The Social Security Administration, or SSA, offers special benefits and financial aid to individuals with disabilities. These benefits are offered through the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. To qualify for either of these programs, one must meet certain eligibility criteria, as Social Security’s definition of disability differs from other programs. For instance, those with partial or short-term disabilities will not be eligible for disability benefits.
SSDI and SSI benefits
The SSDI program specifically aims to offer financial support to individuals who cannot continue working because of their disabilities. SSDI benefits are closely tied to the individual’s working history and even offer benefits based on the taxes they paid when they were working.
On the other hand, the SSI program is not exclusively for individuals with disabilities. Instead, the program aims to offer financial assistance to those with limited resources, those over 65, and those with disabilities. The benefits that one receives from SSI are meant to cover their basic needs, such as the cost of food, housing, and clothing.
Eligibility for SSDI benefits
1. Specific health conditions
When considering SSDI benefits, individuals must note that the Social Security Administration only considers total disability. Individuals who have a partial disability or short-term disability may not be eligible for SSDI benefits. According to the SSA, only conditions that affect an individual’s ability to work for at least a year or those that can result in death qualify as disabilities for the purpose of receiving SSDI benefits.
When applying for SSDI benefits, one must also note all the conditions the SSA lists as disabilities, which make one likely to receive those benefits.
Certain conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases like angina and heart disease; sensory organ conditions like blindness and hearing loss; nervous system conditions like Parkinson’s disease; and musculoskeletal conditions like arthritis, can automatically qualify one for disability benefits. Additionally, those with certain cancers might also be eligible for disability benefits. The SSA’s Blue Book, available on the official SSA website, contains an extensive, official list of conditions that qualify for disability benefits.
2. Work and credit requirements
To be eligible for SSDI benefits, individuals must have a certain number of Social Security work credits. Based on one’s annual income, one can earn up to four credits in a year. For SSDI eligibility, individuals over 31 must earn at least 40 credits, with at least 20 of those credits earned within the last ten years. This number of credits is much lower for younger workers.
For instance, individuals under 24 are eligible for SSDI if they have earned six credits. That said, they should have earned these six credits within the last three years, which corresponds to the onset of the disability. Likewise, individuals under 31 only need to have credits for working for half the time from when they turned 21 to when their disability began. For example, a 29-year-old would only need four years of work credits out of the last eight years.
3. Annual earnings
Individuals can only be eligible for SSDI benefits if their monthly income is lower than the substantial gainful activity (SGA) level. Every year, the SGA-level amount changes. For instance, currently, the amount is set at $1,550. So, if an individual is working and has an average monthly income higher than that, they are not eligible for SSDI benefits.
4. Severity of disability
The Disability Determination Services (DDS) office examines the severity of a person’s condition to verify the eligibility for SSDI benefits. The office checks whether the disability has kept the individual from performing basic work-related actions, such as walking and sitting, for at least a year. If so, the individual is considered eligible for the benefits.
5. Ability to work
The SSA also checks if an individual can continue doing their previous job without any issues despite their disability. If they can, they will not qualify for SSDI benefits. The SSA will also check if an individual can do a different job without their condition causing any issues. If they can, they will not be eligible for SSDI benefits.
Eligibility for SSI
Unlike SSDI, SSI eligibility criteria are not associated with one’s work. To be eligible for SSI benefits, an individual must have an income lower than $1,971 a month. This income includes various sources, such as pensions and other benefits. Additionally, if individuals have little to no resources and have a condition that affects their ability to work for at least a year, they will be eligible for SSI benefits.
