Social Security Q&A [BC-SRS-SOCIALSEC:MCT]

Q: What's the difference between "SSID" and "SSDI"?

A: SSID, or SSI, is the way some people refer to "Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability" benefits. SSI disability benefits are paid to people who have limited incomes and resources. SSDI is the way some people refer to "Social Security disability insurance benefits."

Social Security disability benefits go to people who have worked and paid Social Security taxes for a long enough time to be covered for Social Security. Some people qualify for both "SSI" and "SSDI" if their Social Security benefit is low enough for them to receive SSI. To learn more about Social Security and SSI, visit www.socialsecurity.gov.

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Q: I get both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. I recently was switched from a benefit based on my own earnings to a higher widow's benefit on my husband's work record. But then my SSI check was reduced. Why did you give me money with one hand and take it away with the other?

A: SSI is a needs-based program. In other words, the amount of your SSI is based, in part, on your income and resources. So if your income goes up and your financial need decreases, your SSI payment also will decrease.

When you started getting the higher widow's benefit from Social Security, your other income went up, so your SSI payment had to go down. For more information, you can visit our webpage about SSI at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssi. Or you can call Social Security's toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask for the publication, Supplemental Security Income.

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(This column was prepared by the Social Security Administration. For fast answers to specific Social Security questions, contact Social Security toll-free at 800-772-1213.)

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(c) 2010, McClatchy-Tribune News Service.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

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