Social Security pays disability benefits through two programs: the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. SSDI is for workers and certain family members if they worked long enough and recently enough to be eligible for benefits. SSI is for people who are 65 or older, as well as people of any age, including children, who are blind or have disabilities. To be considered eligible for SSI, you must also have income and resources below specific financial limits.

SSDI is a separate program from your Veteran's Assistance. You may be eligible to receive both!

A high VA compensation rating, even 100%,

does not mean the Veteran will qualify for

SSDI benefits under the Social Security Act.

A Veteran also must apply for each benefit

separately due to eligibility rules.

Social Security Disability Insurance

(SSDI) Benefits

Social Security uses a specialized definition

of disability developed over the years by

Congress in the Social Security Act (Act).

To be “disabled” under the Act, an individual

must show the inability to perform substantial

gainful activity due to a medically determinable

physical or mental impairment that can be

expected to result in death or that has lasted

or can be expected to last for a continuous

period of at least 12 months. The amount

of monthly earnings considered Substantial

Gainful Activity (SGA) depends on the nature

of a person’s disability and generally changes

with updates to the national average wage

index. For more information on SGA, visit

https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/sga.html