SSI, SSDI, & Work

SGA Guidelines 2003-2010 is a chart that shows the amount Social Security considers Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) for each year from 2003 to 2010. This applies to those who are working and on SSDI.

Recent SGA Guidelines
           
Under current regulations, the SGA guidelines can change annually – this is referred to as being “annually indexed”.  Second, there is one SGA guideline applied to individuals who receive benefits due to statutory blindness and another SGA guideline that applies to all other individuals with disabilities.  The SGA guideline for Blind Individuals (BI) has always been annually indexed.  The SGA guidelines for non-blind disabled individuals has only been annually indexed since passage of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999. The SGA guideline levels for the last 7 years are shown below.  For a comprehensive listing of all SGA guidelines for both Blind Individuals and Disabled Individuals, go to DI 10501.015 SGA Guidelines for the past 5 years:

Year

Disabled Individuals

Blind Individuals

2003

$800

$1330

2004

$810

$1350

2005

$830

$1380

2006

$860

$1450

2007

$900

$1500

2008

$940

$1570

2009

$980

$1640

2010

$1000

$1640

SSI vs. SSDI:

SSI
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME
(SSI)

  • Provides income assistance to elders, blind & disabled people who have limited income & resources.
  • Countable resources (assets) must be under $2000 for an eligible individual; $3000 for an eligible couple.
  • SSI recipients are automatically eligible for MassHealth (Medicaid).
  • With earnings, SSI check decreases gradually

SSDI
SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INSURANCE
(SSDI)

  • Based on an individual’s work history—length of work & amount of earnings
  • No resource (asset) limit
  • Medicare eligibility after 24 months
  • Monthly earnings must be below $980 (2009 SGA) during the application phase
  • With earnings, it is “all or nothing”—you’re either entitled to your SSDI check or your earnings are too high & you do not get an SSDI check.

Learn About Work Incentives & Take Your Place in the Workforce is a power point presentation put together by Work Without Limits, a Massachusetts Disability Employment Initiative funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services through a grant to UMASS Medical School. The presentation outlines how earnings affect SSI & SSDI benefits and incentives to maximize income.

How You Earn Social Security Credits: Information on how to earn social security credits and what they. information on their impact on health insurance as well as how to apply for credits is also contained.

How Working Effects Health Insurance Coverage: Information on what will happen to your MassHealth (Medicaid) and Medicare when your earnings reach the point that you are no longer receiving SSI or SSDI checks. Information on Massachusetts' Common health program.

Social Security's Guide to PASS:Information about SSDI and PASS (plan for achieving self-support). includes information on how to increase your SSDI payment, how to appeal if your PASS is rejected, and information on eligibility.