Can You Collect Social Security & Disability at the Same Time?

Disability and Healthcare Planning | by Jules Buxbaum | Friday, February 21, 2025

Have you ever wondered, Can You Collect Social Security & Disability at the Same Time? This question is top of mind for retirees, those approaching retirement, and individuals who can no longer work due to medical conditions. According to the Social Security Administration (2025), around 2,522,000 people were receiving both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in January 2025, illustrating just how relevant this topic is for countless Americans.

For anyone juggling health concerns and financial uncertainties, understanding the rules around concurrent benefits is vital. If you’re unsure whether you qualify or simply want to explore your options, our guide will walk you through the essentials. Before we start, consider reviewing our detailed resource on how to apply for disability benefits in NY, NC & FL if you need help with the practical steps.

What Does It Mean to Collect Both?

Collecting Social Security retirement benefits and disability benefits at the same time typically refers to receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) concurrently. This arrangement often arises when you have enough work credits for SSDI but the monthly SSDI payment is relatively low—so low that you remain under SSI’s strict income limits.

When your SSDI benefit doesn’t exceed the federal SSI rate (for 2024, that rate is $943 per month for individuals), SSI can make up the difference, bringing your total monthly amount closer to that federal threshold. In other words, you get a combined payment. This can be a big help for anyone whose disability benefit alone doesn’t cover basic needs like housing, food, and medical costs.

Another angle involves individuals on early Social Security retirement who later become disabled. In specific scenarios, they might qualify for SSDI, potentially boosting their total benefit. Yet for most people, “collecting both” means receiving SSDI plus SSI. Let’s clarify how that differs from mainstream programs.

The Distinction Between SSDI and SSI

Both SSDI and SSI are managed by the Social Security Administration (SSA), but they have separate eligibility rules:

• SSDI: You qualify based on your work history and the severity of your disability. The program uses work credits (earned by paying Social Security taxes) to determine eligibility. If approved, you generally gain Medicare coverage after 24 months.

• SSI: This is a needs-based program funded by general tax revenues. You must have limited income and resources, which the SSA evaluates regularly. Most SSI recipients also qualify for Medicaid at the time of approval, making it critical for low-income individuals who need immediate healthcare.

Because SSI is heavily dependent on your financial situation, your SSDI payment amount influences whether you stay under the SSI income limit. If your SSDI alone pushes you above that cap, you won’t qualify for SSI. To get more insights on the basics of qualifying for disability assistance, you might find our piece on how to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits helpful.

Eligibility for Concurrent Benefits

Qualifying for concurrent SSDI and SSI, or what some refer to as the “two-check” situation, boils down to low monthly benefit amounts and meeting all SSI financial criteria. Specifically, you must:

1. Meet the SSDI Definition of Disability: You need enough work credits and a medical condition that meets the SSA’s strict criteria. The condition must prevent substantial gainful activity (SGA), defined in 2024 as earning over $1,470 per month for non-blind individuals.

2. Have Limited Income and Resources: SSI imposes an income cap of $943 per month for individuals in 2024, although certain earnings and types of assistance are excluded. The resource limit is $2,000 for individuals. Exclusions can include your primary home and one vehicle.

3. Pass a Work History Threshold: While SSDI requires recent and sufficient work credits, SSI does not. However, to be “concurrent,” you still need to have some SSDI benefit—just not enough to exceed SSI’s income limit.

Consider a hypothetical example: Paul’s SSDI payment is $700 per month because his earnings record is relatively short. Since $700 is below the $943 SSI limit, he may receive up to $243 in SSI, bringing his combined total closer to $943 (though calculations may vary by state supplements). These concurrent checks can be life-changing for individuals on a tight budget. If you still have questions, you can also read about how each state treats Social Security benefits for retirees to see if local policies impact your payments.

Working While Receiving Disability

Many want to know if earning extra income suddenly invalidates their disability benefits. The good news: both SSDI and SSI provide work incentives to encourage recipients to test their capacity without losing benefits immediately.

Trial Work Period (TWP) for SSDI: You can work for up to nine months (within a five-year window) and still receive your entire SSDI check. In 2024, any month you earn more than $1,110 counts toward your TWP. After the TWP, you move into a 36-month “Extended Period of Eligibility,” which allows for benefits in any month earnings fall below the SGA limit.

SSI Earnings Rules: SSI excludes the first $65 of earned income and half of any remaining earnings, which helps reduce the penalty on your monthly check. Additionally, special programs like the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) can let you set aside income for education or job training without impacting SSI eligibility.

Remember, you must report changes in work status or earnings to the SSA. Reporting is key to preventing overpayments or benefit shutdowns. To see how staying on disability (or temporarily leaving it) intersects with preparing for the future, read our guide on how disability income affects retirement planning.

What Happens When You Reach Retirement Age?

Individuals receiving SSDI are automatically switched to Social Security retirement benefits at full retirement age, which varies from 66 to 67, depending on your birth year. The monthly amount generally remains the same, so you don’t lose income in the transition.

If you’re receiving both SSDI and SSI, your SSDI converts to retirement benefits, while SSI may continue if you still meet all SSI income and resource requirements. One positive shift is that the substantial gainful activity rule no longer applies once you reach full retirement age, meaning you can work at any income level without risking loss of your Social Security retirement checks.

For those who took early retirement and then found themselves disabled, there may be complicated considerations—and potential adjustments in your monthly check. In case your claim faces obstacles at any stage, check out our piece on what to do if your disability benefits are denied to navigate the appeal process.

The 2Pi Perspective on Secure Retirement

At 2Pi Financial, we often see individuals strike the wrong balance when planning for retirement—especially if they’ve experienced a disability. Sometimes people fail to invest enough in equities due to misunderstandings about risk. Data shows that stocks have historically outperformed bonds over the long run.

We also question the practice of automatically reducing risk with age. According to our approach, future earnings relative to current wealth—not just chronological age—determines portfolio risk. If future earnings potential remains strong, taking on more equity exposure can be appropriate, even later in life.

Our Financial Planning Engine helps users fine-tune asset allocation in alignment with personal risk tolerance, retirement funding needs, and inflation expectations. Tweaking factors like savings rate or retirement age could have a big impact on whether your plan lasts throughout retirement. For many, stable monthly checks from SSDI or SSI can fit into this bigger blueprint for long-term security.

Bottom Line

Receiving both Social Security and disability checks can boost financial stability when life intervenes with challenging health issues. You may be eligible for “two checks” if your SSDI payment remains under the SSI income threshold, or if you’re on early retirement but develop a qualifying disability.

Though it can be confusing, especially regarding application rules and earnings limits, there are resources and programs designed to help. Work incentives enable you to try a job or self-employment without immediately losing benefits, and once you reach full retirement age, your disability benefits seamlessly convert to regular Social Security.

Ultimately, whether you're balancing a limited budget or dealing with complex medical needs, understanding concurrent benefits can reduce stressful guesswork. If you need to contest a denial or just want clarity on the next steps, refer back to reputable resources or professional advisers. And if you’d like further insight into building a durable retirement plan, including how disability fits into the bigger picture, feel free to explore 2Pi Financial’s planning resources.

Still weighing your options? You can also re-check how to apply for disability benefits in NY, NC & FL to ensure your first steps are on the right track. Whether you’re nearing retirement or recently faced illness, knowledge is your best tool for financial security.

References

1. Social Security Administration. (2025). “Annual Statistical Supplement.” Available at: https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/statcom

2. SSA. (2024). “Understanding Supplemental Security Income.” Available at: https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/eligibility

3. SSA. (2024). “Disability Benefits.” Available at: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10029.pdf