What is the difference between North Carolina Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?

For more on the process of disability benefits, call a North Carolina Disability Insurance Policy at Bridgman Law Offices at (704) 815-6055 today!

The Social Security Administration is responsible for several programs that provide benefits to disabled individuals who are not able to work until normal retirement age.

The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program pays North Carolina disability benefits to individuals who have worked recently enough and long enough (generally, 40 quarters of work and disability beginning within 5 years of the qualifying work), to qualify. SSDI operates like a private North Carolina disability insurance policy. Social Security taxes are deducted from your paycheck, in the same way that you would pay premiums on an insurance policy. If you stop working and, consequently, stop paying Social Security taxes, then your insured status will lapse, just as it would on a private policy if you stopped paying the premiums.

In comparison, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a program that pays North Carolina disability benefits even if you have not worked in quite some time or have never worked. Even children may be eligible to receive SSI benefits. The SSI program is a federal welfare program; disability benefits are paid out of general revenues. You must meet the following basic criteria to qualify for SSI:

1. You have a “disability.”
2. You have little or no income.
3. You have few or no assets.

The Social Security regulations define “disability” and establish qualifying limits on assets and income.

At Bridgman Law Offices, we handle North Carolina Social Security disability (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and children’s SSI cases. If you would like to talk with us about your options, please fill out a Free Claim Evaluation form or contact us directly by phone or email.