You must be between the ages of 18 and 65 years old to be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). For Supplemental Security Income (SSI) on the other hand, you can be between birth and 65 years old.
If you have limited income and resources, you may be able to get SSI. SSI is a federal program that provides monthly payments to people age 65 or older and to people who are blind or disabled.
Can a Claimant Age 62 or Older on Social Security Early Retirement Benefits Apply for Social Security Disability? Yes, if you are between the ages of 62 and 65, disabled, and currently on early retirement benefits, you can apply for Title II Benefits or Social Security Disability Insurance (“SSDI”).
At full retirement age — which is 66 and 4 months for those born in 1956 and is gradually rising to 67 over the next several years — your SSDI payment converts to a retirement benefit. For most beneficiaries, the amount remains the same.
In most cases, you cannot collect Social Security retirement and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) at the same time. You may, however, qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) if you meet the strict financial criteria while drawing either Social Security retirement or SSDI benefits.
Making Too Much Money. To qualify for disability benefits, a person must not be able to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA) earning up to a certain amount. If you are able to make more than the SGA, then you will not qualify. For 2022 the threshold is $1,350 per month.
If you're comparing these two types of Social Security benefits, then you should know that typically the SSDI benefits pay more. In fact, disability in this scenario is, on average, more than double the benefits you would receive from SSI benefits.
Social Security Disability can stay active for as long as you're disabled. If you receive benefits until age 65, your SSDI benefits will stop, and your retirement benefits will begin.
Many individuals are eligible for benefits under both the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs at the same time. We use the term “concurrent” when individuals are eligible for benefits under both programs.
What Is the Most Approved Disability? Arthritis and other musculoskeletal system disabilities make up the most commonly approved conditions for social security disability benefits. This is because arthritis is so common. In the United States, over 58 million people suffer from arthritis.
Permanent disability (PD) is any lasting disability from your work injury or illness that affects your ability to earn a living. If your injury or illness results in PD you are entitled to PD benefits, even if you are able to go back to work.
There are limits on how much you can earn from work while collecting SSDI payments but no restrictions on assets. You can have a savings account with as much money in it as you choose to save. That is not the case if you receive SSI, which provides cash assistance to older, disabled and blind people in financial need.
SSDI and Federal Taxes
As of 2020, SSDI payments are considered taxable for individuals who have over $25,000 in yearly income or married couples with over $32,000 in yearly income. (Your income is one-half of your SSDI benefit plus the full amount of any other sources of household income.)
Your benefit amount is based on the quarter with your highest wages earned within the base period. A base period covers 12 months and is divided into four consecutive quarters. The base period includes wages subject to SDI tax that were paid about 5 to 18 months before your disability claim began.
Federal Benefit Rate (FBR)
For 2022, the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) FBR is $841 per month for an eligible individual and $1,261 per month for an eligible couple.
Generally, if your application for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is approved, you must wait five months before you can receive your first SSDI benefit payment. This means you would receive your first payment in the sixth full month after the date we find that your disability began.
Triggered CDRs
In addition to holding regularly scheduled CDRs, the SSA may conduct a continuing disability review in any of the following situations: You return to work (unless you've been receiving SSDI benefits for at least 24 months). You inform the SSA that your condition has improved.
Recipients of SSDI and SSI can have their disability benefits taken away for many reasons. The most common reasons relate to an increase in income or payment-in-kind. Individuals can also have their benefits terminated if they are suspected of fraud or convicted of a serious crime.
How long can I collect Disability Insurance benefits? You can collect up to 52 weeks of full Disability Insurance (DI) benefits, or the amount of wages in your base period, whichever is less.
The highest paying states for SSI benefits as of 2022 are New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, New Hampshire and Maryland. The average disability benefit per month for 2022 for an individual on SSI benefits is $841 per month.