top of page

What is the difference in Social Security Benefits (SSI vs SSDI)?

​

What is SSI? Supplemental Security Income Payments is a program that pays benefits to disabled adults and children who have limited income and resources. SSI recipient will automatically qualify for Medicaid. Click on the above video to get more details.

​

​How much SSI does a disabled child get?

Your child's SSI payment amount will vary depending on the state you live in and whether your child has any countable income, but the federal base rate for 2021 is $794/month.

​

Does having an ABLE Account affect SSI Benefits? PA ABLE  savings are not counted against you for any federal needs-based benefits including medical assistance, housing assistance programs, student financial aid, and more. For SSI (Supplemental Security Income), you can save up to $100,000 without affecting your benefits. Above that, your SSI will be suspended but not terminated. However, medical assistance benefits would continue.

​

How does a trust affect SSI benefits? https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/spotlights/spot-trusts.htm

​

Can SSI money go into an ABLE account?

You would not want to directly deposit your entire SSI payment into your ABLE account because ABLE accounts may only be used for “qualified disability expenses.” As a best practice, you may want to continue your direct deposit into a regular checking account and then pay for food and housing with SSI.

​

How much money can you have in the bank and still get SSI?

It means that a person's "resources," or assets, are taken into consideration. Currently, to receive SSI (after being determined to be medically disabled according to the SSA's rules), an individual cannot have more than $2,000 in countable assets.

​

Can a disabled child receive SSI and survivor benefits?

Within a family, a child can receive up to half of the parent's full retirement or disability benefits. If a child receives survivors benefits, they can get up to 75% of the deceased parent's basic Social Security benefit.

​

What happens when a parent is retired, deceased or disabled? SSI should convert to SSCBD.  When parent is retired/disabled, adult child receives 50% of Parent Retirement benefit. Adult child receives 50% of Parent Disability benefit. If parent is deceased, adult child receives 75% of Parent's retirement benefit.

​

SSDI-Social Security Disability Insurance

​

How much does SSDI pay per month?

SSDI payments range on average between $800 and $1,800 per month. The maximum benefit you could receive in 2020 is $3,011 per month.

​

What qualifies a person for SSDI?

To qualify for SSDI benefits, you must fulfill two criteria: You need to earn a total of 40 work credits and you must have been diagnosed with a disability before age 22.  Anyone born in 1929 or later needs 10 years of work (40 credits) to be eligible for retirement benefits. How many credits you need for disability benefits depends on how old you are when you become disabled. Must be above 18 years old.

​

​Do you need work credits for SSDI?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) says that most people need at least 40 work credits to qualify for SSDI benefits. You can earn up to four work credits a year. ... If you are 35 years old, you only need 20 work credits to qualify for SSDI benefits, not 40.

​

How do I check my work credits?

The best way to check Social Security credits is to go to the main Social Security website at www.ssa.gov. The SSA (Social Security Administration) keeps a constant record of both your work credits and your earnings. You will have to create a my Social Security account before you can view your records.

​

 

What happens to my disability if I inherit money?

 

If you remain eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, nothing will happen to them if you receive an inheritance. That is because SSDI benefits are based on your work record prior to becoming disabled and do not depend on how much money or assets/resources you have at any given time.

 

How long do SSDI benefits last?

Social Security Disability benefits can remain in effect for as long as you are disabled or until you reach the age of 65. Once you reach the age of 65, Social Security Disability benefits stop and retirement benefits kick in.

 

How much money can you have in the bank on SSDI?

Again, for the SSDI program, there is no limit to the amount of assets, cash, or resources you own. In addition, there's no limit to the amount of income you or your spouse makes.

​

What is SSCDB? Childhood Disability benefit. These benefits can be tethered to parent's benefit. 

​

Attorneys that specialize SSI/SSDI

​

North Penn Legal Services

Where: 33 North Main Street, Suite 200, Pittston, Pennsylvania 18640

Call: 877-953-4250

Website: https://www.nplspa.org/what-we-do/get-help/social-security-disability-ssi-ssd-benefits/social-security-disability-insurance-ssdi.html

bottom of page