What is the Difference Between SSDI and SSI?

What is the main difference between SSDI and SSI benefits?

My name is Kaitlin Wildoner and I’m an attorney who helps disabled clients obtain their disability benefits as quickly as possible so they can focus on getting better.

One of the most common topics that I educate clients and potential clients on is that there are two different programs that are collectively known as Social Security disability: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Both programs require that you be disabled and unable to work for a period of at least 12 months. However, each program also has a separate prong that must be met in order to qualify for benefits.

For SSDI benefits, in addition to being disabled and unable to work for a period of at least 12 months, you must have worked and paid into the Social Security System a certain amount of money in recent years. Often, we say that you must have worked five of the last 10 years. In reality, you must have earned 20 quarters of coverage in the prior 40 quarters (or the prior 10 years). You can earn a maximum of four credits per year. To earn a quarter of coverage (or a credit), you must earn a certain amount of money. In 2023, a quarter of coverage was $1,640. Therefore, once you earned your four quarters of coverage a year – or once you earned $6,560 – you earned your quarters for the whole year.

For SSI, you don’t have to have a work history, but instead you must have limited income and assets. If you are single, you cannot have more than $2,000 in assets and if you are married you cannot have more than $3,000 in assets. The asset thresholds do not include one home and one car and several other limited resources, however they do include any bank accounts, retirement accounts, investment accounts, etc. There are additional earning limitations with respect to SSI benefits as well. The earning limitations vary depending on household size.

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