HOW MUCH MONEY CAN YOU HAVE AND GET DISABILITY?

How much money can you have in the bank and still get Social Security disability benefits?

ANSWER:  There is no limit to how much money you can have and still receive SSDI benefits from Social Security.


Social Security disability benefits are not means tested.  A beneficiary is not required to be poor or have limited financial resources to receive SSDI benefits.

The confusion arises because of SSI or "Supplemental Security Income" (Title 16), which is a type of welfare and does restrict income.  SSI, however, is a separate program and is not Social Security Disability (SSDI).

SSDI, the regular disability program, is under Title 2.  It is based on FICA taxes paid by the worker into the Social Security trust fund.  These taxes are used to insure the covered worker against disability.  Since it is an insurance contract with the US Government, it does not require that a person have restricted wealth or low income to get a benefit.  So, an individual could have a million dollars in the bank and still qualify for SSDI (because he paid for it).

However, if an individual has not worked and paid into the Social Security trust fund, he is not covered by SSDI.  If this individual applies for an SSI benefit under Title 16, he would be restricted to no more than $2,000 in assets and would also have to have a very limited income.  ($2,000 is the limit for a single individual; a couple may have $3,000).

So, the first thing to determine is this:  Are you applying for SSDI (Title 2) or SSI (Title 16)?  That will answer the question as to whether there are any income/wealth restrictions.

NO with Title 2 or SSDI.

YES with Title 16 or SSI.