| What do you do if you are unable to work because of | | | | history credits to meet SSDI requirements, you may be |
| a disabling medical condition and you have very few | | | | eligible to receive both SSI and SSDI. You should apply |
| personal income sources to fall back on? You may be | | | | for both federal disability benefits. In fact, SSA will |
| eligible for one or both of the federal disability benefits | | | | screen you for SSI and SSDI. Keep in mind that if you |
| programs available to qualifying individuals who need | | | | are currently receiving the maximum SSI benefit of |
| the security of supplemental income. | | | | $674, this does not meant that you get the full SSI |
| The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides two | | | | amount in addition to an SSDI payment. It doesn't work |
| income benefits programs for people with disabilities: | | | | that way. |
| Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and | | | | SSDI is unearned income that is factored into your |
| Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Your work history | | | | countable income. Countable income is determined by |
| and your personal resources are the two most | | | | taking your total income and subtracting income not |
| important factors in determining your eligibility for either | | | | counted. That figure is again subtracted from the SSI |
| program if you have a medical condition that meets | | | | federal benefit rate to determine your SSI cash benefit. |
| SSA's definition of a disability. | | | | The more countable income you have, the less your |
| SSI for People with Disabilities | | | | SSI benefit will be. SSI and SSDI benefits combined |
| The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program is a | | | | may be just dollars over what you could get from SSI |
| needs-based program. Eligibility for SSI is determined | | | | alone. |
| by what resources and income you have, where and | | | | You Can Work While on SSI to Eventually Receive |
| how you live, and your medical condition. | | | | SSDI |
| If you are single, your personal resources can be | | | | If you fall short of the work criteria to receive SSDI, |
| worth no more than $2,000; if married that amount is | | | | remember that you can work while on SSI and |
| $3,000. Resources are things you own that are used | | | | eventually earn work credits that could make you |
| to support you. However, not everything you own | | | | eligible. Keep in mind that the more you earn, the lower |
| counts as a resource. The home you live in and the | | | | your SSI payment will be, and if your countable income |
| car you use for transportation, for example, are not | | | | goes over the allowable amount in any month, you |
| counted. | | | | could lose your SSI benefit. In 2010, the limit of how |
| How much income you have determines the amount | | | | much you can earn from wages in one month is |
| of your SSI benefit, which is broken down into earned | | | | $1,433 and the limit for couples is $2,107. But, the good |
| and unearned sources. In simplest terms, everything | | | | news is, if your condition is making it possible for you to |
| except wages from work or self-employment is | | | | try work, you can do it while receiving SSI benefits. |
| counted as unearned income. Your living arrangement | | | | Why Work Toward SSDI Eligibility? |
| is also a key factor in determining your countable | | | | Your SSI benefit is based on need which requires that |
| income. The Social Security Administration's Web site | | | | your income and resources strictly stay within the |
| provides details on how countable resources and | | | | limitations of eligibility requirements. You will have to |
| income are calculated. | | | | undergo a periodic financial review of your income and |
| The basic maximum monthly SSI payment in 2010 is | | | | resources to evaluate your SSI benefit. In some cases, |
| $674 for an individual and $1,011 for an eligible couple, | | | | those receiving SSI may actually have too much |
| but this amount could be more depending on your | | | | income and resources to qualify for Medicaid. |
| state. Some states add supplements to the basic SSI | | | | Once you accumulate enough work credits to be |
| payment. Also, you may be eligible for other social | | | | eligible for SSDI, and your qualifying disability makes it |
| services to further help you such as Medicaid and | | | | impossible for you to continue working, your approved |
| food stamps. | | | | SSDI cash benefit will not be affected no matter what |
| SSDI for People with Disabilities | | | | other income sources may come your way, excluding |
| If you have a work history, and have paid into Social | | | | public disability insurance benefits such as Worker's |
| Security through FICA taxes, you may also qualify for | | | | Compensation. You could win the lottery or acquire a |
| Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. You must | | | | family inheritance and still receive your set SSDI |
| have earned five-years-worth of work credits within | | | | benefit. And, once you receive SSDI benefits, you are |
| the last 10 years and meet specific work test | | | | definitely eligible for Medicare in two years. |
| requirements to qualify for SSDI. The SSDI cash | | | | Get Help to Get Disability Benefits |
| benefit is based on your earnings record. When you | | | | The eligibility rules for both federal disability benefits |
| receive SSDI you will become eligible for Medicare 24 | | | | programs is, without a doubt, complex. Getting |
| months after receiving SSDI benefits. | | | | professional guidance from a Social Security disability |
| Can You Receive Both SSI and SSDI? | | | | advocacy group or attorney can certainly go far in |
| Provided you meet the income and resource | | | | helping you get through the complexities of both |
| requirements for SSI, and you have paid into Social | | | | programs so that you can get the supplemental |
| Security and have accumulated enough recent work | | | | income benefits you need. |