There are 2 main differences between Social Security Disability (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI):
⦁ SSDI is available to workers who have accumulated a sufficient number of work credits
⦁ SSI disability benefits are available to low-income individuals who have either never worked or who haven’t earned enough work credits to qualify for SSDI
SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) often make people that they are the same even though they are two completely different programs ran by the government.
So, what Is SSI?
Supplemental Security Income is funded by general fund taxes and not from the Social Security trust fund like many think it is. SSI is based on financial need and not work history. The main requirement of SSI is that the payee must have less than $2,000 in assets (or $3,000 for a couple) and a very limited income. Most people who qualify for SSI will also qualify for food stamps.
Disabled people who are eligible under the income requirements for SSI are also able to receive Medicaid.
One interesting statistic about SSI applicants is that most of them are women. This is due largely to the fact that a female is more likely to collect SSI as fewer women are eligible for SSDI benefits based on work history statistics. Simply put, women don’t have as many qualifying years of work as men. 60% of men have worked at least part of every year of their adult life, while only 41% of women can claim this.
As far approval rates, SSDI approval rates are higher on average than they are for SSI.