Can You Qualify for Multiple SSA Programs at Once?
Understanding how many programs you can qualify for at once is important when it comes to social security disability. This article will explore whether or not it is a possibility, and explain the answer.
The short answer to the question is yes. However, there are some important details you should know that qualify this answer with some nuance. There are times when individuals may qualify for supplemental security income and social security disability at the same time, but qualifying for one does not always mean you qualify for the other too. Furthermore, many of the social security disability benefits are higher than the monthly allotment for the supplemental security income benefits, and therefore, the social security disability benefits will cancel out the supplemental security income benefits.
It is also important to note that, in order to receive both benefits at the same time, an individual must qualify for both benefits. Supplemental security income is, of course, based on need, so there are restrictions on how much the countable assets are valued at. This differs for individual applicants and married couples. For single individuals, this means that you have to meet the requirements for supplemental security income which are $2000. For married couples, this number is $3000. If your assets, or your assets with your spouse, are valued higher than this, then you are likely not eligible for supplemental security income benefits.
One example where an individual would be eligible and receive both benefits, however, would be if the social security disability benefits do not overvalue the supplemental security income benefits. This is usually not the case. As mentioned previously, the social security disability benefits typically are more than the supplemental security income benefits, and they generally increase the individual or married couple’s countable assets to above the limit. In an instance where this is not the case, though, you might be eligible for both programs at once. This is called concurrent benefits.
