Supplemental Security Income
SSI Benefits Based on Need, Not Work History
SSI helps people with disabilities who have limited income and resources - including those who have not worked long enough to qualify for SSDI. We help you apply, appeal, and prepare for your hearing.
What is SSI?
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal program that provides monthly payments to people who are disabled, blind, or age 65 and older and who have very limited income and resources. Unlike SSDI, SSI is not based on your work history. It is a need-based program funded by general tax revenues, designed to help cover basic needs like food and shelter.
Who qualifies for SSI?
To receive SSI, you generally must meet both a medical and a financial test:
- A qualifying disability (or age/blindness). For disability claims, Social Security must find that your condition seriously limits your ability to work and is expected to last at least twelve months or result in death - the same medical standard used for SSDI.
- Limited income and resources. SSI has strict limits on how much income you can have and how much you can own. Some assets, like the home you live in and usually one vehicle, are not counted, but the rules are detailed and easy to get wrong.
- U.S. citizenship or a qualifying status. SSI generally requires that you be a U.S. citizen, though there are limited exceptions for certain non-citizens who meet specific conditions. If you are unsure whether you qualify, it is worth asking.
What approval brings
Two features of SSI matter a great deal in day-to-day life, and they work differently from SSDI:
- Medicaid right away. In most cases, an approved SSI recipient qualifies for Medicaid immediately, rather than waiting the way SSDI recipients wait for Medicare. For many people, that health coverage is as important as the monthly payment itself.
- No waiting period. Unlike SSDI, SSI has no five-month waiting period. Benefits generally begin the month after your claim is approved.
SSI and SSDI together
Some people qualify for both SSI and SSDI at the same time - for example, someone whose SSDI benefit is low because of limited past earnings. This is sometimes called a “concurrent” claim. If you are not sure which program fits your situation, that is exactly the kind of question we sort out during a free consultation.
How Dan Wimmer helps with SSI claims
SSI claims involve both the medical side and the financial side, and mistakes on either can cause a denial or delay. Dan helps you present clear medical evidence, navigate the income and resource rules, respond to requests from Social Security, and represent you at your hearing. If you have already been denied, learn what to do next.
SSDI and SSI at a glance
The two programs share the same medical standard but differ in almost every other way. Here is how they compare, side by side.
Who it is for
- SSDI
- Workers with a qualifying work history who paid into Social Security.
- SSI
- People with limited income and resources, regardless of work history.
How you qualify
- SSDI
- Enough recent work credits, plus a qualifying disability.
- SSI
- Financial need, plus a qualifying disability, age, or blindness.
Funding source
- SSDI
- The Social Security payroll (FICA) taxes you paid while working.
- SSI
- General federal tax revenues, not payroll taxes.
Monthly payment
- SSDI
- Based on your lifetime earnings, so the amount varies from person to person.
- SSI
- A fixed federal maximum, reduced by other income you receive.
Health coverage
- SSDI
- Medicare, generally after 24 months of benefits.
- SSI
- Medicaid, usually right away once you are approved.
Waiting period
- SSDI
- A five-month waiting period before payments begin.
- SSI
- No waiting period; benefits begin the month after approval.
Not sure which program fits your situation, or whether you might qualify for both? That is exactly the kind of question Dan sorts out during a free consultation.
Talk with Dan about your claim
Every consultation is free, and there is no obligation. You pay no attorney fee unless your claim is won. Most of what we need can be handled over the phone.