you receive VA disability compensation and also receive SSDI, Social Security may reduce your SSDI payment by the amount of your VA payment in some cases — this is called Offset. The rules are complex and depend on when you became disabled and what type of VA benefit you receive. If you are a veteran, you should contact the VA directly to understand how your benefits interact with Social Security.
How Your Payment Amount Is Calculated
For SSDI, Social Security calculates your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) using a formula based on your average indexed monthly earnings over your working years. The formula is progressive, meaning it replaces a higher percentage of lower earnings than higher earnings. Social Security looks at your 35 highest-earning years and averages them, then applies the formula to get your PIA. This is the amount you receive each month at your full retirement age; if you start SSDI before full retirement age, your payment may be reduced.
For SSI, the calculation is simpler: Social Security takes the federal benefit rate (which changes each year) and subtracts your countable income. Countable income includes wages from work, but the first $65 per month of earnings and half of earnings above that do not count. If you have no income, you receive the full federal benefit rate. Many states add a state supplement, which increases the total amount you receive each month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I receive SSDI if I never worked?
No, SSDI requires a work history and Social Security tax payments. If you have never worked or did not work long enough to earn the required work credits, you may still be able to receive SSI if you meet the financial need requirements. SSI does not require any work history.
What happens to my SSDI if I go back to work?
You can work part-time and earn up to the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit each month without losing SSDI. If you earn more than the SGA limit, your benefits stop for that month, but you can restart them if your earnings drop back below the limit. You have a nine-month trial work period where you can test your ability to work without losing benefits.
Does receiving SSI affect my ability to own a home?
No, your home does not count toward the $2,000 asset limit for SSI. You can own your home and still receive SSI. However, other property you own, such as a second home, rental property, or vacant land, does count toward the limit and could make you ineligible.
How long does it take to receive my first payment?
The time varies depending on whether your case is approved quickly or goes to appeal. If approved at the initial level, you may receive your first payment within one to three months. If your case is denied and you appeal, the process can take one to two years or longer. You can ask Social Security about the status of your case at any time.
Can my family members receive benefits based on my SSDI?
Yes, your spouse, ex-spouse, and unmarried children under 19 (or 22 if in school) may receive benefits based on your SSDI work record. Each family member receives a portion of your benefit amount, and the total family payment is capped at 150 to 180 percent of your Primary Insurance Amount. SSI does not include family benefits — only the individual receives payment.