The main programs that provide money to disabled people

If you are disabled and have limited income, the federal government runs two main programs that send you monthly payments: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Both are run by the Social Security Administration. They are different programs with different rules, different amounts, and different ways to may have access to.

SSDI is for people who have worked and paid into Social Security through payroll taxes. SSI is for people with very low income and few assets, regardless of work history — it includes disabled children, disabled adults who never worked, and people whose work history is not long enough for SSDI. Some people receive both at the same time.

Beyond these two, your state may run its own disability programs, and you may be able to receive help through Medicaid or Medicare depending on which program you are on. There are also tax credits, housing programs, and food information that disabled people can use alongside these benefits.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI requires a work history and payment into Social Security, while SSI is based on income and assets, not work history.
  • Both programs require a medical information that your condition meets Social Security's definition of disability, which is strict and takes months to evaluate.
  • SSDI payments are based on your past earnings; SSI payments are the same for everyone in your state but vary by state.
  • You may be able to work part-time while receiving either benefit, though earnings above a certain amount will reduce your payment.
  • Each program comes with health insurance: Medicare for SSDI after two years, and Medicaid for SSI in most states.

How SSDI and SSI are different

The clearest difference is how you may have access to. SSDI requires that you worked long enough and recently enough to have built up a Social Security record. The Social Security Administration looks at your age and how long you have worked to decide if you have enough "credits." Most people need 40 credits total, with 20 of them earned in the last 10 years, but younger workers need fewer. If you do not have that work history, you cannot get SSDI, even if you are severely disabled.

SSI does not care about your work history. Instead, it looks at your income and assets right now. If you have less than $2,000 in countable assets (the limit is $3,000 if you are married), and your monthly income is below a certain amount, you may be able to receive SSI. This makes SSI available to people who never worked, people who are too young to have worked, and people whose disabilities began before they could build a work record.

The payment amounts are also different. SSDI pays you based on how much you earned during your working years — higher earners get higher payments. SSI pays a federal base amount that is the same for everyone, though some states add extra money on top. In 2024, the federal SSI amount is $943 per month for an individual, but this changes each year and varies by state.

Both programs require the same medical standard: your condition must prevent you from doing substantial work for at least 12 months or be expected to result in death. This is a high bar. Social Security denies most first-time applications, and many people go through multiple rounds of review before approval.

What "disabled" means under Social Security rules

Social Security has its own definition of disability that is narrower than what many people think. You are not disabled under Social Security rules just because you cannot do your old job or because you have a diagnosis. Instead, Social Security must find that your condition prevents you from doing any substantial work that exists in the national economy.

This means the agency looks at what you can physically and mentally do — can you sit, stand, walk, lift, concentrate, remember instructions, interact with others — and then asks whether any job exists that you could do with those abilities. Even jobs that pay minimum wage or are part-time count. If Social Security thinks you could do any work, it will deny your claim.

The agency uses a list called the Blue Book, which describes conditions that automatically meet the disability standard if your medical records show you have them. These are usually severe conditions like advanced cancer, end-stage renal disease, or severe intellectual disability. If your condition is on the list and your medical evidence matches it, approval is faster. If your condition is not on the list, Social Security must do a more detailed review of what you can do.

You will need medical evidence from doctors, hospitals, or mental health providers to prove your condition and how it limits you. Social Security will not take your word for it. The review process usually takes three to six months for an initial decision, longer if you are denied and appeal.

How much money you receive each month

SSDI payments depend on your earnings record. Social Security calculates your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) based on your highest 35 years of earnings. The formula is designed so that people who earned more during their working years receive higher payments. The average SSDI payment in 2024 is around $1,550 per month, but this varies widely — some people receive $600 and others receive $3,800 or more.

SSI payments are simpler: everyone receives the same federal base amount unless your state adds extra. In 2024, the federal SSI payment is $943 per month for a single person and $1,415 for a couple. Some states add $50 to $200 per month on top of the federal amount. A few states do not add anything.

Both programs reduce your payment if you earn money from work. SSDI allows you to earn up to $1,550 per month (in 2024) without losing any benefits — this is called the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit. If you earn more than that, your benefits go down. SSI is stricter: it counts most of your earnings against your payment, though it ignores the first $65 per month plus half of what you earn above that.

If you receive SSDI and your payment is low because your earnings record is short or your past wages were low, you may also be able to receive SSI to bring your total income up to the SSI federal base amount. This is called concurrent benefits.

Health insurance that comes with these benefits

Both SSDI and SSI include health insurance, though the type is different. If you receive SSDI, you become may be able to access for Medicare after you have been on the program for 24 months. Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people over 65 and for some disabled people. It includes hospital insurance (Part A), medical insurance (Part B), and you can add prescription drug coverage (Part D) and supplemental coverage.

If you receive SSI, you are usually automatically enrolled in Medicaid, which is the joint federal-state health insurance program for low-income people. Medicaid covers doctor visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, and mental health care. The exact coverage varies by state — some states cover more services than others.

You keep your health insurance as long as you remain on the disability program, even if you work part-time and your benefits are reduced. This is important because it means you do not lose coverage if you try to work.

Other programs and help you may be able to use

Disability benefits are often not enough to live on by themselves. You may also be able to receive SNAP (food information, formerly called food stamps), LIHEAP (help with heating and cooling costs), or housing programs that help pay your rent. These are separate applications, usually through your state or local government, not through Social Security.

If you are working or trying to work, you may be able to use a Work Incentive Program that helps you keep more of your earnings without losing benefits. These programs have names like Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE), Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS), and Ticket to Work. They are complicated, but they can make a real difference if you want to work part-time.

Some states also run their own disability programs that add money on top of SSI or provide services like job training or transportation. Ask your local Social Security office or your state's disability agency what is available where you live.

What happens after you are approved

Once Social Security approves your claim, you will receive a notice in the mail with your payment amount and your start date. Your first payment usually arrives within a few weeks. You will also receive information about your health insurance and how to set up direct deposit so the money goes into your bank account each month.

You must report changes to Social Security, including if you start working, if you move, if your address changes, or if your medical condition improves significantly. You do not have to report small changes in your condition — Social Security expects your disability to fluctuate. But if you go back to work or your situation changes in a major way, tell them. Failing to report can result in overpayments that you will have to repay.

Social Security will also review your case periodically to make sure you still meet the disability standard. How often depends on whether your condition is expected to improve. If it is not expected to improve, reviews happen less often. If it might improve, you will be reviewed more frequently, sometimes every year or two.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get disability benefits if I have never worked?

Yes, but only through SSI, not SSDI. SSI does not require a work history — it is based on your current income and assets. If you are disabled and have very low income and few assets, you may be able to receive SSI regardless of whether you have ever worked. This includes disabled children and young adults.

What if I was denied the first time?

Most people are denied on their first process. You have the right to appeal. You can request reconsideration (a new review by a different examiner), and if that is denied, you can request a hearing before an administrative law judge. Many people are approved at the hearing stage. You can represent yourself or hire a lawyer to help you appeal.

Can I work while receiving disability benefits?

Yes. SSDI allows you to earn up to $1,550 per month without losing any benefits. Above that, your benefits are reduced but not eliminated. SSI is stricter but still allows some work. There are also special work incentive programs that let you keep more of your earnings. Tell Social Security if you start working so they can calculate your payment correctly.

How long does it take to get approved?

An initial decision usually takes three to six months. If you are denied and appeal, a hearing can take six months to two years depending on how busy the judge's office is. Some cases are faster, some slower. You can receive back pay (money for the months before you were approved) if you are eventually approved.

What is the difference between SSDI and workers' compensation?

SSDI is for any disability, regardless of how it happened. Workers' compensation is only for injuries or illnesses that happened at work. You can receive both at the same time, though your SSDI payment may be reduced if your workers' compensation is high. They are run by different agencies and have different rules.