SSDI vs SSI

What Ohio Disability Benefits You Are Entitled To

Both Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) offer essential financial support, but each depends on the individual’s work history, current income, and financial needs. Understanding the difference between these two types of federal benefits is crucial for determining which benefits you may be entitled to and how to maximize them.

SSDI Benefits

Social Security Disability benefits depend on an individual’s work history and what they have contributed to the Social Security system through payroll taxes. The SSDI benefit amount is based on the individual’s average earnings prior to the disability. As such, the average monthly benefit for SSDI recipients can vary significantly, but it is designed to replace a portion of the beneficiary’s pre-disability earnings.

Here are some other important notes regarding SSDI benefits:

• An SSDI recipient’s spouse and minor children are entitled to receive partial dependent benefits. 
• There is a five-month waiting period from the date you are found disabled before benefits begin. 
• After you receive SSDI for two years, you are eligible to receive Medicare benefits.

SSI Benefits

SSI payments are reserved for individuals who have limited income and resources and may not have a significant work history or have never worked. SSI benefits are not based on past earnings but rather are designed to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter. The federal government determines the maximum monthly payment, which is subject to change yearly based on cost-of-living adjustments. In 2024, the maximum monthly SSI is set at $943 for an individual and $1,415 for a couple. 

Other things to note regarding SSI benefits include:

• SSI eligibility considers other monthly income and resources, meaning that any additional income can affect the monthly SSI payment amount.
• SSI benefits begin on the first day of the month when you file your application. 
• SSI recipients are entitled to Medicaid benefits immediately.

Ohio Disability Requirements

The difference between SSI vs. SSDI can be difficult to understand. If you apply for the wrong type of benefits, you may be denied disability benefits, or you may receive smaller payments than you are entitled to. 

The medical standard of disability is the same for both programs. The primary difference is that SSDI benefits are for individuals who have accumulated sufficient work credits, and SSI is for low-income individuals who have never worked or haven’t earned enough work credits to qualify for SSDI. Below, we’ll go into further detail regarding the requirements for receiving SSDI vs. SSI.

Social Security Disability Insurance Requirements

• Qualifying Disability: The individual must have a medical condition that meets the Social Security Administration’s definition of a disability, which is a condition that is severe enough to prevent one from performing any substantial gainful activity and is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.
• Paid Social Security Taxes: The individual must have a work history where they made contributions to the Social Security trust fund, often reflected in FICA deductions on their paycheck. These contributions fund the SSDI program.
• Work Credits: SSDI eligibility is based on the number of work credits an individual has earned (by working and paying Social Security taxes). The number of credits needed depends on the age at which the individual becomes disabled, typically requiring 40 credits, 20 of which were earned in the last 10 years ending with the year the disability began.
• Approved Claim: To begin receiving SSDI payments, the individual must have filed an application and had their disability claim approved by the Social Security Administration, following a thorough review process that includes medical evidence and, sometimes, a disability interview.
• Continuing Eligibility: SSDI recipients must continue to meet the disability criteria. The Social Security Administration conducts periodic reviews of the recipient’s medical condition to ensure that they still qualify as disabled according to the program’s guidelines.

Supplemental Security Income Requirements

• Age or Disability: Applicants must be either aged 65 or older, blind, or disabled according to the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) definition of disability for adults or children.
• Limited Income: SSI eligibility requires individuals to have limited income. The SSA considers various forms of income, including wages, pensions, and more, when determining eligibility.
• Limited Resources: Applicants must also have limited financial resources (less than $2,000 in assets or $3,000 per couple). This includes things like cash, bank accounts, property, and other assets. Certain assets, like a primary residence and one vehicle for transportation, are typically excluded from this consideration.
• U.S. Residency: Applicants must be residents of the United States, and be either citizens or in certain categories of non-citizen status that the SSA recognizes for SSI eligibility.
• Approved Application: Individuals must apply for SSI benefits and provide the necessary documentation to support their claim, including proof of age, disability, income, and resources.
• Consent to Allow the SSA to Access Financial Records: Applicants must give the SSA permission to access their financial accounts to confirm eligibility related to income and resources.
• No Fleeing Felon Status: Applicants may not be fleeing felons or violating a condition of probation or parole.
• Applying for Other Benefits: Applicants must apply for any other cash benefits for which they might be eligible, such as Social Security retirement or disability benefits, since SSI is often considered a program of last resort.