Collecting Both SSDI and SSI Benefits – What You Should Know

Living with a disability can be difficult in many ways – not the least of which is financially. Unfortunately, being unable to work doesn’t stop the bills from arriving. It can be tremendously stressful to worry about how you’ll pay those bills and provide for yourself and those you love while also trying to live with a challenging condition. If you find yourself in this situation, you may wonder if you should seek disability benefits from the Social Security Administration, and if so, if you can collect more than one type of benefit simultaneously. Let’s take a closer look at the law together.

What are Concurrent Benefits?

The short answer to whether you can collect both types of disability benefits at once is yes – this is known as receiving “concurrent” benefits.

While it is possible to receive concurrent benefits, it’s important to understand that it is not especially common, given the income limits for SSI benefits, those who ultimately receive both must have a relatively low amount of SSDI. SSDI payments may be low in cases where:

• Work history is not extensive – for example, if the individual worked enough to receive SSDI, but not enough to make the payments very high.
• The individual earned low wages during his or her employment.
• The recipient became disabled at a young age, before being able to build a long career and work history.

If you are in this situation and you believe that you have income and resources below the limit necessary to qualify for both types of benefits, you should consult with an attorney regarding pursuing a claim.

How to Apply for Concurrent Benefits

Those who wish to seek concurrent benefits should apply for both SSDI and SSI programs when initially filing a Social Security claim. As a general rule, the Social Security Administration will notify applicants if they don’t meet the criteria for one of the programs based on either financial status or work history.

In reviewing a claim, the Social Security Administration will initially review medical evidence about your condition to determine if you are in fact disabled, as well as determining whether the condition has rendered you unable to work for one continuous calendar year or more.

After making the necessary initial determinations, the claims examiner will review things like work history, income, and assets to determine whether a claim is concurrent. After the review process is complete, the Social Security Administration will inform you whether your claim has been accepted or denied and the benefit types and amounts it will be awarding.

How Much Will You Receive?

Understandably, regardless of whether or not you choose to pursue SSDI benefits, SSI benefits, or both, it is essential to remember that each type of benefit has a maximum monthly benefit amount. This amount will typically change from year to year to account for inflation and a variety of other economic factors. In 2025, the maximum SSDI payment that an individual can receive each month is $4,018, and the maximum SSI payment is $967 per month for an individual, or $1,450 per couple.

The Social Security Administration will calculate benefits based on various factors, including work and earnings history, income and resource level, and other important information. Often, people assume that the particular condition they have or its severity will affect the benefit amount they receive, but as a general rule, this is not the case. With rare exceptions (such as in the case of blindness), benefit amounts do not differ from one condition to another.

When Will Benefits Be Paid?

If you are approved for concurrent benefits, it is important to understand that you may not begin experiencing both types of payments immediately. SSI payments may start immediately, but SSDI payments typically begin after a five-month waiting period. Normally, SSDI payments are made based on an individual’s birthdate, while SSI payments are usually made on the first date of the month. In concurrent benefit situations, however, payment dates may change, so consulting with an attorney regarding your particular situation is always advised.

Call Disability Experts Today

At Disability Experts, we know that if you cannot work due to a disability, you may be facing significant financial challenges. If this is the case, it’s only understandable that you will want to do all you can to receive as much as possible in monthly benefit payments. We also know that the law can seem complicated and overwhelming, and knowing how to take the first step toward seeking the benefits you need can be difficult. That’s why we’re here to help. If you’re ready to get started, give us a call today. We look forward to speaking with you soon.

Sources

• Concurrent Benefits: https://www.usa.gov/social-security-disability
• Concurrent Benefit Payment Examples: https://www.ssa.gov/redbook/eng/supportsexample.htm
• Schedule of Social Security Benefit Payments: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10031-2025.pdf