You cannot receive both SSDI and SSI payments at the same time, but you may be able to receive one while the other is being decided

Social Security does not pay both programs to the same person in the same month. If you are already receiving SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) and you file for SSI (Supplemental Security Income), Social Security will reduce or stop your SSDI to account for any SSI payment. The reverse is also true: if you receive SSI first and then become may have access to to SSDI, your SSI will be reduced or eliminated based on your SSDI amount.

However, there is a narrow window where you might receive both temporarily. If you file for SSDI and Social Security has not yet made a decision, you can file for SSI at the same time. During the months when your SSDI claim is pending, you may receive SSI payments. Once Social Security approves your SSDI claim, your SSI will stop or be reduced to account for the SSDI you now receive.

Key Takeaways

  • Social Security will not pay you both SSDI and SSI in the same month; one program reduces the other based on the payment amount.
  • If your SSDI claim is still pending, you can file for SSI and may receive SSI payments while waiting for an SSDI decision.
  • Once your SSDI is approved, your SSI stops or decreases by the amount of your SSDI payment, minus a small income exclusion.
  • The program that pays you the higher amount is the one you will ultimately receive; Social Security coordinates the two to prevent duplicate payments.

How Social Security coordinates SSDI and SSI payments

When you receive SSDI, Social Security counts that income when calculating your SSI payment. SSI has a monthly income limit; in 2024, the federal SSI payment amount is $943 per month for an individual, though your state may add a supplement. If your SSDI payment exceeds the SSI limit, you receive only SSDI and no SSI. If your SSDI is lower than the SSI limit, Social Security may pay you the difference in SSI, though this is rare and depends on your living situation and other income.

The coordination works the same way in reverse. If you receive SSI first and then become may have access to to SSDI, Social Security will stop your SSI once your SSDI begins. You will receive whichever program pays more, and Social Security handles the switch automatically once the approval is final.

This coordination rule exists because both programs are need-based or disability-based information from Social Security. The agency treats them as parts of one system rather than two separate benefit streams, so it prevents you from receiving the full amount of both simultaneously.

When you might receive both temporarily

The most common scenario where you receive both programs at once is when your SSDI claim is pending. If you file for SSDI and the decision takes several months, you can file for SSI during that waiting period. Social Security will process your SSI claim separately, and if you meet the SSI income and resource limits, you may receive SSI payments while your SSDI case is under review.

Once Social Security approves your SSDI, your SSI will end or drop to zero (or a small amount if your SSDI is below the SSI payment standard). The SSI payments you received during the pending period are yours to keep; Social Security does not ask you to repay them. However, if your SSDI is approved retroactively—meaning you are owed back pay from an earlier date—Social Security may use part of that back pay to offset any SSI you received during the waiting period, depending on your state's rules.

What happens if you are denied SSDI but approved for SSI

If Social Security denies your SSDI claim but approves your SSI claim, you will receive only SSI. This can happen when you do not meet SSDI's work history requirement (you have not worked enough quarters to be insured) but you do meet SSI's disability standard and have low income and resources. In this case, there is no coordination issue because you are only receiving one program.

If you disagree with the SSDI denial, you can appeal. During the appeal process, if you are already receiving SSI, your SSI continues while your SSDI appeal is pending. If your SSDI appeal is eventually approved, Social Security will coordinate the two programs at that point, and your SSI will be reduced or stopped based on your SSDI amount.

The role of resources and income limits

SSI has strict resource limits: $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple (these limits have not changed since 1989). SSDI has no resource limit. If you have savings or assets above the SSI limit, you cannot receive SSI even if your income is low enough. However, SSDI does not count resources, so you can have substantial savings and still receive SSDI.

This means that if you are denied SSI because your resources are too high but you are approved for SSDI, you will receive only SSDI. Conversely, if you have low resources and income but do not meet SSDI's work history requirement, you may receive only SSI. The two programs have different rules, and Social Security applies each program's rules separately before coordinating the payments.

How back pay is handled when both programs are involved

If you receive SSI while your SSDI claim is pending and your SSDI is later approved with back pay, Social Security will calculate how much SSI you received during the months covered by the SSDI back pay. Depending on your state, Social Security may offset your SSDI back pay by the SSI you already received, or it may allow you to keep both amounts. The offset rules vary by state, so the amount you receive as back pay may be less than the full SSDI amount owed.

You will receive a notice explaining how your back pay was calculated and whether any offset was applied. If you believe the calculation is wrong, you can contact your local Social Security office or request a reconsideration within 60 days of receiving the notice.

What to do if you are receiving one program and want to file for the other

If you are already receiving SSDI and want to file for SSI, contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213. You will need to provide information about your income, resources, and living situation. Social Security will process your SSI claim, but your SSDI will not change during the review. Once SSI is approved or denied, Social Security will coordinate the two programs if both are approved.

If you are receiving SSI and want to file for SSDI, you will need to show that you have enough work history to be insured under SSDI. This means you must have worked and paid Social Security taxes for a certain number of quarters (the exact number depends on your age). If you meet the work requirement, Social Security will process your SSDI claim. Your SSI will continue while your SSDI claim is pending, and once SSDI is approved, your SSI will be reduced or stopped.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I am receiving SSI and I become may have access to to SSDI, will I lose my SSI when ready?

No, not when ready. Once Social Security approves your SSDI, your SSI will stop or be reduced in the month after your SSDI begins. You will receive a notice explaining the change. If your SSDI payment is higher than the SSI payment standard, your SSI will stop completely. If your SSDI is lower, you may receive a small SSI payment to bring you up to the SSI limit, though this is uncommon.

Can I appeal an SSDI denial while receiving SSI?

Yes. If you are receiving SSI and you appeal your SSDI denial, your SSI continues during the appeal process. If your SSDI appeal is approved at any stage, Social Security will coordinate the two programs and adjust your SSI accordingly. You do not have to stop receiving SSI to pursue an SSDI appeal.

What if I receive SSI payments while waiting for SSDI, and then SSDI is denied?

You keep the SSI payments you received during the pending period. Social Security does not ask you to repay SSI that was paid while your SSDI claim was under review. Your SSI will continue as long as you meet SSI's income and resource limits. If you disagree with the SSDI denial, you can appeal without affecting your SSI.

Does having a spouse change whether I can receive both SSDI and SSI?

No. The rule against receiving both programs at the same time applies regardless of marital status. However, if you are married, your spouse's income and resources may affect your SSI calculation. Social Security counts your spouse's income toward your SSI limit, which may reduce or eliminate your SSI payment even if your own income is low.

If I move to a different state, does my SSDI or SSI change?

SSDI does not change when you move because it is a federal program. SSI may change because some states add a supplement to the federal SSI payment. If you move to a state with a higher SSI supplement, your SSI payment may increase. If you move to a state with a lower supplement or no supplement, your SSI payment may decrease. Contact Social Security before you move to understand how the change will affect your payment.