Social Security (SSI / SSDI)
Last updated August 2026
Social Security runs two disability programs, and the difference matters. SSDI is for people who worked and paid in; the amount comes from your earnings record. SSI is for people with little income and few assets; in 2026 it pays up to $994 a month for one person, $1,491 for a couple. SSI also covers people 65 and older with low income, no disability needed. Many people get both at once.
Apply the day you become unable to work. That is SSA's own advice, and here is why: an initial disability decision currently averages around 7 months, and SSDI adds a 5-month waiting period. Every week you wait to file pushes the money further away. Do not wait for your records to be complete either; SSA must help you chase down documents after you file.
Three ways to apply: online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213 on weekdays, or at a field office. SSDI can be filed fully online. SSI online filing is still limited to a narrow group, so most SSI applicants start with the phone call.
Money rules worth knowing before you file. For SSI, countable assets must be under $2,000 for one person, $3,000 for a couple; your home and one car do not count. In 2026, earning over $1,690 a month from work generally counts as too much work activity for either program. Approval also brings health coverage: SSI comes with Medicaid automatically in most states, and SSDI brings Medicare after two years.
Now the most important paragraph on this page. Most first decisions say no, and the right response is to appeal, not reapply. You have 60 days from each notice. Appeals climb four steps: reconsideration, a hearing with a judge, the Appeals Council, then federal court. People win at the hearing step every day. A fresh application throws away your original filing date and the back pay attached to it.
Phone 1-800-772-1213
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- SSI: age 65+ or disabled, with very limited income and assets
- SSDI: a qualifying disability and enough work history
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
File the day you cannot work anymore. Online at ssa.gov for SSDI, or call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) weekdays 8 to 7 for either program.
- 2
Ask to file for both SSDI and SSI. The claim rep checks both; getting both at once is common.
- 3
Use the free Disability Starter Kit on ssa.gov to gather your list: doctors, medications, work history, W-2s.
- 4
File even with missing paperwork. SSA must help you get documents afterward.
- 5
Cooperate with your state's Disability Determination Services: they collect your medical records, and any exam they order is free.
- 6
Expect roughly 7 months for the first decision. Check status in your my Social Security account.
- 7
If denied, appeal within 60 days. Do not file a new application; that resets your date and forfeits back pay.
What the application looks like
Common questions
What's the difference between SSI and SSDI?
SSDI is earned through work credits and paid from your earnings record. SSI is need-based: up to $994 a month in 2026 for a person with under $2,000 in countable assets. Many people qualify for both at once.
How long does a disability decision take?
The first decision currently averages about 7 months. SSDI then has a 5-month waiting period before payments; SSI pays from the first full month after filing.
Can I apply online?
SSDI, yes, fully at ssa.gov. SSI online is limited to a narrow group, so most people file SSI by calling 1-800-772-1213 or at a field office.
What if I'm denied?
Appeal within 60 days; do not reapply. Appeals go reconsideration, then a judge hearing, then the Appeals Council, then court. A new application throws away your filing date and back pay.
Does disability come with health insurance?
Yes. SSI approval brings Medicaid automatically in most states. SSDI brings Medicare after 24 months on benefits, immediately for ALS.
I'm 65 with low income but not disabled. Can I get SSI?
Yes. SSI covers people 65 and older on income and assets alone. The same $994 monthly maximum and $2,000 asset limit apply.
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