Whats The Difference Between Ssdi & Medicare
SSDI benefits provide you with a monthly financial stipend, while Medicare benefits will help you pay for medical care and equipment. Most people qualify for premium-free Part A Medicare benefits, which covers inpatient care at a hospital, skilled nursing facility care, nursing home care, hospice care and home health care. There are different types of Medicare plans, and we highly recommend reviewing this page from our friends at Your ALS Guide on Medicare details. If you need support as you look through this information, never hesitate to reach out to us.
Social Security Helps People Work Without Losing Benefits
Often, people would like to re-enter the workforce but are afraid they might lose disability benefits if they try to get a job. If you are age 18 through 64 and receive Social Security disability benefits, you can participate in Social Securityâs Ticket to Work program. The Ticket to Work program allows you to receive free employment support services and take advantage of work incentives that make it easier to work and still receive benefits such as health care. In some instances, you can receive cash benefits from Social Security, and you are protected if you have to stop working due to your disability. Learn about our Ticket to Work program or call1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 .
Taxes On Disability Income
In the U.S., if you work long enough, pay your taxes, and meet certain income thresholds during your career, you can participate in Social Security programs. Over time, you pay into this system and can expect to receive several benefits for you and your family.
If you work but later become disabled and have limited resources and means to earn income, the Social Security Disability Insurance program can assist. The program pays benefits to you and your children. But because your taxes fund this program, you may wonder is Social Security disability income taxable? Let’s find out.
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Can You Collect Social Security And Disability
Wondering whether you can collect Social Security and Social Security Disability Insurance at the same time? The short answer is probably not. The long answer, however, is maybe. Social Security and SSDI serve similar purposes, but the requirements vary for each. Social Security is for those whove reached early or full retirement age, while disability insurance typically serves younger individuals who cannot work due to serious medical conditions. However, an exception may apply. Heres what you need to know.
A financial advisor can help you manage social security benefits and create a financial plan for your long-term retirement needs and goals.
What Benefits Does Social Security Disability Insurance Offer
The amount you receive from Social Security Disability Insurance depends on your average lifetime earnings before your disability began. Generally, the more you earned over a longer period, the more you’ll benefit, up to a maximum amount. The Social Security Administration calculates your disability benefit based on the amount of your Social Security “covered earnings.” Generally, these are your past earnings that have been subject to Social Security tax.
Your benefits are determined by averaging your covered earning over the 35-year period representing your top earning years. The SSA sees this as your average indexed monthly earnings . The SSA then applies a formula to your AIME to calculate your primary insurance amount . This serves as the base figure for the SSA to calculate your Social Security Disability Insurance benefit amount.
To understand your entire covered earnings history, the SSA provides access to your annual Social Security Statement. If you receive other disability benefits from private insurers, this will not impact your Social Security Disability Insurance benefits.
The Social Security Disability Insurance program rules limit your overall benefit under certain conditions. The combination of Social Security Disability Insurance and other government-sponsored disability programs cannot be more than 80% of the average amount earned before you became disabled. If this happens, the SSA will reduce your payments.
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Extended Period Of Eligibility
Following your trial work period, you will enter a 36-month extended period of eligibility. It is in this period that you can work and still receive benefits only as long as your earnings are less than what Social Security considers substantial. Social Security deducts what they consider work expenses that are a direct result of your disability from your total monthly earnings. These work expenses can range from prescription drug copays, transportation to and from work, and specialized work equipment.
Can You Do Any Other Type Of Work
If you cant do the work you did in the past, we look to see if there is other work you could do despite your medical impairment.
We consider your medical conditions, age, education, past work experience, and any transferable skills you may have. If you cant do other work, well decide you qualify for disability benefits. If you can do other work, well decide that you dont have a qualifying disability and your claim will be denied.
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Ive Heard That My Ssdi Payments May Be Reduced If I Receive Other Benefits How Does This Happen
If you receive other disability benefits such as Workers Compensation, your benefits may be recalculated or reduced. This may take place based on the SSDI index which is also the same index used to compute all Social Security benefits. The SSDI index looks at average wage indexes and applies them to a beneficiarys average current earnings.
What Is The Difference Between Ssdi And Ssi
Sometimes these two programs, Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income , are confused with each other. They are both managed by the Social Security Administration, yet are different programs.
Occasionally, you may also see the use of SSI to represent ordinary Social Security income. This alternative use of the acronym is another source of confusion because Social Security income is retirement income. In contrast, Supplemental Security Income is for those with limited resources, not solely retirement income.
Social Security Disability Insurance is an insurance program paid for by the payroll tax deductions for Social Security. The current Social Security tax rate for 2022 is 6.2% paid by the employer and 6.2% paid by the employee, equaling a total of 12.4%. If you have Social Security taxes withheld from your earned income, you will have this insurance coverage.
SSDI payments require SSA approval of disability status, and the amount paid depends on your work history. If you become disabled and qualify for SSDI, you will receive monthly payments that are the same amount as you would get if you were already at full retirement age.
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Supplemental Security Income is based on age OR disability and having very limited income and financial resources. SSI does not depend on any work history.
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Create A My Social Security Account
To see all of your Social Security benefits online, you’ll first need to create a My Social Security account. Here’s what to do.
1. Go to ssa.gov on your browser and select my Social Security.
2. Next, click Create an Account.
3. You’ll be prompted to sign in with your ID.me account or login.gov account unless you created an account before Sept. 18, 2021. Note that you’ll need to create one of those accounts if you don’t have one.
4. Once you have an account, you’ll need to agree to the terms of service to continue.
5. Next, you’ll need to verify your identity. The Social Security Administration will send a one-time security code to your email that you’ll need to enter within 10 minutes to continue to your account.
You should now have access to all of your Social Security statements and other details online.
If You Go Back To Work
If you’re like most people, you would rather try to work than live on disability benefits.
There are special rules that help you keep your cash benefits and Medicare while you test your ability to work. We call these rules work incentives. For more information about Social Security work incentives, read Working While Disabled: How We Can Help.
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Qualifying For Ssi And Ssdi
The Social Security Administration operates two disability programs including Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance . Each of these programs has its own criteria that an applicant must meet in order to qualify.
To qualify for SSDI benefits, an applicant must have earned enough work credits through prior work history. As of 2014, for every $1,200 earned, a worker earns one work credits and can earn a total of four work credits each year. The number of credits needed to qualify for SSDI benefits will vary depending on your age.
Unlike SSDI benefits, an applicant does not need any work history or work credits to qualify for SSI benefits. Instead, SSI is a needs-based program. Benefit eligibility is based on household income and assets. As of 2014, an individual cannot have a household income of more than $721 per month as an individual or $1,082 per month as a couple or household assets exceeding $2,000 as an individual or $3,000 for a couple in order to qualify for SSI benefits.
For both SSDI and SSI benefits, an individual must meet the medical criteria set forth by the SSA to qualify.
For more information on the disability programs visit:
What About Ssd And Early Retirement
You cannot take early retirement at age 62 if you receive Social Security disability payments. You would not want to do this because your early retirement payment would be up to 30% lower than the SSDI monthly benefits, which come from the rate calculated for your full retirement payments.
You might only consider changing to early retirement pay if you lose disability status. If you lose your disabled status at age 62, you would have the option to request early retirement payments from Social Security if you qualify for them. Losing your disabled status from a case review at age 62 would be a valid reason to consider early retirement.
Your monthly check from early retirement would be lower than the amount you receive as disability benefits however, this might be preferable to not receiving any payments. In this circumstance, you would also have the option to wait until full retirement age to receive all your benefits that match the disability payment amount you were getting before you lost your disability status. That wait may be many years.
Additionally, you have the option to delay receiving benefits to age 70 to receive an increased monthly payment from Social Security. Depending on your year of birth, your retirement benefits payments may increase by up to 32% above the full retirement pay. It may be helpful to work with a financial professional to understand these options. The best choice for you depends on your particular circumstances.
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Social Security Information You Can See Online
When you sign in to your online account, you’ll be able to view your Social Security statements. If you don’t yet receive benefits, you’ll see an estimate of the amount you could receive when you do retire.
There’s a table that shows your monthly benefit amounts if you retire — for instance, if you were born in 1960 or later, your chart may show retirement at 62 years old , 67 years old and 70 years old . Note that these retirement ages may change in the future. The longer you wait to retire, the more money you could receive per month.
You can also see your eligibility and earnings information. If you’ve worked at least 10 years, you’ll have enough work credits — you need 40 — to receive benefits. If you click on Review your Earnings Record, you’ll see your taxed Social Security and Medicare earnings for each year you worked.
Medicare Coverage If You’re Disabled
We automatically enroll you in Original Medicare after you get disability benefits for two years. However, if your disability results from ALS, Medicare coverage begins sooner, generally the first month you are eligible for disability benefits.
- Medicare Part A helps pay for inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, and some home health care. The taxes you paid while you were working financed this coverage. Its provided at no cost to you.
- Medicare Part B helps pay doctors’ services, outpatient care, some medical supplies, and other preventive services. You will need to pay a monthly premium for this coverage if you want it.
Most people have both parts of Medicare. If you have questions about this coverage, you can contact Medicare toll-free at 1-800-MEDICARE to speak to a Medicare Customer Service Representative. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.
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Benefits For People With Disabilities
The Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability programs are the largest of several Federal programs that provide assistance to people with disabilities. While these two programs are different in many ways, both are administered by the Social Security Administration and only individuals who have a disability and meet medical criteria may qualify for benefits under either program.
Social Security Disability Insurance pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you are “insured,” meaning that you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes.
pays benefits based on financial need.
When you apply for either program, we will collect medical and other information from you and make a decision about whether or not you meet Social Security’s definition of disability. Periodically, we will need updated information about your condition. You may receive a Disability Update Report . This form can now be completed online.
Use the Benefits Eligibility Screening Tool to find out which programs may be able to pay you benefits.
If your application has recently been denied, the Internet Appeal is a starting point to request a review of our decision about your eligibility for disability benefits.
If your application is denied for:
What Are The Income Limits In Order To Not Qualify For Benefits
If you are currently exceeding the SGA limit of $1350/mo for the year after the disability occurred, then you will not be approved for disability because you wont qualify. But lets say that you did qualify and started receiving benefits. Now, you must be careful not to exceed the income limit calculated above, so you can continue to receive your disability benefits. Unless, of course, you intend to return to full-time gainful activity as an employee or self-employed person if youre capable of doing so.
Most people asking the question, How much can I earn while on social security disability want to stay on disability but also want to take advantage of the trial work incentive to increase their income. Thats certainly okay, but if you choose to do this, its vital that you know your upper limit. While the upper limit is the same for most people, if you receive SSI, social security retirement income, or are self-employed, you have some math to do, and you dont want to get that math wrong. Its certainly advisable to discuss this with a disability lawyer, and they may offer a free consultation.
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Other Payments May Affect Your Disability Benefits
If you receive certain other government benefits, such as workers’ compensation, public disability benefits, or pensions based on work not covered by Social Security , the Social Security benefits payable to you and your family may be reduced.
For more information about how these benefits can affect your Social Security payments, please refer to the following publications:
The Other Parts Of Medicare
- Medicare Advantage Plan people with Medicare Parts A and Part B can choose to receive all of their health care services through plans that are offered by private companies and approved by Medicare. For more information, we recommend you read Medicare’s How do Medicare Advantage Plans work?
- Medicare Part D helps pay for medications doctors prescribe for treatment. For more information on the enrollment periods for Part D, we recommend you read Medicare’s How to get prescription drug coverage page.
If you receive Medicare and have limited resources and income, you may be eligible for Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs.
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State Taxes On Disability Benefits
Most states do not tax Social Security benefits, including those for disability. As of 2020, however, a total of 13 states tax benefits to some degree. Those states are Colorado, Connecticut, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, and West Virginia. Most of these states set similar income criteria to the ones used by the IRS to determine how much, if any, of your disability benefits are taxable.
Can I Work If I Receive Ssdi Benefits
When you collect social security disability payments, any earned income may reduce the amount of your monthly benefits. However, when you reach full retirement age, you are no longer hindered by limits on your earned income. After reaching full retirement age, any amount you make from working does not lower your monthly Social Security benefits.
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What Is Supplemental Security Income
Supplemental Security Income is a federal program that pays monthly benefits to low-income aged, blind and disabled individuals. The Social Security Administration runs the program, which is financed from general tax revenues, not from Social Security taxes. The SSI test of disability for adult applicants is the same as the test in the Social Security disability insurance program. Only people who have low incomes and limited financial assets are eligible for SSI. The federal SSI payment in 2017 for an individual with no other countable income is $735 a month. Payments are reduced as other income rises, and some states supplement the federal payment. Each month on average in 2016, 8.3 million low-income adults received SSI. These beneficiaries included 4.8 million adults under age 65 who were eligible based on disability or blindness and 2.2 million adults aged 65 and older. In addition, 1.3 million children under age 18 receive SSI based on disability or blindness.