You cannot receive both SSI and SSDI payments simultaneously, but you may be able to receive one and then switch to the other

Social Security Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are separate programs with different rules about who can receive them. The Social Security Administration does not allow you to collect both monthly payments at the same time. However, your situation may change over time — you might start with one program and later move to another, or you might receive a combination of SSDI and other income sources that affects your SSI amount.

The key difference is how you became covered. SSDI is based on your own work history or your parent's or spouse's work history. SSI is based on financial need, not work history. Because they measure may be able to access differently, the rules about receiving both are strict.

Key Takeaways

  • You cannot receive SSI and SSDI payments in the same month, though you may transition from one program to the other as your circumstances change.
  • If you receive SSDI, any SSI you were receiving will stop once your SSDI payment begins.
  • If you receive SSI and later become covered under SSDI (through your own work or a family member's record), your SSI will end and you will receive SSDI instead.
  • Some people receive SSDI plus other income sources, and SSI may supplement that income if it falls below the federal benefit rate, though this is rare and depends on your state.

Why you cannot receive both programs at once

SSI and SSDI serve different purposes, and Social Security treats them as mutually exclusive. SSI is a needs-based program — it exists to help people with disabilities, blindness, or age 65 and older who have little income and few resources. SSDI is an insurance program — you receive it because you or a family member paid Social Security taxes and built up work credits.

Because SSI is needs-based, receiving SSDI counts as income. If you were on SSI and then became covered for SSDI, your SSI would stop and you would receive only the SSDI payment. Social Security will not pay you both in the same month because doing so would defeat the purpose of SSI, which is to may support you have a minimum income level.

What happens if you are on SSI and become covered for SSDI

This transition is common. You might have started on SSI because you had no work history, but then you worked enough quarters to build SSDI coverage. Or a parent or spouse on whose record you were receiving benefits passed away or retired, making you newly covered on their record.

When you become SSDI-covered, Social Security will stop your SSI and begin paying you SSDI instead. The SSDI amount is usually higher than SSI because it is based on the earnings record, not on a federal minimum. You will receive whichever payment is larger, not both. Social Security should notify you before the change happens, but contact your local Social Security office to confirm the transition date if you are unsure.

What happens if you are on SSDI and lose that coverage

If you are receiving SSDI and your coverage ends — for example, because you returned to work and no longer meet the disability rules — you may become covered for SSI instead, depending on your income and resources.

When SSDI ends, Social Security will evaluate whether you meet SSI's financial need test. If your income and resources fall below the SSI limit, you can receive SSI payments. This can happen if you work part-time and earn below the substantial gainful activity threshold, or if your SSDI ended for another reason. You will need to report your current income and resources to Social Security so they can determine your SSI amount.

SSDI combined with other income and SSI supplements

In rare cases, you might receive SSDI plus other income sources — such as a pension, part-time work earnings, or spousal support — and still receive a small SSI payment. This happens when your total income falls below the federal benefit rate for SSI in your state.

For example, if you receive $900 in SSDI and $200 in pension income, your total is $1,100. If your state's SSI federal benefit rate is $943 per month, Social Security would not pay you additional SSI because your income exceeds the limit. However, if your SSDI was $700 and your other income was $150, totaling $850, you might receive a small SSI supplement to bring you to the federal benefit rate. This is uncommon and depends on your state's rules and your specific income sources.

How to report a change in your situation to Social Security

If you are on SSI and your circumstances change — such as starting work, receiving a new income source, or becoming covered for SSDI — you must report it to Social Security. You can report changes online through your my Social Security account, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office.

Social Security uses the information you report to recalculate your payment. If you become SSDI-covered, they will switch you to SSDI. If your income changes, they will adjust your SSI amount. Reporting changes promptly helps you avoid overpayments that you would have to repay later.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I am on SSI and get married to someone on SSDI, do I get both payments?

No. Your SSI will stop and you will receive only your own SSDI payment if you are covered for it, or only your spouse's SSDI will continue. Marriage does not allow you to receive both programs. However, your spouse's SSDI payment may increase if you become a spouse beneficiary on their record, depending on your age and work history.

Can I receive SSI while waiting for my SSDI decision?

Yes. If you have applied for SSDI but your case is still pending, you can receive SSI in the meantime if you meet SSI's income and resource limits. Once your SSDI is approved, your SSI will stop and you will receive SSDI instead. Any SSI you received while waiting does not have to be repaid.

What if my SSDI payment is very small — can I get SSI too?

No. Even a small SSDI payment counts as income for SSI purposes. Social Security will not pay you both programs. However, if your SSDI is low and you have little other income, you may want to contact Social Security to confirm your payment amount and discuss whether your situation qualifies for any other information programs.

If I am on SSI and return to work, will I lose my benefits?

Not when ready. SSI has work incentives that allow you to earn some income without losing all your benefits. Your SSI payment will be reduced based on your earnings, but you may still receive a partial payment. If you earn enough to become SSDI-covered through your work, you would transition to SSDI instead of SSI.