You cannot receive the full benefit amount from both SSDI and SSI at once, but you may receive a partial SSI payment alongside your SSDI check

Social Security allows you to receive benefits from both programs in the same month, but the way it works is not straightforward. If you are already collecting SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance), SSI (Supplemental Security Income) will reduce its payment to you by the amount you receive from SSDI. This is called the federal benefit rate offset.

The reason for this rule is that SSI is a needs-based program — it is designed to help people with very low income and resources. SSDI is an earned-benefit program based on your work history. Social Security treats SSDI income as countable income when calculating your SSI amount, which means your SSI payment shrinks or disappears entirely depending on how much SSDI you receive.

Whether you actually receive money from SSI depends on your living situation, your other income, and your resources. Many people who may have access to for both programs end up receiving only SSDI because their SSDI payment is high enough that SSI has nothing left to pay.

Key Takeaways

  • SSI reduces its payment dollar-for-dollar by the amount of SSDI you receive, so a higher SSDI check means a lower or zero SSI payment.
  • You must meet SSI's income and resource limits ($943 per month in countable income and $2,000 in resources for an individual in 2024, though these figures change yearly) even if you are already on SSDI.
  • Your living situation matters: if someone else pays for your food or housing, SSI counts that as income to you, which further reduces any SSI payment.
  • You can request both programs at the same time, but Social Security will automatically calculate whether you receive money from SSI based on your SSDI amount and other circumstances.

How the offset works in practice

Suppose your SSDI benefit is $1,200 per month. The federal benefit rate for SSI in 2024 is $943 per month for an individual living independently. Because your SSDI payment ($1,200) exceeds the SSI federal benefit rate ($943), Social Security will not pay you any SSI. You receive only the $1,200 SSDI check.

Now suppose your SSDI benefit is $800 per month instead. The difference between $943 and $800 is $143. If you meet all other SSI rules — your resources are under $2,000, you have no other countable income, and your living situation does not trigger additional reductions — Social Security would pay you $143 in SSI. Your total monthly income would be $800 SSDI plus $143 SSI, equaling $943.

The offset applies to your SSDI amount only. Other income you have — such as wages, pensions, or rental income — is also counted against SSI and can further reduce or eliminate your SSI payment. If you have $200 in monthly pension income and $800 in SSDI, your countable income is $1,000, leaving only $0 in potential SSI (since $943 federal benefit rate minus $1,000 countable income equals a negative number).

SSI resource and income limits you must still meet

Even though you are receiving SSDI, you cannot have more than $2,000 in countable resources to receive SSI. Resources include cash, bank accounts, stocks, and certain other assets. Some resources do not count — your home, one vehicle, household goods, and personal items are typically excluded. Your SSDI benefit itself does not count as a resource if you spend it within the same month you receive it.

Income limits are separate from resource limits. SSI counts your SSDI as income, but it also counts other money coming in. If you work, earnings above $65 per month (with a $20 general exclusion) are counted. If someone gives you money or pays for your food or shelter, that may be counted as income depending on the circumstances.

The income and resource rules are the same whether you are on SSDI or not. The only difference is that SSDI recipients often have higher income from their disability benefit, which makes it harder to stay under the SSI income limit. This is why many SSDI recipients do not receive any SSI payment — their SSDI alone puts them over the threshold.

When you might receive both payments

You are most likely to receive both SSDI and SSI if your SSDI benefit is low — typically under $943 per month for an individual. This can happen if you had a short work history before becoming disabled, or if your average earnings were very low. People who became disabled young and had few years of work history often fall into this category.

Your living situation also affects whether you receive SSI alongside SSDI. If you live with family members who pay for your food or housing, SSI may count part of that support as income to you, reducing your SSI payment further. If you live independently and pay your own way, you have a better chance of receiving the full SSI amount that your SSDI leaves room for.

Some people become may be able to access for both programs at different times. You might start on SSDI first, then later become may be able to access for SSI if your circumstances change — for example, if you spend down your resources or if your other income decreases. Conversely, if you are on SSI and then your SSDI benefit increases, your SSI payment will decrease or stop.

How to request both programs

If you are already receiving SSDI and think you might also be may be able to access for SSI, contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213. You can request an SSI information without filing a new disability claim. Social Security will review your income, resources, and living situation to see whether you meet SSI rules.

If you are not yet on either program, you can file for both SSDI and SSI at the same time. When you explore for disability, tell Social Security that you want to be considered for both programs. The process process is the same — you provide medical evidence and work history — but Social Security will evaluate you under both sets of rules and pay whichever program you may have access to for, or both if you meet the requirements for both.

You can explore online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office. If you are explore by phone or online, you will be asked about your income and resources as part of the process. Be honest and complete — Social Security verifies this information and overpayments must be repaid.

What happens if your SSDI amount changes

If your SSDI benefit increases, your SSI payment will decrease by the same amount (assuming you still meet all other SSI rules). If your SSDI decreases, your SSI payment may increase. Social Security recalculates your SSI each month based on your current SSDI amount and other income.

This matters if you are working and earning wages while on SSDI. As your earnings change, your SSDI may change, which then affects your SSI. If you are considering work, ask Social Security how it will affect both your SSDI and any SSI you are receiving. The Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) program and other work incentives may help you keep more of your benefits if you are working.

State SSI supplements and federal offsets

Some states add their own money to the federal SSI payment — these are called state supplements. If you live in a state with a supplement, the offset rule still applies to the federal portion only. Your state supplement may have its own rules about how SSDI affects it. Contact your state's SSI program office to learn what supplement you may receive and how SSDI reduces it.

States that offer supplements include California, New York, Massachusetts, and others. The supplement amounts vary by state and by living situation (whether you live independently, with family, or in a group home). If you are moving to a different state, your SSI payment may change because the supplement rules differ.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I get SSDI, do I automatically get SSI too?

No. Social Security does not automatically pay SSI to SSDI recipients. You must request SSI separately, and you must meet SSI's income and resource limits. Many SSDI recipients do not receive SSI because their SSDI payment is high enough that they exceed the SSI income limit.

What is the difference between the federal benefit rate and my actual SSI payment?

The federal benefit rate is the maximum SSI payment for your living situation — $943 per month for an individual in 2024. Your actual payment is lower if you have countable income (including SSDI) or if your living situation triggers additional reductions. Social Security subtracts all countable income from the federal benefit rate to calculate what you actually receive.

Can I have savings and still get SSI while on SSDI?

You can have up to $2,000 in countable resources. Savings accounts, cash, and stocks count toward this limit. Some things do not count — your home, one car, household goods, and personal items are excluded. If your savings exceed $2,000, you will not be may be able to access for SSI, though you can still receive SSDI.

What if someone pays for my food or housing?

SSI counts in-kind support and maintenance (food or shelter paid by someone else) as income to you. This reduces your SSI payment, sometimes to zero. The reduction depends on whether the person paying is your parent, spouse, or someone else, and whether they are also receiving SSI. Tell Social Security about any support you receive so they can calculate your payment correctly.

If my SSDI goes up, what happens to my SSI?

Your SSI payment will decrease by the same amount your SSDI increased. If your SSDI rises above the federal benefit rate, your SSI becomes zero. Social Security recalculates your SSI each month based on your current SSDI and other income, so changes happen automatically.