Can You Get Both SSI and SSDI at the Same Time?

Yes — it is possible to receive both Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) at the same time. This is called "concurrent benefits." But whether you qualify for both depends on the size of your SSDI payment and a few other factors.

If your SSDI benefit is low enough, SSI can step in and top it up to a minimum income level. Thousands of people receive both every month — but most don't know they might be leaving money on the table by not applying for the second program.

This article explains exactly how concurrent benefits work, who qualifies, what you can expect to receive, and what to do if you've been denied for either program.

What's the Difference Between SSI and SSDI?

Before understanding how both work together, it helps to understand what makes them different. They're both run by the Social Security Administration (SSA), and both pay benefits to people with disabilities — but they work in completely different ways.

SSDI: Based on Your Work History

SSDI stands for Social Security Disability Insurance. It's an insurance program you paid into through your payroll taxes — the "FICA" deductions on your pay stub. To qualify, you need enough "work credits" from your employment history.

Your monthly SSDI benefit is based on your lifetime earnings. If you earned more before becoming disabled, your benefit will be higher. If you had a short work history or low wages, your benefit may be relatively small.

There is no income or asset limit for SSDI. The only eligibility requirements are your work history and your disability.

SSI: Based on Financial Need

SSI stands for Supplemental Security Income. It is a need-based program funded by general tax revenue — not your payroll taxes. It does not require any work history at all.

To qualify for SSI, you must:

• Be disabled, blind, or age 65 or older
• Have very limited income (below roughly $1,971/month for 2025)
• Have limited assets (generally $2,000 for individuals, $3,000 for couples)

The maximum federal SSI benefit in 2025 is $967 per month for an individual. Some states add a small supplement on top of that.

How Concurrent Benefits Work

Concurrent benefits simply means you're approved for and receiving both SSDI and SSI at the same time. The SSA allows this when your SSDI benefit is low enough that you still fall below SSI's income threshold.

Here's the logic: SSI is designed to guarantee a minimum monthly income for disabled people who have little money. If your SSDI payment is very small — say, $500 a month — you're still well below the poverty level. SSI can fill that gap.

How the SSA Calculates Your SSI When You Also Get SSDI

The SSA doesn't just stack both programs on top of each other. Instead, it uses your SSDI payment as "income" and reduces your SSI payment accordingly.

The basic formula works like this:

• The SSA starts with the federal SSI maximum ($967/month in 2025)
• It subtracts $20 (a standard income exclusion that applies to almost everyone)
• It then subtracts your SSDI payment
• Whatever's left is your SSI benefit

Example: If your SSDI benefit is $600/month:

• $967 − $20 = $947
• $947 − $600 = $347
• Your SSI benefit would be $347/month
• Total monthly income: $600 + $347 = $947/month

In other words, SSI tops up your income to just below the SSI maximum. You don't get rich — but you get more than SSDI alone would pay.

At What SSDI Amount Does SSI Phase Out?

Once your SSDI benefit reaches the SSI maximum (plus the $20 exclusion), you no longer qualify for any SSI payment. In 2025, that threshold is approximately $987/month.

If your SSDI payment is $987 or higher, you will not receive SSI — even if you have no other income. SSI is specifically for people whose total income falls below the minimum threshold.

Who Is Most Likely to Qualify for Both?

Not everyone who gets SSDI will also qualify for SSI. Concurrent benefits tend to apply most to people in these situations:

People With a Short or Interrupted Work History

If you became disabled at a young age, or if you had long gaps in employment, your work credits may be enough to qualify for SSDI but your actual benefit amount may be small. The SSA calculates SSDI based on your average indexed monthly earnings — and if those earnings were low, your benefit will be too.

People With Low Lifetime Wages

Workers who spent their careers in low-wage jobs — in retail, food service, caregiving, or agriculture — often end up with SSDI benefits below $800/month. At that level, they may still qualify for SSI to supplement their income.

People Approved for SSDI After a Long Wait

If you were denied once, appealed, and waited two or three years for approval, your SSDI back pay will be substantial. But your ongoing monthly payment is still based on your earnings record — and if that was low, SSI may still apply going forward.

Medicaid vs. Medicare: Another Reason Concurrent Benefits Matter

Here's something many people don't realize: SSDI and SSI come with different health insurance benefits. Which one you rely on affects your health coverage.

• SSDI automatically qualifies you for Medicare — but only after a 24-month waiting period from your disability onset date.
• SSI automatically qualifies you for Medicaid in most states — with no waiting period.

If you're approved for concurrent benefits, you may be able to get Medicaid immediately through SSI while waiting for your Medicare coverage to kick in through SSDI. For someone who needs regular medical care, this can be the most immediately valuable part of receiving both programs.

Can You Apply for Both Programs at the Same Time?

Yes. When you apply for SSDI, the SSA will automatically screen your application for SSI eligibility if your income and assets appear to be low enough. You don't always need to file two separate applications — though in some cases you may be asked to complete an SSI-specific application as well.

If you applied for SSDI only and were denied — but your income is very low and you have limited assets — it may be worth asking specifically about SSI eligibility at the same time as you pursue your SSDI appeal.

A disability advocate can help you determine which programs you qualify for and make sure you're applying for everything you're entitled to.

What Happens to Concurrent Benefits If Your Situation Changes?

SSI is highly sensitive to changes in your income, living situation, and assets. SSDI is less so. If you receive both, here's what can affect your SSI benefit specifically:

• Your SSDI benefit increases (such as after a cost-of-living adjustment): Your SSI benefit will decrease by the same amount, keeping your total roughly the same.
• You receive a gift, inheritance, or lawsuit settlement: If it pushes your assets above $2,000, you may lose SSI eligibility temporarily or permanently.
• You move in with family: If someone else is paying for your food or shelter, the SSA may reduce your SSI by up to one-third.
• You get married: Your spouse's income and assets count toward the SSI limits. This can reduce or eliminate your SSI benefit even if your SSDI is unaffected.

Because SSI rules are complex and easy to run afoul of, anyone receiving concurrent benefits should report any changes in their situation to the SSA promptly. Overpayments are common — and the SSA will require repayment.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I was denied SSDI, can I still get SSI while I appeal?

Possibly. SSDI and SSI are separate programs with separate eligibility criteria. A denial for SSDI does not automatically mean you're denied for SSI. If you have limited income, limited assets, and a qualifying disability, you may be eligible for SSI regardless of the outcome of your SSDI appeal.

In fact, applying for SSI while your SSDI appeal is pending can serve two purposes: it may provide income during the waiting period, and approval for SSI can sometimes strengthen your SSDI appeal because both programs use the same basic disability definition.

Does SSI back pay work the same way as SSDI back pay?

Not exactly. SSDI back pay covers the period from your "established onset date" (when your disability began) through your approval, minus a five-month waiting period. The average SSDI back pay is around $18,000, and it can go much higher after a lengthy appeal.

SSI back pay only goes back to the date you filed your SSI application — not earlier. And the SSA often pays large SSI back pay amounts in installments rather than a single lump sum, specifically to keep you from going over the $2,000 asset limit.

Will getting both SSI and SSDI affect my Medicare or Medicaid coverage?

Generally, no — receiving both programs actually expands your coverage options. SSDI qualifies you for Medicare after a 24-month waiting period. SSI qualifies you for Medicaid in most states with no waiting period at all. Many people who receive concurrent benefits end up with both Medicare and Medicaid simultaneously — this is called being "dual eligible," and it can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket healthcare costs since Medicaid often covers what Medicare doesn't.

Is there an income limit to qualify for SSDI the same way there is for SSI?

No. SSDI does not have an income or asset limit in the traditional sense. The key threshold for SSDI is Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) — in 2025, that's $1,620 per month in earned income (work income). If you're earning more than that from a job, you generally cannot receive SSDI. But unearned income — such as rental income, investments, or a spouse's income — does not affect SSDI eligibility at all.

SSI, by contrast, counts nearly all income and most assets. This is the fundamental difference between the two programs and why they have very different eligibility profiles.

Can children receive both SSI and SSDI?

Children under 18 cannot receive SSDI on their own work record because they haven't worked. However, a child may be able to receive SSDI as a dependent of a disabled, retired, or deceased parent who was receiving SSDI. In that case, yes — if the family's income is low enough and the child meets the SSI disability standard, they could receive both the dependent SSDI payment and SSI simultaneously.

The SSI rules for children also look at the parents' income and assets, not just the child's — a concept called "deeming." This often reduces or eliminates SSI for children living with higher-income parents.

What happens to my SSI when I turn 65?

You do not lose SSI when you turn 65. At 65, you automatically become eligible for SSI based on age alone — meaning the disability requirement is no longer needed to keep your SSI benefits. Your SSDI also continues until you reach full retirement age (currently 67 for most people), at which point it converts to regular Social Security retirement benefits at the same monthly amount. Your SSI eligibility would then continue to be evaluated based on whether your retirement income plus any other income falls below the SSI threshold.

The Bottom Line: Don't Leave Benefits on the Table

Getting both SSI and SSDI is real, legal, and potentially worth hundreds of dollars more per month. If your SSDI benefit is on the lower end — below roughly $987/month — and your assets are limited, you may qualify for SSI to supplement it.

The system doesn't automatically reach out and tell you what you're entitled to. You have to know to ask. And if you've been denied for SSDI, SSI, or both, the 60-day appeal window is critical. Miss it and you may have to start over from scratch, losing months or years of potential back pay.

A disability advocate can review your situation at no cost, help you understand which programs you qualify for, and represent you through the appeal process. You pay nothing unless you win — and the fee is capped at $7,200 by federal law.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified disability attorney for guidance specific to your situation.