CRS – Primer on Disability Benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Umar Moulta-Ali, Analyst in Disability Policy, August 31, 2012
“Generally, the goal of disability insurance is to replace a portion of a workers income should illness or disability prevent him or her from working. Individuals may receive disability benefits from either federal or state governments, or from private insurers. This report presents information on two components of federal disability benefits, those provided through the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. The SSDI program is an insured program that provides benefits to individuals who have paid into the system and meet certain minimum work requirements. The SSI program, in contrast, is a means tested program that does not have work or contribution requirements, but restricts benefits to those who meet asset and resource limitations. The SSDI program was enacted in 1956 and provides benefits to insured disabled workers under the full retirement age (and to their spouses, surviving disabled spouses, and children) in amounts related to the disabled workers former earnings in covered employment. The SSI program, which went into effect in 1974, is a needs-based program that provides a flat cash benefit assuring a minimum cash income to aged, blind, and disabled individuals who have very limited income and assets.”
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