The Difference Between Supplemental Social Security and Regular Disability

What is the difference between Supplemental Social Security and common regular disability? That's actually one of the more common questions that I get. So, there are two programs that the Social Security Disability program runs. One is Supplemental Security Income, also called SSI. SSI is for someone who has not worked enough or paid enough into the Social Security system to qualify for Social Security Disability. That has a lot of limitations on it, income limitations, asset limitations, and it is a prescribed amount per month so it is less than regular disability. Now, if you've worked consistently in the past ten years and paid into Social Security you would probably be eligible for the Social Security Disability program. That's something that we would check for you and explain to you. SSI or Supplemental Social Security comes with Medicaid. Regular disability comes with Medicare. So, folks that get that program will be eligible for Medicare.