Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

The Social Security Web site is packed with helpful information--even where to send to get birth certificates.

Any questions about Social Security and SSI related to your specific situation should be answered by the Social Security Administration. Be sure to review the Work Incentive Rules as they apply to you or your family member with the Social Security Administration or with a person who is knowledgeable about these rules.

Be careful not to apply the experience of your neighbor to your own circumstances, since your neighbor's situation could be different in some important way. The following is general information only.

Another good source of information about disability benefits is the legal services helplaw web site http://www.lawhelp.org/OR/ with information about applying for benefits, what to do if you are denied, or receive a notice of overpayment.
Do I receive SSDI or SSI or both?
If you receive these benefits and they are mailed to you--the gold envelope contains Social Security Disability Insurance benefit payments. The blue envelope contains Supplemental Security Insurance benefits. If these benefits are sent to you by direct deposit into your bank account, your bank account statement may show words like "Supp Sec" for SSI payments and "Soc Sec" for Social Security Disability Insurance payments.
Who is eligible for SSDI and SSI disability benefits?
(For more information about the application process see the social security disability website.)
To be eligible for SSDI you must: (1) Be insured, either through your own work history or that of a retired or deceased parent and (2) Have medical conditions that meet the medical eligibility rules. (Other income and assets are not a factor for eligibility.) To be eligible for SSI disability benefits you must (1) Meet the income and asset rules and (2) Have the medical conditions that meet the medical eligibility rules. (Your assets cannot exceed $2,000 and your income must be less than the basic amount, for example, $572/month in 2003.)
Why do I get two checks?
You may draw SSDI benefits based on your own work history or the work history of a retired or deceased parent. The amount of these benefits is based on the earnings from paid work that you or the insured parent performed. If the SSDI monthly benefit amount and other income you may have is less than the SSI base amount, then SSI may supplement your monthly income. 

Supplemental Security Insurance benefits supplement your other income (such as SSDI), so that you will have at least a certain amount each month. The SSI benefit amount in Oregon for 2003 is $552. If you receive, for example, $300 in Social Security Disability benefits, and have no other earned or unearned income, you will receive an SSI check of $272. ($552 minus $300 SSDI benefits plus a $20 general income disregard.)

If you have earnings from work the formula for calculating the SSI amount is calculated using a different formula. Check out The Red Bookat the social security web site for more information about work incentives.
Will I lose benefits if I work?
The Social Security Administration developed work incentive rules intended to help people move gradually towards financial independence.

To avoid overpayment situations, you should report your earnings to Social Security every month. Your SSI check will be adjusted every month based on your earnings. The more you earn the less SSI benefits you will receive--but you will still have more overall income than if you weren't working. You are also, of course, building up your Social Security Insurance credits, work skills and independence.

Sometimes difficulties arise because the monthly SSI benefit amount is usually based on your earnings reported two months earlier. If you earn more some months than others, this may result in a situation where you receive less earned income and a smaller SSI benefit amount both in the same month.This result may feel as if you actually are receiving less money by working--but you really do have more money by working than by not working in this situation. For example, perhaps your earnings in June were $300 and you were laid off in September and only earned $100. Your SSI check for September would be based on your $300 earnings for June right in September when your earned income is only $100.

If possible, save some money in the good months with the certain knowledge that your monthly income will be less several several months from now. (We know this is easier said than done.)
Is my home a "countable" asset for SSI purposes?
No. You can own your own home. But you should always check with the Social Security Administration about how their rules apply to your situation before you acquire any asset.
What is a "Rep Payee"?
If there is reason to believe that you need assistance in order to manage your money, the Social Security Administration may appoint a Representative Payee (or Rep Payee, for short) to receive your monthly benefit checks. Your Representative Payee is required to report annually to the Social Security Administration about how he/she managed your money. Being named as a person's Representative Payee by the Social Security Administration does not mean that this person has been named as your legal guardian. See the Social Security web site for information about Representative Payee responsibilities.