You cannot collect both SSI and SSDI from Social Security at the same time, but you may be able to receive SSI alongside other disability payments
Social Security runs two separate disability programs: SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance). The rules prevent you from drawing monthly payments from both programs simultaneously. However, SSI can sometimes coexist with other disability income — such as workers' compensation, Veterans benefits, or state disability programs — though those other payments will reduce your SSI amount.
The reason for the SSI and SSDI rule is straightforward: they serve different purposes. SSDI is an insurance program you pay into through payroll taxes; SSI is a needs-based program for people with low income and resources. Social Security treats them as mutually exclusive because SSDI already provides a benefit based on your work history, while SSI exists to help those who do not have sufficient work credits or income.
Understanding which program you might receive, and what other income affects it, matters because the rules change how much money you actually get each month and what you must report to Social Security.
Key Takeaways
- You cannot receive both SSI and SSDI monthly payments at the same time; Social Security will pay you from one program only.
- If you have enough work credits, you will receive SSDI instead of SSI, even if your SSDI payment is small.
- SSI can coexist with workers' compensation, Veterans disability, state disability programs, and some other payments, but those reduce your SSI amount dollar-for-dollar in most cases.
- If you are already on SSDI and later become may be able to access for SSI (because your SSDI payment drops below the SSI limit), Social Security will not automatically switch you; you must contact them.
Why Social Security does not allow both programs at once
SSDI and SSI are fundamentally different programs with different funding sources and different rules about who qualifies. SSDI comes from the Social Security trust fund that you and your employer paid into during your working years. SSI comes from general federal tax revenue and is designed as a safety net for people with disabilities who have little or no work history, or whose work history did not generate enough credits.
Because SSDI is based on your own earnings record, Social Security considers it your primary benefit. If you have enough work credits to may have access to for SSDI, you receive that payment instead of SSI, regardless of how small the SSDI amount is. This rule prevents someone from collecting both an insurance benefit and a needs-based benefit for the same disability.
The only exception is a narrow one: if you are already receiving SSDI and your payment drops below the federal SSI limit due to other income or a benefit reduction, you may become may be able to access for a small SSI top-up payment. This is rare and requires you to contact Social Security to request it.
How other disability payments affect your SSI
If you are receiving SSI, other disability income does not disqualify you — but it reduces your SSI payment. Social Security calls this "unearned income," and most disability payments count as unearned income. The reduction is typically dollar-for-dollar after a small exclusion.
Common payments that reduce SSI include workers' compensation, Veterans disability benefits, state temporary disability programs, and some private disability insurance. Each has slightly different rules about how much is excluded before the reduction kicks in. For example, some workers' compensation programs have a higher exclusion than others, depending on your state.
If you receive multiple disability payments, Social Security will count all of them together when calculating your SSI. This means your total monthly income from all sources determines your final SSI payment. You must report any new disability income to Social Security within 10 days of receiving it, or you risk an overpayment that you will have to repay.
What happens if you move from SSDI to SSI may be able to access
In some cases, someone on SSDI may later become may be able to access for SSI. This typically happens when an SSDI payment is reduced — for instance, if you reach full retirement age and your SSDI converts to a retirement benefit at a lower rate, or if your SSDI payment is reduced due to work earnings. If your SSDI payment then falls below the federal SSI limit, you may may have access to for SSI to bridge the gap.
Social Security does not automatically make this switch. You must contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 to request an SSI information. Bring documentation of your current SSDI payment amount and any other income you receive. The process typically takes several weeks.
This scenario is uncommon because most people on SSDI have higher payments than the SSI limit, but it can occur if you have very low work credits or took SSDI at a reduced age.
Reporting other income to Social Security
If you are on SSI and receive any new income — whether it is wages, disability payments, or other unearned income — you must report it. Social Security has a reporting requirement, and missing a report can result in an overpayment notice demanding repayment of benefits you were not may have access to to receive.
The easiest way to report is through your my Social Security account online at ssa.gov, where you can log in and report income directly. You can also call your local Social Security office or visit in person. If you use a representative payee (someone who manages your benefits on your behalf), they are responsible for reporting on your behalf.
Keep records of any new disability payments you receive, including the first payment date and the monthly amount. When you report, have these details ready so Social Security can recalculate your SSI correctly.
Understanding the federal SSI payment limit
The federal SSI payment limit changes each year. It is the maximum amount Social Security will pay you from SSI alone, before any reductions for other income. In 2024, the federal limit is $943 per month for an individual, though your state may add a supplement on top of this amount.
This limit matters because it determines whether you can receive SSI at all. If your other income (including SSDI, if you somehow may have access to for both, or workers' compensation, or Veterans benefits) exceeds this limit, you receive no SSI payment. If your other income is below the limit, you receive SSI up to the limit minus your other income.
Because this limit changes annually, check the current amount on ssa.gov or ask your local Social Security office. Do not assume last year's limit is still in effect.
When to contact Social Security about your situation
Contact Social Security if you are currently on one program and think you might may have access to for the other, if you have received a new disability payment and are unsure whether to report it, or if your circumstances have changed in any way that affects your income or resources.
You can reach Social Security by phone at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), online through your my Social Security account, or by visiting your local office. Have your Social Security number, current payment information, and details about any new income ready when you call. Response times vary, but most inquiries are resolved within a few weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I am on SSDI and get injured at work, can I collect workers' compensation and keep my SSDI?
Yes. SSDI and workers' compensation can coexist. However, if your SSDI payment is high enough, the workers' compensation payment may not reduce it — Social Security has specific rules about how workers' compensation offsets SSDI. Contact Social Security to report the workers' compensation and learn how it affects your SSDI payment.
What if I receive Veterans disability and SSI at the same time?
Veterans disability benefits reduce your SSI payment dollar-for-dollar after a small monthly exclusion (typically $65 per month, though this varies). Report your Veterans payment to Social Security, and they will recalculate your SSI. You keep both payments, but your SSI goes down.
Can I switch from SSDI to SSI if my SSDI payment is too low?
You cannot switch voluntarily. However, if your SSDI payment drops below the SSI limit due to other income or a benefit reduction, you may become may be able to access for SSI. Contact Social Security to request an SSI information. They will review your situation and tell you whether you may have access to.
Do I have to report a one-time disability payment, or only monthly payments?
Report all disability income, whether it is one-time or monthly. One-time payments count as unearned income in the month you receive them and may affect your SSI for that month and the following months, depending on Social Security's rules about lump-sum payments. Report it within 10 days of receiving it.
What happens if I do not report other disability income?
Social Security may discover the unreported income through other records and send you an overpayment notice. You will owe back the SSI payments you received while not reporting the other income. It is better to report promptly and have your SSI adjusted than to face a debt later.