A disabled person can collect SSDI and SSI benefits concurrently. This often occurs when the Social Security Administration (SSA) approves a disability applicant for SSDI but gives him or her a low monthly payment.
A disability applicant may receive a low monthly payment due to the following factors:
- The applicant hasn’t worked much or at all in the past 10 years.
- The applicant had insufficient work history when he or she became disabled.
- The applicant developed a disability while young – he or she hadn’t amassed a substantial work history.
- The applicant was a low-income earner when he or she developed a disability.
The above factors can affect the monthly amount of SSDI benefits since payments depend on satisfying minimum health requirements and having adequate “work credits” accumulated over the applicant’s work history.
SSI Eligibility
To be eligible for an SSI benefit on top of an SSDI benefit, the applicant’s unearned income (SSDI) must be below $794 per month. This limit varies from state to state, and if the applicant is working and earning some money, only a certain percentage of that earning will count towards the SSI income limit.
If an applicant qualifies for SSI due to his or her significantly low income and assets but has enough work credits to qualify for SSDI too, then he or she is likely to collect both benefits simultaneously. The SSA considers the applicant’s SSDI payment amount when determining his or her SSI eligibility.
Applying for Concurrent SSDI and SSI Benefits
Whether an applicant applies for SSDI, SSI, or both, the SSA assesses the applicant’s income and assets to determine whether his or her claim is for concurrent benefits. The classification of the applicant’s disability claim won’t affect how the Disability Determination Services processes the claim.
Both SSDI and SSI use the same minimum health eligibility standards and the same disability assessment process. A social security disability lawyer in Chicago can evaluate a disability claim and determine whether the applicant is eligible for concurrent benefits.
Benefits of Receiving Concurrent Benefits
Collecting concurrent benefits increases the monthly amount to $794 for applicants with low income and insufficient work credits. Concurrent benefits also come with health care advantages. SSDI recipients qualify for Medicare, but this coverage usually starts after two years of receiving the benefits. SSI recipients are automatically eligible for Medicaid, which allows concurrent benefits recipients to cover their health costs as they wait for Medicare to begin.
