What disability benefits are and who receives them

Disability benefits are monthly payments from the Social Security Administration (SSA) to people who cannot work because of a medical condition expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. The SSA runs two separate programs: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), which is based on your own work history, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is based on financial need and does not require prior work.

Both programs pay the same way — a monthly check deposited to your bank account or loaded onto a debit card — but they have different rules about how much you can earn, what resources you can own, and who can receive benefits. SSDI is available to workers of any age who have paid into Social Security through payroll taxes. SSI is available to people age 65 and older, blind individuals, and people under 65 with disabilities, but only if their income and resources fall below set limits.

The SSA does not decide you are disabled based on a diagnosis alone. Instead, they look at whether your condition prevents you from doing substantial work — meaning earning more than a set monthly amount, which changes each year. They also consider whether you have worked recently enough to have "insured status" under SSDI, or whether you meet the financial limits for SSI.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI is for workers with a work history who cannot work due to a medical condition lasting 12 months or more; SSI is for people with low income and resources who are disabled, blind, or age 65 and older.
  • The SSA measures disability by whether you can earn more than a monthly threshold amount, not by your diagnosis.
  • SSDI payments are based on your prior earnings record; SSI payments are the same for everyone in your state but may be reduced if you have other income or own resources above the limit.
  • You must report changes in your work, living situation, marital status, and income to the SSA, or your benefits may be stopped or reduced.
  • The process from process to first payment typically takes three to six months, though appeals can add years.

How the SSA decides if you meet the medical requirements

The SSA uses a five-step test to decide whether your condition prevents substantial work. First, they check whether you are currently working and earning more than the monthly threshold (called substantial gainful activity, or SGA). If you are, they usually deny the claim. If you are not, they move to step two: whether your condition is severe enough to significantly limit your ability to do basic work activities.

Step three is the most important. The SSA compares your condition to conditions listed in their medical guide, called the Blue Book. If your condition meets or exceeds the severity described in the Blue Book listing for your condition, you may be found disabled without further review. If it does not, the SSA moves to step four: whether you can do the work you did in the past 15 years. If you cannot, they move to step five: whether you can do any other work that exists in the national economy, given your age, education, and work history.

At each step, the SSA reviews medical records you provide, reports from your doctors, and sometimes orders its own medical exam. They also consider statements from you and people who know your condition. The decision can take two to four months from the time you submit all required medical evidence.

SSDI: How your work history affects your payment

To receive SSDI, you must have worked long enough and recently enough to have earned "insured status." The exact requirement depends on your age when you become disabled, but generally you need 40 work credits, with at least 20 earned in the 10 years before you became disabled. You earn one credit for each $1,550 of wages in a year (this amount changes annually). Most full-time workers earn four credits per year.

Your SSDI payment amount is based on your average earnings over your work life — the higher your earnings record, the higher your monthly check. The SSA calculates this using a formula that weights your highest-earning years. Your payment is reduced if you also receive a pension from work where you did not pay Social Security taxes, such as some government jobs.

Once you are approved for SSDI, your payment continues as long as you remain disabled and do not earn more than the SGA threshold. You can work part-time and still receive benefits during a nine-month trial work period, and you have an additional 36-month extended may be able to access period where benefits continue even if you earn above SGA, as long as your impairment has not improved.

SSI: How income and resources affect your payment

SSI is a needs-based program, which means your payment depends on your income and the resources you own. The maximum SSI payment in 2024 is $943 per month for an individual (amounts vary by state and change each year). If you have other income — from work, pensions, family support, or other sources — your SSI payment is reduced dollar-for-dollar above a small monthly exclusion.

The SSA also counts the resources you own. You can own up to $2,000 in countable resources as an individual or $3,000 as a couple (these limits have not changed since 1989). Countable resources include cash, bank accounts, stocks, and property you own other than your home and one vehicle. Your home and one car are not counted, and certain items like household goods and personal effects are excluded.

If you live with family members who support you, the SSA may count part of their income as yours — a rule called "in-kind support and maintenance." If someone else pays for your food or shelter, your SSI payment can be reduced. You must report any change in income, resources, living situation, or family support within 10 days, or you may be overpaid and owe the money back.

What happens after you are approved

Once the SSA approves your claim, you receive a notice in the mail stating your monthly payment amount and the date your benefits begin. For SSDI, benefits usually start the month after you become disabled (the SSA counts back to find your "onset date"). For SSI, benefits start the month you file or the month you become disabled, whichever is later. Your first payment arrives within two weeks of approval.

You must report changes to the SSA within 10 days. Changes that matter include: starting or stopping work, earning more or less money, getting married or divorced, moving to a new address, changes in your medical condition, starting new treatment, or changes in who lives with you. You report these by calling your local SSA office, using your online account at ssa.gov, or mailing a form to your local office.

The SSA also conducts periodic reviews to confirm you still meet the medical requirements. For SSDI, the frequency depends on how likely your condition is to improve — some people are reviewed every three years, others every seven years. For SSI, reviews happen at least once every three years. You receive a notice before each review and must submit updated medical evidence.

Work incentives that let you earn while receiving benefits

Both SSDI and SSI have rules designed to let you test your ability to work without when ready losing benefits. Under SSDI, the trial work period lets you work any number of hours and earn any amount for nine months without affecting your benefit payment. After the trial work period ends, you enter the extended may be able to access period, which lasts 36 months. During this time, you keep your benefits in any month you earn less than the SGA threshold, even if you earned above it in other months.

SSI has an impairment-related work expense (IRWE) exclusion, which means certain costs related to your disability — such as medications, medical equipment, or transportation to treatment — are not counted as income. SSI also excludes the first $65 of monthly earnings plus half of remaining earnings, so you can work part-time and still receive most of your SSI payment.

Both programs offer a Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS), which lets you set aside income and resources for a specific work goal without affecting your benefits. For example, you could save money for job training or education while continuing to receive benefits. A PASS must be in writing and approved by the SSA before you start.

What to do if your claim is denied

If the SSA denies your claim, you receive a notice explaining the reason. Most denials say either that your condition does not meet the medical requirements or that you do not have enough work history (for SSDI) or that your income or resources are too high (for SSI). You have the right to appeal within 60 days of the denial notice.

The first appeal is called reconsideration. You submit the same process to a different SSA examiner, along with any new medical evidence. This takes two to four months. If reconsideration is denied, you can request a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ). This is the step where most people are approved — roughly 60 percent of cases approved on appeal are approved at the hearing level. The hearing usually takes place four to eight months after you request it, though wait times vary by location.

If the ALJ denies your case, you can appeal to the Appeals Council, and then to federal court. Each step takes additional months or years. Many people hire a disability representative or attorney to help with appeals — they are paid only if you win, and their fee is capped at 25 percent of your back pay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive both SSDI and SSI at the same time?

No. If you are approved for both programs, the SSA pays you SSDI first, then reduces your SSI payment by the SSDI amount. However, you can receive SSDI and also receive SSI if your SSDI payment is very low — the SSA calls this "concurrent benefits." This is uncommon but possible if you have a short work history.

What happens to my benefits if I get married?

For SSDI, marriage does not change your payment. For SSI, marriage affects your payment because the SSA counts your spouse's income and resources. If your spouse works or has resources, your SSI payment will likely decrease. You must report the marriage to the SSA within 10 days.

Can I work part-time and still receive disability benefits?

Yes, under both SSDI and SSI, but the rules differ. Under SSDI, you can work during the nine-month trial work period with no effect on benefits, then keep benefits in months you earn below the SGA threshold. Under SSI, you can work part-time year-round because the first $65 of earnings plus half of the rest are excluded from income.

How long does it take to get approved for disability benefits?

Initial approval typically takes three to six months from the time you submit a complete process with all required medical evidence. If you are denied and appeal, reconsideration takes two to four months, and a hearing before an ALJ takes four to eight months or longer depending on your local office's caseload.

What medical records do I need to submit with my process?

You need records from any doctor, hospital, or mental health provider who has treated you for your condition. Include recent test results, imaging, lab work, and treatment notes. If you have not seen a doctor recently, the SSA may order an exam at their expense. You do not need to gather records yourself — you can authorize the SSA to request them from your providers.