If you qualify for both Social Security disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income benefits, you can receive payments from both programs at the same time. However, your total payment from both programs cannot exceed the maximum monthly amount currently allowed to SSI beneficiaries.
Are You Eligible?
You may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits if you have a significant recent work history, if you have contributed payments to the Social Security fund, and if you are disabled as that term is defined by the Social Security Administration.
You may be eligible for SSI benefits if you have little or no income and few resources—and if you are either disabled or you are over the age of 65. However, the amount that you can collect is limited to the SSI maximum payment. For example, if the maximum payment is $700, you could receive a combination of disability payments from the two programs, but no more than that amount regardless of your disability or other factors.
Navigating the two disability programs offered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) can be difficult and overwhelming, especially if you are also struggling with serious health conditions. However, in order to recover benefits from either program you are going to have to complete the application process that is unique to that program and have it approved by the Social Security Administration. This can be difficult and many initial applications are denied.
Don’t Do it Alone
The experienced disability attorneys at Morgan Weisbrod can help you understand what benefits you are eligible for and what to do in case you are wrongfully denied benefits. We will fight for your rights and help you get the maximum amount of benefits to which you are legally entitled. To find out more, please schedule a confidential initial consultation by reaching out to us via this website or by phone at any time.
by Paul B. Burkhalter Managing Partner of Morgan Weisbrod , Board Certified in Social Security Disability Law.