Can You Receive Both SSI and SSDI at the Same Time?

You cannot receive both SSI and SSDI payments in the same month, but you may receive one and then switch to the other

Social Security has a rule called the "deemed" rule that prevents you from collecting both Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) simultaneously. If you are approved for both programs, Social Security will pay you whichever benefit is higher, not both. However, your situation may change over time — you might start on SSI and later become may have access to to SSDI, or vice versa, and Social Security will adjust your payments accordingly.

The reason this rule exists is that both programs are designed to replace lost income due to disability, and Social Security treats them as overlapping rather than complementary. Understanding how this works matters because it affects how much money you actually receive each month and what happens if your circumstances change.

Key Takeaways

• You receive only one payment per month — whichever is higher — even if you are approved for both SSI and SSDI.
• If you are receiving SSI and later become may have access to to SSDI, Social Security will switch you to SSDI if it pays more.
• If you are receiving SSDI and your earnings drop below the threshold, you may become may have access to to SSI to supplement your income.
• You must report changes in your work, living situation, or household income to Social Security, as these affect which benefit you receive.
• The deemed rule applies to most people, but a small number of people who were already receiving both before 1997 may still receive both payments.

How Social Security decides which benefit you receive

Social Security compares the two benefit amounts and pays you the higher one. If you are approved for SSI at $943 per month and SSDI at $1,200 per month, you receive $1,200 — not both amounts added together. This is true even though you meet the requirements for both programs.

The payment you receive is called your "primary" benefit. The other benefit remains on your record but produces no monthly payment. This matters because it means your actual income depends on which benefit Social Security determines you are may have access to to at any given time.

When you might move from SSI to SSDI

Many people start on SSI because they have limited work history or have not worked recently enough to may have access to for SSDI. As time passes, you may become may have access to to SSDI through a family member's work record — for example, if a parent or spouse becomes disabled or retires and you are age 18 or older and disabled. You may also become may have access to to SSDI through your own work record if you return to work part-time and earn enough credits.

When Social Security determines you are now may have access to to SSDI, they will switch your payment to SSDI if it is higher than your SSI amount. You do not need to do anything — Social Security makes this change automatically once your SSDI entitlement is established. However, you should notify Social Security of any change in your work status or family circumstances so they can review your record.

When you might move from SSDI to SSI

If you are receiving SSDI and your benefit amount drops — for example, because you reach full retirement age and your benefit is recalculated — you may become may have access to to SSI to make up the difference. This can happen if your SSDI payment falls below the SSI federal benefit rate, which is $943 per month in 2024 (this amount changes yearly).

You may also become may have access to to SSI if your living situation changes. For instance, if you move into a household where you are no longer able to work and have no other income, SSI may supplement your SSDI. Again, Social Security makes this information based on information you report, so keeping your record current is important.

The rare exception: people receiving both before 1997

A small number of people who were already receiving both SSI and SSDI payments before August 1, 1997, may continue to receive both. This is called "grandfathering" and applies only to those who had both benefits active on that specific date. If you are in this situation, your payments continue under the old rules, but this is extremely uncommon.

If you think you might be grandfathered, contact Social Security directly to confirm your status. Do not assume this applies to you based on when you started receiving benefits — the date matters, and Social Security can tell you definitively.

What you must report to Social Security

Your benefit status can change if your circumstances change, so Social Security needs to know about certain events. You must report changes in your work activity (including part-time work or self-employment), your living situation (moving in with family, entering a facility, or leaving one), your household income, and changes in your marital status or custody of children in your household.

You can report changes by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, visiting your local Social Security office, or using your online account at ssa.gov. Reporting promptly prevents overpayments and ensures you receive the correct benefit amount. If you fail to report a change and Social Security later discovers it, you may owe back the overpaid amount.

How work affects your SSI and SSDI payments differently

SSI and SSDI have different rules about how much you can earn while still receiving benefits. If you are receiving SSI, you can earn up to $65 per month with no reduction in your benefit, and amounts above that are reduced by 50 cents for every dollar earned. If you are receiving SSDI, you can earn up to $1,550 per month (in 2024) with no reduction, and earnings above that may affect your benefit.

These different thresholds mean that if you move from one benefit to the other, your work capacity changes. For example, if you are on SSI and earning $200 per month, your benefit is reduced. If you later switch to SSDI because it is higher, that same $200 in earnings may not affect your benefit at all. Understanding these rules helps you plan any work activity without accidentally losing benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I am approved for both SSI and SSDI, do I have to choose one?

No, you do not choose. Social Security automatically pays you whichever benefit is higher. You are may have access to to both, but you receive only one payment per month. If circumstances change and the other benefit becomes higher, Social Security switches your payment automatically.

What happens to my SSI if I become may have access to to SSDI?

If your SSDI amount is higher than your SSI amount, Social Security stops your SSI and pays you SSDI instead. Your SSI case closes, but you remain may have access to to SSDI. If your SSDI amount is lower than your SSI was, you would receive SSI instead — though this is uncommon because SSDI is usually the higher benefit.

Can I work part-time and still receive both benefits?

You can work part-time and receive whichever benefit is higher, but your earnings affect how much you receive. If you are on SSI, earnings reduce your benefit. If you are on SSDI, you have a higher earnings threshold before your benefit is affected. Report all work to Social Security so they calculate your payment correctly.

If I was receiving both SSI and SSDI before 1997, can I still receive both now?

If you were receiving both benefits on August 1, 1997, you may continue to receive both under grandfathered status. This is very rare. Contact Social Security to confirm whether you are grandfathered, as the rules are specific to that date.

What should I do if Social Security switches my benefit without telling me?

Contact Social Security immediately at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local office. Ask them to explain why your benefit changed and verify that the new amount is correct. If you believe an error was made, you can request a reconsideration or appeal the decision.