## When health cuts your income, the right disability program can keep you afloat—without drowning in jargon. Finding the right path through disability benefits doesn’t have to be a maze. Here’s a plain-English guide to SSI vs SSDI so you can take confident next steps. If you’re in , , start points and evidence requirements may vary—align your plan with local instructions.

Quick links for , :

Apply for SSI
SSI contacts — ,

## Start Here: A Plain-English Plan to Decide Between SSI and SSDI - Ask two questions first: **Do I have enough recent work history?** and **Is my income/resources currently very limited?** - Enough work credits + long-term medical limits → start with **SSDI**. - Very limited income/resources (even with little/no work history) → look at **SSI**. - Many people **apply for both** to see which one lands. - Gather what you’ll need up front: recent medical records, medication list, doctor contacts, past employers, and a simple timeline of symptoms and limits. - Create a **my Social Security** account to check work credits and prep forms. - Apply: SSDI often starts online; SSI typically starts with your local office—ask for a **protective filing date** when you first make contact. - If denied, don’t stop—**appeals are part of the path**, not a failure. Put deadlines on your calendar the day you get a notice. ## Inside SSA’s Five-Step Decision: What Examiners Check and How to Prepare _A tiny scenario:_ You were a delivery driver with severe neuropathy. You can’t lift boxes or stand long. Here’s how your case is reviewed, and how to strengthen it: - **Work test (Step 1):** Are you working at a level SSA considers “substantial”? Keep pay stubs and hours to show any cuts or stoppages. - **Severity & duration (Step 2):** Medical evidence must show a condition that significantly limits basic work activities and is expected to last **12+ months** (or be terminal). Ask providers to include **functional limits** (how long you can sit/stand, lift, concentrate). - **Listings (Step 3):** Some conditions meet criteria outright. If you’re close, ask your doctor to address the specific findings SSA looks for (e.g., exams, imaging, labs). - **Past work (Step 4):** SSA decides what you actually did on the job, not just the title. Write a clear summary of your **real tasks and physical/mental demands**. - **Other work (Step 5):** Age, education, and skills matter. If limits leave few realistic jobs, the **medical-vocational rules** can tip the decision your way. - Preparation moves: keep a **symptom/work diary**, respond quickly to SSA mail, bring a simple **med list** and **treating-source letters** that focus on functional ability (not just diagnoses). ## Working While You Apply or After Approval: Trial Work, SSI Earnings Rules, and Smart Reporting _A tiny scenario:_ You try 12 hours/week as a cashier to see if you can manage. You’re worried you’ll lose everything—here’s the guardrail view: - **SSDI’s Trial Work Period (TWP):** Lets you **test work for 9 months** (not necessarily consecutive) within a 60-month window while still getting your SSDI check—**report your earnings** and keep records. - After TWP, the **Extended Period of Eligibility** can pause/resume checks when earnings go above/below SSA’s limits; always keep copies of pay stubs and notices. - **SSI works differently:** Payments **adjust with earnings**—they can go down as you earn more, but may not drop to zero if earnings are low enough. - **Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWEs):** Certain out-of-pocket costs tied to working (e.g., specialized transit, assistive devices) can reduce countable earnings. - **Report early and often:** Call, use approved online tools where available, and document every report (dates, who you spoke with, what you sent).

👉 Want a quick read on eligibility? Check benefits for .

> "If they’re going to reject me, go on and reject me so I can get before a judge." > — Sandra-Kay Pearson, Greenville, SC (*The Washington Post*, [Social Security offices critical to disability benefits hit breaking point](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/12/05/social-security-disability-benefit-offices-backlog-breaking-point/)) ---

FAQs for ,

##FAQs ### Can I qualify for both SSI and SSDI at the same time? Yes. Some people get SSDI based on work history and a small SSI payment to top up limited income/resources. ### How long will a decision take? Timelines vary by case and backlog. Plan for months, not weeks, and track every deadline on appeal notices. ### Do I need a lawyer? Not required, but experienced representatives can help organize evidence and meet deadlines. Fees are generally contingent and capped. --- ###### References

SSA — Five-Step Sequential Evaluation (20 C.F.R. §404.1520)
SSA — Working While Disabled (Trial Work, reporting, and supports)
SSA — SSI Presumptive Disability & Expedited Payments
SSA — SSI Appeals Process (reconsideration, hearings)
SSA — Disability Hearings Decision Processing Time
The Washington Post — Backlogs and claimant experiences

Posts tagged with: disability benefits

SSI vs SSDI: Understanding Disability Benefits Without the Jargon