OTDA Home Programs & Services SSI/Social Security Disability Benefits
Overview
There are two Federal disability programs:
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a Federal disability income program for adults who have worked and now find themselves unable to work due to a disability.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is Federal program for adults and children who meet the definition of disabled and have limited income and resources. It is designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people, who have little or no income; and it provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter.
Benefits
Social Security Disability Insurance pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you are "insured," meaning that you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes.
- The amount of your monthly benefit is based on your lifetime average earnings covered by Social Security.
- Social Security Disability Insurance benefits are paid starting six months from the onset date of the disability, but no more than 12 months prior to application.
- A claimant receives monthly benefits deposited directly into their bank account or on a SSA Direct Express Card.
Supplemental Security Income pays benefits based on financial need.
- The amount of your monthly benefit is based on your income and resources.
- SSI benefits also are payable to people 65 and older without disabilities who meet the financial limits.
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits may be paid from the month of application.
- A claimant receives monthly benefits deposited directly into their bank account or on a SSA Direct Express Card.
Eligibility
Anyone who believes they meet Federal Disability requirements is eligible to apply. Your family members may also receive benefits if you can no longer work due to a medical condition.
You are considered disabled under Social Security rules if:
- You cannot work due to a medical condition;
- You cannot do work that you did before;
- We decide that you cannot adjust to other work because of your medical condition(s); and
- Your disability has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death.
People who have worked long enough may also be able to receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits as well as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
Contact
Contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) by phone:
1-800-772-1213
Monday-Friday 7:00AM-7:00PM
If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you can call SSA at TTY 1-800-325-0778.
Contact OTDA's Division of Disability Determinations by email:
Contact OTDA's Division of Disability Determinations by mail:
Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
Division of
Disability Determinations
P.O. Box 165
Albany, NY 12260-0165
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
If you have a disability, are blind, or are over age 65 and you also have low income and limited resources, you may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a program run by the Social Security Administration (SSA).
If you qualify for SSI, you get monthly cash payments to help you pay for your basic needs. A person who is single can get up to $841 per month in benefits. You also get Medicaid health coverage automatically, without having to file a separate application.
If you get SSI benefits and start working, you'll probably end up better off financially. SSI's rules are designed to help you find work and make sure that your total income will be higher after you get a job.
This article looks in detail at SSI’s rules for adults ages 18 – 64. Learn more about the rules for children under 18 in DB101’s Benefits for Young People article.
Don't get SSI mixed up with other programs
Social Security has two disability benefits programs with very similar names:
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) gives cash benefits to people with disabilities who have low income and low resources. You do not need to have worked in the past to get SSI. SSI is explained in this article.
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) gives cash benefits to people with disabilities who qualify because they used to work or have a parent who worked. Learn more in DB101’s SSDI article.
Some people qualify for both programs at the same time. If you get benefits from Social Security, but aren’t sure which ones you get, open a free my Social Security account or order a free Benefits Planning Query (BPQY) at your local Social Security office or by calling 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY).
Get Expert Help
If you have questions about SSI and need to talk with somebody, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY) or visit your local Social Security office.
If you want to ask about how work might affect your SSI benefits, try contacting:
- An SSA Area Work Incentives Coordinator (AWIC)
- The Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY), or
- A Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) counselor.
Watch these videos for a quick introduction to SSI:
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