You Can Receive Both, But the Rules Depend on Which Disability Program You're In

Yes, you can receive both disability and Social Security payments, but how they work together depends on whether you're receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). These are two separate programs with different rules about combining benefits.

If you're on SSDI, you can also receive regular Social Security benefits — in fact, SSDI itself is a form of Social Security. If you're on SSI, the rules are stricter: receiving other income, including Social Security retirement or survivor benefits, will reduce your SSI payment dollar-for-dollar above a small monthly exclusion.

The key difference is that SSDI is based on your work history, while SSI is a needs-based program for people with low income and resources. Understanding which program you're in — or which one you might be in — determines what other payments you can receive without losing money.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI recipients can receive both disability payments and other Social Security benefits (retirement, survivor, or spousal) without one reducing the other.
  • SSI recipients lose approximately one dollar of SSI for every dollar of other income they receive above $65 per month, including Social Security benefits.
  • You may be able to switch from SSDI to regular Social Security retirement benefits at full retirement age, which can increase your monthly payment.
  • If you receive both SSDI and SSI at the same time, the SSI amount will be reduced by any SSDI you receive.
  • Reporting changes in income or benefits to Social Security within 10 days prevents overpayments you'll have to repay later.

How SSDI and Other Social Security Benefits Work Together

SSDI is itself a Social Security benefit based on your work record. If you're receiving SSDI, you can also receive spousal benefits, survivor benefits, or retirement benefits without either payment being reduced. Social Security will not subtract one from the other.

For example, if you're on SSDI and reach full retirement age, you can switch to a regular retirement benefit if it's higher. Or if you're may have access to to a widow's or widower's benefit based on your spouse's work record, you can receive both that benefit and your SSDI without a reduction. The only limit is that you cannot receive two retirement or survivor benefits at the same time — Social Security will pay you the higher of the two.

This is different from the old "Government Pension Offset" or "Windfall Elimination Provision," which affect people with pensions from government jobs. Those rules reduce spousal or survivor benefits, but they do not affect SSDI or the combination of SSDI with other benefits.

How SSI and Other Income Interact

SSI is a needs-based program, which means your monthly payment depends on how much other income you have. If you receive Social Security retirement, survivor, or spousal benefits, SSI will count that as income and reduce your SSI payment.

Social Security excludes the first $65 of your monthly income from the SSI calculation, plus half of any income above that. So if you receive $200 in Social Security retirement benefits, SSI counts $135 of it ($200 minus $65 exclusion), and reduces your SSI by about $67.50 (half of $135). The exact reduction depends on your state, because some states add money to the federal SSI payment.

This means SSI recipients who also receive Social Security benefits often end up with a lower total monthly payment than they would if they received only one benefit. You should calculate both scenarios before deciding which benefit to pursue, if you have a choice.

Receiving Both SSDI and SSI at the Same Time

Some people receive both SSDI and SSI simultaneously. This usually happens when someone's SSDI payment is very low — below the SSI federal benefit rate, which changes each year. Social Security will pay the SSDI first, then add SSI to bring the total up to the SSI limit.

However, the SSI portion will be reduced by any other income you have, using the rules described above. So if you receive SSDI plus SSI, and you also have earnings from work or other income, the SSI part shrinks first. The SSDI part does not change.

This combination is common for people who became disabled before they had much work history, or whose SSDI benefit is low because they earned little during their working years.

What Happens to Your Benefits If You Work

Work income affects SSDI and SSI differently. SSDI has a trial work period that lets you earn money without losing benefits for nine months. After that, if your earnings exceed the "substantial gainful activity" limit (which changes yearly), you risk losing SSDI.

SSI has stricter limits. You can earn up to $65 per month without it affecting your SSI payment. Above that, SSI counts half your earnings as income and reduces your payment accordingly. If you earn enough, your SSI will stop, though you may still be able to receive Medicaid.

If you receive both SSDI and SSI, work income will first affect the SSI portion. Your SSDI will continue as long as your earnings stay below the substantial gainful activity threshold.

Switching From SSDI to Retirement Benefits

At your full retirement age, you have the option to switch from SSDI to a regular Social Security retirement benefit based on your own work record. Social Security will automatically convert your SSDI to retirement benefits at that age, but you should check whether the retirement benefit is higher.

In some cases, your retirement benefit will be higher than your SSDI because your earnings record has continued to grow, or because the benefit calculation changes at full retirement age. If the retirement benefit is higher, you can request the switch. If SSDI is higher, you'll stay on SSDI — Social Security keeps you on whichever benefit pays more.

This conversion does not affect any other benefits you receive. If you're also receiving spousal or survivor benefits, those continue unchanged.

Reporting Changes and Avoiding Overpayments

If your income or living situation changes — you start working, move in with someone, receive an inheritance, or start receiving another benefit — you must report it to Social Security within 10 days. Failure to report can result in an overpayment, which Social Security will ask you to repay.

Overpayments happen most often with SSI, because SSI is sensitive to changes in income and living arrangements. But SSDI overpayments can also occur if you fail to report work income or if you become may have access to to another benefit that should have been reported.

You can report changes online through your my Social Security account, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office. Keep a record of when you reported the change.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I'm on SSDI and start receiving a pension, will my disability payment go down?

No. SSDI is not reduced by pensions or other income. However, if you also receive SSI, the SSI portion will be reduced by the pension income. The SSDI portion stays the same.

Can I receive both my own Social Security retirement benefit and my spouse's survivor benefit?

No, you can receive only one retirement or survivor benefit at a time. Social Security will pay you the higher of the two. However, if you're on SSDI, you can receive SSDI plus a spousal or survivor benefit without reduction.

What if I inherit money while on SSI?

An inheritance counts as a resource for SSI purposes. If your total resources exceed the SSI limit (currently $2,000 for individuals), you'll lose SSI may be able to access. You must report the inheritance to Social Security within 10 days of receiving it.

Does receiving unemployment benefits affect my SSDI or SSI?

Unemployment benefits count as income for SSI and will reduce your SSI payment. They do not affect SSDI. You must report unemployment benefits to Social Security when you start receiving them.

Can I receive SSDI and workers' compensation at the same time?

Yes, but Social Security may reduce your SSDI if your workers' compensation payment is high. The reduction is designed so that SSDI plus workers' compensation does not exceed 80 percent of your average current earnings before you became disabled. Report workers' compensation to Social Security when ready.