Financing and Eligibility
Social Security: SSDI and SSI
The two Social Security programs families ask about most, who each one is for, and how to apply.
The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs are both administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and provide assistance to individuals with disabilities.
The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program is designed to provide benefits to disabled individuals who have a work history and have paid Social Security taxes. To be eligible for SSDI, you must have accumulated enough work credits by paying Social Security taxes over a certain period of time. The amount of work credits required depends on your age at the time of disability. In addition, you must have a medical condition that meets the SSA’s definition of disability, which means that it must be expected to last for at least one year or result in death. SSDI benefits can also be extended to certain family members, such as spouses and children, in some cases.
The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program is a needs-based program that provides benefits to disabled individuals, including both adults and children, who have limited income and resources. SSI benefits are not based on work history or Social Security taxes paid. To qualify for SSI, you must meet the SSA’s definition of disability and have limited income and resources. The medical requirements for disability are the same for both SSDI and SSI.
In summary, while SSDI and SSI have different eligibility criteria based on work history and income, respectively, they both require individuals to meet the SSA’s definition of disability in order to receive monthly benefits.
A Video Series Showing How Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and employment can work together.
This is a series of short, informative videos from the Idaho Department of Labor that go over how SSI, SSDI, and employment can work together. You can view the videos embedded below by clicking the title to expand the episode, or watch the series on YouTube
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