There are two different Social Security Disability programs.
They are called Social Security Disability Insurance (“SSDI”) or Title II, and SSI or Supplemental Security Income.
You must have worked enough quarters in five of the last ten years to be eligible for Social Security Disability.
The advantage of SSDI is that you can work part time and have unlimited assets without reducing your Social Security benefits.
SSI is an income and asset sensitive program. In other words, your SSI benefits are reduced for your income or household income and if you have too many assets then your SSI can be stopped.
When you apply for disability you are asked if you want to apply for SSI.
In most cases you will want to say yes.
There is no penalty to you if apply for SSI and then later are not eligible.
There may be a penalty to you if do not apply for SSI at the time of your application.
For example, if you would have benefited from SSI after being found disabled and did not apply at the time of application then you will lose some benefits.
It could make a difference because Social Security Law says that you cannot be paid regular Social Security Disability benefits for the first 5 months after your onset of disability.
However, you are entitled to SSI for 4 of the first 5 months.
This is the reason you should apply for SSI at the time of your application.
Need help with your Social Security Disability application? Feel free to contact Illinois Social Security Disability Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371.