SSI is a program for people without a work record. SSI pays up to currently $675. It considers other income in the household. I call it supplemental survival income because it’s barely enough to survive on. The definition of disability for SSI and SSD are the same. But SSD is basically early retirement from the workforce by the reason of disability, so to retire early from the workforce you have to be a member of the workforce that is defined as working and paying taxes for basically five years or 20 out of 40 quarters. If you satisfy that, you qualify for SSD. You get a payment based on what you’ve earned and paid into the system.
You also get Medicare after the 29th month of your disability and you do not have to have to meet any income requirement for SSD. You just have to prove your disability during the insured coverage period. And these things get sort of complicated and people need help on understanding just exactly what they have to prove and the dates they have to prove. So that’s when we come in to get the needed medical information during the important period.
Contact an Indiana Social Security Lawyer from the Hankey Marks & Crider at (317) 634-8565 to learn more about the difference between SSI and SSD and find out whether you qualify for benefits.