What is the difference between Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?

The difference between Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in South Carolina is that Social Security Disability Insurance is a program that gives financial assistance to people who cannot work because of a disability. It is usually funded by Social Security taxes paid into a trust fund and Social Security benefits are awarded based on a person’s history of earnings. On the other hand, Supplemental Security Income is a federal program providing a benefit to people with limited income and resources who are disabled, blind, or over age 65. This program does not consider prior earnings or work history so it is available to people who do not have a record of significant work. Another difference is that SSDI requires disability applicants to have held a job for a certain period before applying, while SSI applicants do not need to show any work history. Finally, SSDI eligibility is usually more difficult to attain since it requires applicants to be “totally disabled”, while SSI eligibility only requires applicants to be “unable to hold substantial gainful activity.”

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What is the difference between Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?

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