Indiana Social Security Lawyer Analyzes the Difference Between 2 Types of Disability

Most people do not know it, but there are several different types of benefits under the Social Security umbrella.  We as your Indiana Social Security Attorneys are fully aware.  The over arching list includes Old Age and Retirement benefits, widows benefits and disability benefits.  Of the disability benefits there are two different benefits.  The first is Title II Disability, often referred to as SSDI, and the second is Title XVI Supplemental Security Income, also known as SSI.  There are similarities between the two.  The most important of which is that each use the same criteria to determine whether you are disabled.  The difference between the two is mostly economic.  The economic requirement for Title II disability is that you have worked 20 out of the 40 quarters prior to your date of disability onset and you have paid either your FICA tax, or your self employment tax.  If you meet this criteria, and you are disabled, then you are entitled to Title II.  Title II Disability is the better program for disabled people in that there are much fewer restrictions and offsets than are associated with SSI.  With SSI, any support you receive from any person is counted as income.  This includes the value of the room and board provided by any other person.  If you are married, and your spouse works, their income is counted as income to you and reduces your monthly SSI benefits.  If the support you receive in the form of room and board, or your spouse’s income is high enough, your SSI benefit may well be reduced to zero.

If you have a question about which benefit to which you may be entitled, contact us.