The short answer
Both programs are run by the Social Security Administration.
Both programs pay people with disabilities.
That is where the sameness ends.
SSDI is insurance. You earn it by working.
SSI is based on need. It is for people with very little income and very few resources.
The sections below explain each program, one idea at a time.
The two programs, side by side
SSDI
Social Security Disability Insurance
Based on your work record.
Paid from the Social Security trust funds.
SSI
Supplemental Security Income
Based on limited income and limited resources.
Paid from general tax revenues of the U.S. Treasury.
- Do you need a work history? SSDI: Yes. You must have worked and paid Social Security taxes long enough to be insured. SSI: No. Work history is not required.
- What decides the payment amount? SSDI: Your past earnings record. SSI: A federal maximum, lowered by other income you have.
- Where does the money come from? SSDI: The Social Security trust funds, which come from payroll taxes. SSI: General tax revenues of the U.S. Treasury — not the Social Security trust funds.
- Is there a limit on what you own? SSI: Yes. There are strict limits on resources. See the SSI section below. SSDI: The SSI resource limits do not apply to SSDI.
SSDI: disability insurance
SSDI stands for Social Security Disability Insurance.
Think of it as insurance.
While you worked, you paid Social Security taxes. Those taxes insured you.
SSDI is for people who:
- Have a qualifying disability, and
- Worked and paid Social Security taxes long enough to be insured.
Your payment amount is based on your past earnings record. Higher past earnings generally mean a higher payment.
SSDI money is paid from the Social Security trust funds. Those funds come from payroll taxes.
SSI: help based on need
SSI stands for Supplemental Security Income.
SSI is needs-based. It is not insurance.
SSI is for people who are:
- Disabled, or
- Blind, or
- Age 65 or older,
and who have limited income and limited resources.
Work history is not required for SSI.
SSI money is paid from general tax revenues of the U.S. Treasury. It is not paid from the Social Security trust funds.
SSI resource limits
“Resources” means things you own that SSA counts, such as money in bank accounts.
$2,000 resource limit for an individual
$3,000 resource limit for a couple
Some things do not count toward the limit. SSA names these:
- The home you live in, and the land it is on.
- One vehicle, if you or a member of your household use it for transportation.
- Household goods and personal effects.
SSA’s full list is on ssa.gov/ssi.
SSI payment amounts in 2026
$994 a month 2026 maximum federal SSI payment for an individual
$1,491 a month 2026 maximum federal SSI payment for an eligible couple
Most payments are lower than the maximum. Other income counts and lowers the payment.
Some states add a supplement on top of the federal payment.
Can someone get both?
Yes.
Some people receive both SSDI and SSI at the same time.
SSA calls this “concurrent” benefits.
This can happen when the SSDI payment is low.
Health coverage
Health coverage is different for each program.
SSI and Medicaid
In most states, people on SSI also get Medicaid.
Rules vary by state. Check with SSA or your state.
SSDI and Medicare
People on SSDI generally get Medicare after a waiting period.
That waiting period is 24 months of disability benefits.
How to check or apply
Only the Social Security Administration can tell you about your own case.
Go to the source
Read about each program, check your options, and apply there.
You can also visit a local Social Security office. Find yours on ssa.gov.
This page does not take applications. It collects nothing. There is no form here.
Only the Social Security Administration decides who qualifies.
This page cannot tell you whether you qualify. No website can decide that for SSA.
General information only — not legal or benefits advice.
Source for all facts on this page: Social Security Administration (ssa.gov). Checked November 2026.