Can you receive two Social Security checks in the same month?
It is possible to receive two different social security cheques but it depends wholly upon which differnt programmes you are eligible for.
Both Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can be collected by the same person. For claimants, there are no rules in place to prevent them from receiving both parts of benefit support. However, receiving both payments could take you over the income threshold for SSI payments as SSDI payments are included in counting towards the eligibility for the former.
Eligibility requirements for SSI benefits are fairly strict as the programme is designed to support specific groups of low-income Americans. Recipients of SSI payments must be aged 65 or older, blind or disabled. The eligibility for SSDI payments are more difficult as claimants must have a disability, from this list, that prevents them from working.
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What money can be received from the two benefit systems?
SSI payments have an income threshold that recipients must fall underneath to qualify. In 2022, the SSI standard for limited income is income of up to $841 a month for an individual or $1,261 a month for a couple in which both people are beneficiaries. This will increase to $914 for an eligible individual, $1,371 for an eligible individual with an eligible spouse, and $458 for an essential person.
This limited income is called “countable income”, basically a way of measuring a recipients total income. This includes aspects like wages from jobs, pensions, and veterans benefits. Not all income is included in this, such as covid-19 stimulus payments and disaster assistance. Importantly, for our discussion, SSDI benefits are included as “countable income” as it falls under the category of “unearned income” like investments.
According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), the 2023 COLA will increase the average monthly SSDI benefit for a disabled worker by $119, from $1,364 to $1,483.
Be aware that the claiming of SSDI benefits will detract from the amount of SSI received. Most of the time this will pose no problem, as SSI recipients will have retired from work anyway, preventing disabled claimants from receiving more support compared to able-bodied people. Unlike SSI payments, SSDI benefits have no financial cut off point and are provided to recipients regardless of their financial situation.