SSI VS SSDI

SSI, or Social Security Insurance, has both a disability component and a financial need component. To be eligible for SSI benefits, an individual must be disabled and have a demonstrated financial need, meaning they cannot have more than $2,500 in savings and their spouse cannot earn more than approximately $1,200 per month. If either of these criteria are not met, the individual may not be eligible for SSI benefits. In contrast, SSDI, or Social Security Disability Insurance, is based on the amount of work credits earned through work history and contributions made to the Social Security program. If an individual has worked for five of the last ten years, they are eligible for SSDI, regardless of their financial status, including the amount of money their spouse earns or the amount they have in savings.