AARP Hearing Center
Can I get both SSDI and SSI?
Yes, you can receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) simultaneously. Social Security uses the term “concurrent” when you qualify for both disability benefits it administers.
However, drawing SSDI benefits can reduce your SSI payment, or make you ineligible for one. That's due to differences in the programs’ intent and eligibility criteria.
More Ways to Benefit
- Related Benefit 1
- Related Benefit 2
- Related Benefit 3
- Related Benefit 4
- Related Benefit 5
Both SSDI and SSI provide payments for people who meet Social Security's definition of a disability — having a physical or mental health condition severe enough to prevent you from doing most work for at least a year.
SSDI provides payments regardless of a beneficiary’s financial situation. Qualification is tied to how long you were employed in work for which you paid Social Security taxes, and payment amounts are based on your average lifetime earnings.
SSI, on the other hand, is needs-based. It pays benefits to people who are 65 or older, blind or have a disability and have low incomes and limited financial resources. It is unrelated to your employment history; you can receive SSI even if you never worked or paid Social Security taxes.
But you can't get SSI if what Social Security calls your “countable” income exceeds a federally set threshold, which in 2026 is $994 a month for individuals and $1,491 for married couples when both spouses are eligible for the program. Those figures are also the maximum federal SSI payments.
Social Security considers SSDI and other benefit payments to be countable income, but it exempts $20 a month from that tally. Thus, if you get a monthly SSDI benefit that exceeds $1,014, you don't qualify for SSI. If your SSDI payment is less than that, you may receive SSI, but it will be reduced by most of the amount of your SSDI.
For example, suppose you qualify for SSI and have an SSDI benefit of $500. With the $20 exemption, Social Security will reduce your SSI by $480. You'd still get $500 a month in SSDI and $514 ($994 minus $480) in SSI.
Benefits of getting both SSDI and SSI
Given that your combined benefits are effectively capped by the SSI maximum, what is the value of drawing both?
For one thing, if you qualify for a low SSDI benefit because you had a low-wage job or worked for only a short time before becoming disabled, SSI can be an additional income source until you're able to go back to work.
For another, there's a waiting period for SSDI: Benefits start in the sixth month after the date on which Social Security determines you become disabled. There's no such gap with Supplemental Security Income, so you could draw a full SSI benefit while waiting for SSDI to kick in.
A concurrent claim can also help with health care. SSDI recipients are eligible for Medicare, but in most circumstances, that coverage doesn't begin until you've been getting benefits for 24 months. SSI recipients in most states automatically qualify for Medicaid, which could help cover your health costs while you wait for Medicare to start. Once it does, you may be able to stay on Medicaid, which covers some costs Medicare does not.
You can apply for concurrent benefits online, by phone (start by calling 800-772-1213), or in person at a local Social Security office (call ahead; in most cases, an appointment is required). Social Security provides an adult disability checklist to assist you in gathering the materials you need. For some applicants, the SSI process will require a direct interview with a Social Security representative, which can be done by phone.
Keep in mind
Along with SSDI benefits, income from work and other sources can be factors in determining SSI eligibility and payment amounts. The rules for what counts and what doesn't are complicated. Social Security's SSI website has a detailed page on the income rules.
AARP Membership
Join AARP for only $15 per year with automatic renewal. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of benefits, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine.
More on Social Security
What is Social Security Disability Back Pay?
SSI Eligibility: Who Can Qualify?
Disability Benefits: Is Legal Help Needed?