What happens if I get approved for both SSI and SSDI?

If you're approved for both SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance), you'll receive "concurrent" benefits, meaning your SSI payment will be reduced by your SSDI amount, but your total monthly payment won't exceed the maximum SSI federal benefit rate (plus any state supplements). This effectively raises your total income to the SSI limit if your SSDI is low, and also grants you access to Medicaid (through SSI) in addition to Medicare (through SSDI), offering better healthcare coverage.

Can you get both SSI and SSDI payments?

Yes, you can receive both Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) at the same time; it's called receiving "concurrent" benefits, which happens if you qualify for SSDI but have very low income and limited assets, making you eligible for SSI's needs-based payments as well, though your SSDI payment reduces your SSI amount. Applying for both can be beneficial because SSI can cover the five-month SSDI waiting period and ensures access to Medicaid, a significant advantage over just SSDI. 

How much can I get with SSI and SSDI?

For 2025, SSI maximums are around $967/month (individual) or $1,450 (couple), depending heavily on income, resources, and living situation, while SSDI maximums are much higher, with averages around $1,352 and maximums potentially over $4,000, based on your past earnings history, with 2026 seeing slight increases. You can get both SSI and SSDI at once (concurrent benefits) if you meet criteria for both, but your total income determines the final amount. 

What if you get approved for SSI and SSDI?

If you receive both SSI and SSDI, your monthly SSDI benefit will be deducted from the maximum possible SSI benefit rather than paid out in addition.

Can you get SSDI and SSI backpay?

Yes, it is possible to receive back pay for both SSI and SSDI. However, these programs differ in how far back you can receive payment.

Can I Receive both SSI and SSDI at the Same Time?

How many months does SSDI back pay?

SSDI back pay covers up to 12 months before your application date (called retroactive pay) plus the time from your application to approval, minus a mandatory 5-month waiting period from your established disability onset date, meaning you can get up to 12 months before applying plus the waiting period months, often resulting in over a year of potential payments. 

Will I get my SSDI back pay before my award letter?

Yes, it's common and possible to get your SSDI back pay deposited before you receive the official award letter, as back payments go through separate, centralized payment centers, leading to different timelines; you might see the money in your bank account within weeks or months of approval, even before the formal notice arrives. 

How long after disability approval are funds released?

After Social Security disability approval, funds (back pay and first monthly check) typically arrive within 1 to 3 months, but can vary significantly due to processing backlogs and SSI/SSDI specifics; expect your first payment 30-90 days out, with potential for delayed backpay if finances need verifying (SSI) or complex situations exist. You'll receive an award letter detailing payments, and electronic payments usually hit within days of scheduling. 

What is the maximum amount of back pay?

The SSA won't award backpay that predates your application by more than 12 months. This means the maximum retroactive backpay you can receive before the application date is one year. Let's say: You became disabled on January 1, 2022.

Does disability pay on the first of the month?

SSDI and SSI Combined Payments Schedule

If you receive SSDI and SSI payments together, you will receive your SSI payment on the first day of the month and your SSDI payment on the third of the month.

Will SSI and SSDI get extra money?

Yes, SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) recipients are getting extra money in 2026 due to a 2.8% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) announced by the Social Security Administration (SSA), increasing payments starting December 31, 2025, for SSI and January 2026 for SSDI, with maximum monthly SSI rising to $994 for individuals. 

What are common SSI mistakes?

Whether it's claiming too early, misunderstanding spousal benefits, or failing to plan for taxes, even minor missteps can have lasting financial consequences. In this article, we'll walk through some of the most common Social Security mistakes and, more importantly, how you can avoid them. Claiming Benefits Too Early.

Can I work while receiving SSDI?

Yes, you can work while receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), thanks to programs like the Trial Work Period (TWP) and Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) that let you test your ability to work without immediately losing benefits, but you must report all work to the Social Security Administration (SSA) as earnings limits apply after the TWP. The TWP allows 9 months of work (over a specific earning amount, e.g., $1,160/month in 2025) to receive full benefits, followed by an EPE where benefits can continue for up to 36 months if earnings aren't "substantial" (e.g., over $1,620/month in 2025). 

At what age does SSDI convert to regular social security?

Your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) automatically changes to regular Social Security retirement benefits when you reach your Full Retirement Age (FRA), which is 66 for those born 1943-1959 and 67 for those born 1960 or later, with an increase from 66 to 67 phased in for birth years between 1955-1959, with the amount staying the same. 

Why does SSDI hold back 5 months?

The 5-month waiting period for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) ensures benefits go to those with long-term disabilities, not temporary ones, by starting the clock from your established disability onset date (EOD), not your application date, meaning you're paid the sixth full month after your disability began. This rule, mandatory for most, confirms the condition's severity, though it can cause financial hardship, but you might receive significant back pay for the time before your application and approval, minus those first five months. 

Can I use SSI back pay to buy a car?

Yes, you can generally use your SSI back pay to buy a car, as it's considered a necessary expense for transportation, but you must use it for a qualifying need (like getting to doctors/work), own the car (not just lease), and report the purchase to Social Security to avoid benefit issues, keeping all receipts and documentation to prove the purchase was for a legitimate need, like medical or essential travel. 

What is the big retroactive check from Social Security?

Many beneficiaries will be due a retroactive payment because the WEP and GPO offset no longer apply as of January 2024. Most people will receive their one-time retroactive payment by the end of March, which will be deposited into their bank account on record with Social Security.

How long after I receive my award letter will I get my money?

After your Social Security award letter, you can usually expect back pay within 30 to 90 days, often as a lump sum, but it can vary from a few weeks to several months depending on case complexity, with simpler cases arriving faster and appeals or large amounts taking longer. For SSI, large sums might be paid in installments over six months, while SSDI involves a mandatory 5-month waiting period before payments start, plus the back pay period. 

How far back does disability pay once approved?

For Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), approved applicants can get back pay (retroactive benefits) for up to 12 months before their application date, plus benefits for the time between filing and approval, minus a mandatory 5-month waiting period from the disability onset date. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) only pays from the month after application, with no retroactive payments before filing, notes this article from Miller Disability Law. 

What is the SSDI Compassionate Allowance?

Compassionate Allowances are a way to quickly identify diseases and other medical conditions that, by definition, meet Social Security's standards for disability benefits.

Do you get back pay for both SSI and SSDI?

Yes, you can get back pay for both SSI and SSDI if you qualify for both, but the rules and timing differ significantly; SSDI back pay covers months from your disability onset (after a 5-month wait) up to approval, while SSI back pay goes from your application date to approval, often filling in gaps from the SSDI waiting period, with potential for a combined lump sum. A "windfall offset" can reduce SSI payments if you receive large SSDI back pay for the same months, but you're generally paid the higher combined amount. 

What happens after you get your SSDI award letter?

If you are eligible for benefits, we will send you an Electronic Benefit Payment Notification (DE 2500E) with information about your first benefit payment. Before you receive benefits, you must serve an unpaid seven-day waiting period (calendar days). The first payable day is the eighth day of the claim.

How much is back pay?

Back pay is the money you should have received but didn't, calculated as the difference between what you were paid (or nothing) and what you should have been paid, covering wages, overtime, commissions, or disability benefits, often from wrongful termination, misclassification, or a delayed disability approval, varying greatly from zero to tens of thousands depending on the missed wages, time period, and any offsets like new earnings or benefits. It's a crucial remedy for wage violations (FLSA) or when Social Security Disability (SSDI/SSI) or VA disability claims are approved after a long wait. 

Does SSDI back pay come in a check?

SSI & SSDI Back Pay Timelines

This process can take anywhere from several weeks to a few months and sometimes longer. If you have direct deposit set up with the SSA, you may receive your payment sooner. In most cases, however, claimants receive their back pay in a lump-sum payment via check through the mail.

What is the downside of social security disability?

Negatives of getting Social Security Disability (SSD) include potentially low benefit amounts (often not enough to live on), significant health insurance gaps (Medicare starts 24 months late), the long and difficult application process, strict work/income limits, and potential loss of other benefits like SSI or Medicaid, plus the risk of reviews and overpayment issues.