SSI vs. SSDI

The Social Security Administration has been put in charge of two very different programs:

SSI - Supplemental Security Income--called Title 16.

SSDI - Social Security Disability Insurance - called Title 2.

IN A NUTSHELL:

SSI is a welfare program for elderly and disabled individuals with few financial resources and very low income.  You get benefits you must (1) Be age 65 or over, or disabled; (2) meet the limits for income and financial resources.  You are not required to have work credits for SSI.

SSDI is a disability insurance program for workers.  It is obtained by earning wages and paying FICA tax on those wages.*  Most people need 20 quarters of work out of the past immediate 40 quarters to be covered by SSDI.  In other words, you must have worked 10 out of the past 20 years.  In addition, you must meet the same disability rules as you would for SSI.  There are no financial limits for SSDI.  You do not have to have limited financial resources or limited household income for SSDI.

The maximum benefit possible for SSI is $750 per month in Alabama.  The maximum benefit for SSDI is $2,788 (however, few people get this much).

To receive either an SSI or SSDI benefit, you generally must prove that you have a medical condition that prevents working at any full-time job. 

Be aware that Social Security will deny about 7 out of 10 disability applications this year.  If you are denied, you must file a written appeal within 60 days, telling Social Security why you disagree with their decision.  You also want to request to appear before an administrative law judge.

According to the 2017 national average, about 45 percent of persons who appear at a hearing with an administrative law judge will have their benefits approved.  This makes an appeal very worthwhile, especially since it doesn't cost anything to appeal.  (If you don't win, your attorney/representative cannot charge you a fee).

I recommend that you get qualified representation for your hearing.
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FICA stands for Federal Insurance Contribution Act, a law requiring a mandatory  payroll deduction tax to fund Social Security and Medicare. If you have not paid an adequate amount of FICA tax, you are not covered by Social Security disability benefits.