SSI Vs. SSDI: What Are The Key Differences? (2025)

What Is SSI?

SSI is a federal program that provides financial assistance to people aged 65 and older who are low-income and those who are disabled, are unable to work and have limited resources. SSI is a needs-based program, requiring you to prove a financial need in order to qualify.

You must provide evidence that your income falls below a certain level and that you have limited resources. You must show tax returns, bank statements, or other financial records to prove your financial hardship. If you qualify, you may be eligible for other benefits, such as Medicaid, food stamps, housing help and other assistance.

What Is SSDI?

With SSDI, the Social Security Administration provides financial assistance to people with a disability who have a work history and have contributed to Social Security. The benefit is based on the person’s work income.

Unlike SSI, SSDI is not based on financial need. To qualify for SSDI, you must have worked enough years and gained enough work credits with the SSA. In general, you must have worked for 10 years.

After two years of receiving SSDI benefits, you may qualify for Medicare. You do not have to be 65 years or older to receive Medicare if you are getting SSDI.

Key Differences in SSI vs. SSDI

While SSI and SSDI both provide disability benefits, there are key differences between SSI vs. SSDI.

Criteria for Eligibility

SSI is based on your financial need. If you’re 65 or disabled and have limited income and resources, you can qualify for SSI benefits. You don’t need a work history. You can qualify if you have never worked.

Here are the requirements to qualify for SSI:

• Be 65 or older or have a disability
• Have a disability that prevents gainful employment
• Have a disability that lasts at least 12 months
• Receive a monthly income of less than $1,971
• Have resources below $2,000
• Be a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen

Those requirements can be difficult for people to meet, with the monthly income limit falling well below the average American income.

You can qualify for SSDI based on your earned work credits. The number of years you must work depends on when you become disabled. But generally, you must work for 10 years and pay your Social Security taxes, which accumulate your work credits with the SSA.

Here are the requirements for qualifying for SSDI:

• Have accumulated enough work credits from paying Social Security taxes
• Be prevented from gainful employment by a qualifying disability
• Fall below the full retirement age of 62
• Be a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen

While an income limit does not qualify you for SSDI, there is a requirement based on the idea of substantial gainful activity. Essentially, you could fail to qualify for or lose your SSDI benefits if you earn more than a certain monthly amount. The amount is based on the nature of your disability.

It can take up to two years for you to receive your SSDI benefits. Your application may be rejected initially. Sometimes, the process requires that you hire a Social Security disability lawyer to help you get your benefits.

SSI vs. SSDI Benefits

The amounts you can receive from the SSI program and the Social Security disability insurance program are different. SSDI payments are based on the amount of money you earned before your disability.

The maximum monthly SSI payment in 2024 was $943. The average monthly SSDI payment was $1,537.

Healthcare Benefits

Another key difference between SSI vs. SSDI is healthcare coverage. As a low-income senior or disabled person, you may wonder, “How much is health insurance?” Applying for and receiving SSI typically qualifies you to receive Medicaid, the federal healthcare for low-income individuals and families. That means you can stop asking, “What is a consequence of not having health insurance?”

If you’ve received SSDI for 24 months, you typically are automatically enrolled in Medicare. You don’t have to be aged 65 to qualify for Medicare if you’re receiving SSDI.

Another criterion to consider when deciding whether to apply for SSI or SSDI is the amount of time you might receive benefits. People who qualify for SSI often receive those benefits for the rest of their lives. This is especially true of people who begin receiving benefits after age 65. If you’re younger than 65 and remain disabled, you can receive benefits for life.

SSDI benefits end when you are no longer disabled. If you reach retirement age, you may have to switch to collecting Social Security retirement benefits, unless you can prove through your healthcare provider that your disability persists.

Talk to ConsumerShield About the Difference in SSI vs. SSDI

Now that you know the difference between SSI vs. SSDI, you still might have questions or need help to apply for the benefits you may qualify for.

At ConsumerShield, we believe in empowering you with information to make informed decisions about your insurance. We can answer your questions about Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance even if you don’t buy anything from us. Get in touch with us today to find out more about SSI and SSDI.