SSI and SSDI

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

Feature	Supplemental Security Income	Social Security Disability Insurance
Eligibility	Based on financial need (low income and limited assets)	Based on work history and Social Security tax contributions
Disability Requirement	Must meet SSA’s definition of disability	Must meet SSA’s definition of disability
Work History Required?	No, but income and assets must be below a certain level	Yes, must have sufficient work credits from paying Social Security taxes
Funding Source	General tax revenues	Social Security payroll taxes (FICA)
Monthly Benefit Amount	Typically lower, varies by state	Based on prior earnings (can be higher than SSI)
Health Insurance Provided	Medicaid (eligibility varies by state)	Medicare (after 24 months of SSDI benefits)
Waiting Period for benefits	No waiting period	5-month waiting period for benefits to begin
Benefits for Dependents?	No	Yes, eligible dependents (spouse, children) may receive benefits