Benefit

NEEDS TESTED

SOCIAL SECURITY

MIXTURE

Eligib-
ility

Available to people with disabilities who are also economically indigent.

Available to eligible people with disabilities regardless of economic status.

Combination of needs based and social insurance benefits.

Money Benefits

SSI Supplemental Security Income

SSI is a federal program that provides monthly checks to people whose financial resources are less than $2,000 and whose income in less than about $500.

NOTE: The most restrictive rules limiting in-kind support and maintenance apply only to SSI recipients,  not to people on Medicaid or other benefits.

SSDI Social Security Disability Income

SSDI eligibility may be obtained in two ways:

1. A Social Security retiree's adult son or daughter who was disabled prior to the age of 22 may claim income benefits.

2. A worker who has paid enough into the system and becomes disabled for any reason may claim income benefits.

SSDI plus SSI

Payments to SSDI recipients are based on the amount that the worker paid into the Social Security System.

If the SSDI benefit is less than about $500 per month, the recipient is almost always also entitled to SSI as well. The recipient receives two checks or direct deposits.

Medical Benefits

Medicaid

Medicaid provides comprehensive medical and pharmacy services to eligible individuals.

A person who meets the income and resource limitations for SSI is automatically eligible for Medicaid. Medicaid eligibility is also available for many people with income from SSDI or other sources that exceeds the SSI limits. People in "Medicaid eligible" facilities and programs may have significant income but remain eligible for Medicaid based on costs of care and treatment.

Medicare

SSDI recipients are eligible for Medicare beginning 2 years from the establishment of their disability.

Medicare benefits for SSDI recipients are identical to the Medicare benefits that Social Security Retirees receive, and are administered by the same government agency.

Just as with retirees, SSDI recipients should have a supplemental policy.

Medicare and Medicaid

People are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid when

1. The person receives both SSI and SSDI, as described above.

2. The person receives SSDI only, but has sizeable medical expenses that are not covered by Medicare. This is usually the case when an SSDI recipient is in a nursing home or similar facility. Medicare does not cover these costs for most people.

Many GAU recipients are receiving the benefit as a stop gap pending finalizing eligibility for SSI. When SSI eligibility is approved, the applicant typically receives an SSI  "back-payment" for each month of eligibility from the application date forward. The amount of the SSI "back payment" is reduced by the amount of GAU the person has received in the interim.

Other Benefits

Most SSI recipients and many low income recipients of SSDI are eligible for a wide variety of other needs based programs. Eligibility is often not as strict as for SSI, but is still highly restrictive. These programs include public housing (Section 8), food stamps, bus passes.