The Difference Between Social Security Disabiliy (SSD) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Video: Michigan Social Security Disability attorney Mark Bernstein discusses your legal rights to Social Security Disability Benefits.

Social Security Disability Benefits are available to disabled workers whose had enough earnings to meet Social Security Administration (SSA) requirements. SSA determines if you are eligible, based on your work history during the years before you became totally disabled. As a general rule, you probably have enough SSA "work credits" to qualify for Social Security Disability, if you worked for 5 out of the last 10 years.

The following factors determine your eligibility for Social Security Disability benefits:

• Whether or not you have enough work credits to qualify for disability benefits.
• Whether or not you have an impairment that has lasted, or is expected to last, for at least 12 months, or is expected to result in death.
• The nature and extent of your impairment.
• Your ability to engage in substantial gainful activity since your impairment began.
• The date your disability began.

The family members of a person approved for Social Security Disability benefits also may qualify for benefits, based on the disabled wage earner's SSA earnings. Furthermore, children and spouses of deceased individuals who accumulated enough SSA "work credits" prior to death may be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits.

Supplemental Security Income Benefits (SSI) are provided to low-income disabled children and adults. SSA considers other benefits, savings, certain assets, and income of household members, to determine whether a claimant’s income is low enough to qualify for SSI.

The following factors determine eligibility for SSI:

• Whether or not your household income meets the SSI income limits.
• Whether or not you have an impairment that has lasted, or is expected to last, for at least 12 months, or is expected to result in death.
• The nature and extent of your impairment.
• Your ability to engage in substantial gainful activity since your impairment began.
• The date that your disability began.

If you or a loved was denied Social Security benefits, talk with an experienced Michigan Social Security lawyer today. Please submit a simple, free and confidential legal consultation form about your Social Security claim now.

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