For Ohioans who suffer from an injury, illness or disability and think that Social Security disability benefits are an option, understanding the differences between Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can be confusing. Knowing which is applicable is important when seeking benefits.
With SSI, it is based on the applicant's need. To receive it, the applicant's income and available resources must be below a certain level. Eligibility for SSI has nothing to do with whether or not the person worked and contributed to Social Security. On the other hand, SSDI is contingent on the amount of time a person worked. In this way, it is similar to retirement benefits from Social Security.
For a person to receive SSDI, he or she must have worked for the required amount of time depending on age at the time the disability occurred. The benefit can vary depending on income and the amount of time spent working. To qualify for SSI, the person must be disabled, blind or over the age of 65. If the items that the applicant owns are worth more than $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple, the person is not eligible for SSI. Certain items are excluded from this calculation, including a home the applicant owns.
Wages are also counted for purposes of calculating SSI eligibility. The initial $65 are excluded, but after that every two dollars earned will lead to a reduction of one dollar in benefits. For SSDI, the disability must be documented and there will be an evaluation of the work history. If the medical problem is expected to last for more than twelve months or end in the claimant's death, this is sufficient. The work history depends on the person's age and amount of time worked.
The condition's severity will be considered; the Social Security Administration must determine whether it meets or equals an item on the listing of impairments. The SSA will also question whether or not the person can do the work he or she did previously. Furthermore, it will determine whether the person can do any other types of work. When seeking disability benefits, speaking to an attorney experienced in SSI and SSDI benefits is the first step to understanding the process and moving forward in pursuing the right option.
Source: Fox Business, "SSI vs. SSDI: Understanding the Key Differences in Social Security Disability Programs," Matthew Frankel, March 25, 2016
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