SSDI and SSI Compared: The Same in Some Ways, Different in Others

	DIB	SSI
Definition of "Disability"	Inability to Do Any Work. See here
Application and Appeal Process	The same. See here
Work Requirement	YES. Fully insured status based upon payroll Taxes paid (work credits)	NO. No work history is required.
Needs Requirement	NO. SSDI benefits are not based upon "need". A billionaire who has paid social security taxes and is unable to do any work and can qualify for SSDI.	YES. Must be basically indigent: more more than $2000 in "resources" or bringing on more than $735/month means your don't "need" SSI.
Medical Coverage	Medicare after 24 months of entitement to disability benefits	Medicaid starting with month after disability
Retroactive Benefits	No more than 1 year prior to the date of disability application	No benefits payable prior to date of SSI application.

DIB

SSI

DEFINITION OF “DISABILITY”

Inability to Do Any Work. See here

APPLICATION AND APPEAL PROCESS

The same. See here

WORK REQUIREMENT

YES. Fully insured status based upon payroll Taxes paid (work credits)

NO. No work history is required.

NEEDS REQUIREMENT

NO. SSDI benefits are not based upon “need”. A billionaire who has paid social security taxes and is unable to do any work and can qualify for SSDI.

YES. Must be basically indigent: more more than $2000 in “resources” or bringing on more than $735/month means your don’t “need” SSI.

MEDICAL COVERAGE

Medicare after 24 months of entitement to disability benefits

Medicaid starting with month after disability

MEDICAL COVERAGE

No more than 1 year prior to the date of disability application

No benefits payable prior to date of SSI application.

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