Council member reviews SSI and SSDI basics, eligibility and income rules

A council member who identified himself as Kain provided a five-minute overview of the two main federal disability cash programs: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Kain described eligibility differences, how income and resources affect SSI payments, and general parts of SSDI including the quarters-of-coverage test and the Medicare waiting period.

Kain said SSDI is based on past work history and leads to Medicare after a 24-month waiting period, while SSI is need-based and provides immediate eligibility for Medicaid. He explained that SSI applies income and resource tests, noted that resources are generally limited to $2,000 for an individual ($3,000 for a couple), and described common exclusions such as a primary home and one vehicle.

Kain reviewed how Social Security counts income for SSI (including a $20 general exclusion and counting half of earned income after exclusions), described earned and unearned income, and listed examples of resources that may be counted. He summarized that if a claimant is denied at the initial level, appeals can extend timelines substantially — noting that a straightforward application might take five to six months for a decision, while appeals to hearings or the Appeals Council may add many months.

During follow-up comments, Spangler noted that trial work-period months (the period during which SSDI recipients can test working) need not be consecutive and provided 2025 thresholds: $1,160 for a trial work period month and $1,620 for SGA (substantial gainful activity) for non-blind individuals, $2,700 for blind individuals. The presenter and attendees emphasized that timelines and eligibility can vary by case and that working while receiving benefits should be discussed with Social Security or an attorney to avoid unintended loss of benefits.