You can receive both SSDI and SSI, but the way they work together depends on your work history and income

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are two separate programs with different rules. SSDI is based on your own work record and Social Security taxes you or a family member paid. SSI is a needs-based program for people with limited income and resources, regardless of work history. The Social Security Administration allows you to receive payments from both programs at the same time, but your SSI payment will be reduced by the amount you receive from SSDI.

This matters because SSDI alone might not cover your living expenses, especially if you worked part-time or early in your career. SSI can fill that gap, but only if your total monthly income stays below the SSI income limit. The limit changes each year, and it varies slightly by state.

Key Takeaways

  • You can receive both SSDI and SSI in the same month, but your SSI payment shrinks by the amount of your SSDI payment.
  • SSDI is based on your work history; SSI is based on your current income and resources, so you must meet SSI's income and asset limits to receive it.
  • If you receive SSDI, you automatically stay on Medicare after two years; SSI recipients get Medicaid, which varies by state.
  • Your SSDI payment does not count as income for SSI purposes, but other income like wages, pensions, or unemployment does.
  • You must report any change in income, living situation, or resources to SSI within ten days or risk overpayment and having to repay money.

How SSDI and SSI payments work together

When you receive both SSDI and SSI, the Social Security Administration pays your SSDI first. Then it calculates your SSI payment by subtracting your SSDI amount from the SSI federal benefit rate. For 2024, the federal SSI benefit rate is $943 per month for an individual living independently, though some states add extra money on top of the federal amount.

Here is a concrete example: suppose you receive $600 per month in SSDI and you live in a state that does not add a state supplement. Your SSI payment would be $943 minus $600, which equals $343 per month. If you lived in a state that adds a supplement—California, for instance—your SSI payment would be higher because the state amount is added to the federal rate before the subtraction happens.

The key point is that receiving SSDI does not disqualify you from SSI. Instead, SSDI reduces your SSI payment dollar-for-dollar. This is called the offset.

Income and resource limits for SSI when you also receive SSDI

To receive SSI alongside SSDI, your total monthly income must stay below the SSI limit. For 2024, the federal SSI income limit is $943 per month for an individual. However, not all income counts the same way. Your SSDI payment itself does not count as income for SSI purposes—only other income does.

Other income that counts includes wages from work, pensions, unemployment benefits, rental income, and gifts over $20 per month. If you work part-time while on SSDI, those wages count toward the SSI income limit. The Social Security Administration allows you to exclude the first $65 of monthly earnings plus half of the remainder, but only if you are under full retirement age and still working.

You also have a resource limit. For SSI, you can own no more than $2,000 in countable resources as an individual (or $3,000 if you are married). Resources include cash, bank accounts, stocks, and bonds. Your home and one vehicle do not count. If your resources exceed the limit, you lose SSI may be able to access that month, even if your income is low.

How your work history affects which program you receive

SSDI requires that you or a family member (parent or spouse) have paid enough Social Security taxes to have earned a work record. The Social Security Administration looks at your earnings history to decide whether you may have access to and how much your monthly payment will be. If you worked full-time for many years, your SSDI payment is typically higher than if you worked part-time or for only a few years.

SSI has no work history requirement. You can receive SSI based solely on your current financial need and disability, regardless of whether you ever worked. This is why SSI is often the path for people who became disabled before they could build a substantial work record, or for people who never worked.

If you have a work history but your SSDI payment is very low, SSI can supplement it. If you have no work history at all, you can still receive SSI on its own. The two programs are designed to work together for people in different situations.

Healthcare coverage when you receive both programs

SSDI recipients receive Medicare after they have been on the program for two years. Medicare is federal health insurance that covers hospital stays, doctor visits, and prescription drugs (with some out-of-pocket costs). You pay a monthly premium for Medicare Part B, which is usually deducted from your SSDI payment.

SSI recipients receive Medicaid, which is a state-run program that covers medical costs with little or no out-of-pocket expense. Medicaid rules vary by state—some states cover more services than others. If you receive both SSDI and SSI, you are may have access to to both Medicare and Medicaid. This is called dual coverage and is one of the financial advantages of receiving both programs.

Dual coverage means you have broader protection. Medicare covers some things Medicaid does not, and Medicaid covers some things Medicare does not. For example, Medicaid often covers dental and vision care, which Medicare typically does not.

Reporting changes that affect your SSI payment

Because SSI is income-based, you must report changes to the Social Security Administration within ten days. Changes include a new job, a raise or cut in pay, a move to a different living situation, receiving a gift or inheritance, or a change in your marital status. If you do not report and your payment is too high as a result, you will owe the money back.

SSDI has fewer reporting requirements because it is not income-based. However, you must still report if you return to work, because SSDI has work incentives that allow you to test your ability to work without when ready losing your benefits. The Social Security Administration wants to know if you are working so it can explore the correct rules.

The easiest way to report changes is through your online Social Security account at ssa.gov, by calling 1-800-772-1213, or by visiting your local Social Security office in person. Keep records of any changes you report, including the date and the name of the person you spoke with.

Work incentives and how they affect both programs

SSDI includes work incentives that let you earn money without when ready losing your benefits. The most common is the trial work period, which allows you to work and earn any amount for nine months without affecting your SSDI payment. After the trial work period ends, you enter the extended may be able to access period, during which your SSDI stops only in months when your earnings exceed a certain threshold (called substantial gainful activity, or SGA).

SSI has different work incentives. You can exclude the first $65 of monthly earnings plus half of the remainder from your income count. This means you can earn some money and still receive SSI, as long as your total income stays below the limit. If you earn more than the limit, your SSI payment is reduced, but you do not lose it entirely unless your income is very high.

These work incentives exist because both programs want to encourage people with disabilities to work if they are able. If you are thinking about returning to work, contact the Social Security Administration before you start, so you understand how your earnings will affect each program.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens to my SSI if my SSDI payment increases?

Your SSI payment decreases by the same amount your SSDI increases. If your SSDI goes up by $50, your SSI goes down by $50. Your total payment from both programs stays roughly the same. However, if your SSDI increase pushes your total income above the SSI limit, you could lose SSI entirely.

Can I receive SSDI based on my parent's work record and also get SSI?

Yes. If you became disabled before age 22, you may be able to receive SSDI as an adult child on your parent's work record. You can also receive SSI if your income and resources meet the SSI limits. The SSDI payment from your parent's record does not count as income for SSI purposes, so the offset rule applies the same way.

What if I inherit money while receiving both SSDI and SSI?

An inheritance counts as a resource for SSI purposes. If the inheritance pushes your total resources above $2,000, you lose SSI may be able to access in the month you receive it. However, you keep SSDI. You must report the inheritance within ten days. Some inheritances can be set up in a special needs trust to avoid this problem, but you should speak with a lawyer about that option.

Do I have to choose between SSDI and SSI, or can I really get both?

You can receive both in the same month. You do not have to choose. The Social Security Administration will pay you SSDI first, then reduce your SSI by that amount. Both programs can run at the same time as long as you meet the income and resource limits for SSI.

What if I move to a different state while receiving both programs?

SSDI is federal and works the same in every state. SSI is federal but states can add a supplement, so your total SSI payment may change when you move. You must report your move to the Social Security Administration within ten days. Contact your local office or call 1-800-772-1213 to update your address and find out whether your SSI payment will change.