If you qualify for Supplemental Security Income and Social Disability Insurance Income, you have concurrent benefits. Because your financial status is used to determine your eligibility for the SSI program, the Social Security Administration can check your bank account. However, if you only qualify for the Social Disability Insurance Program, social security will not check your bank account because it does determine your eligibility for the program.
A common concern among citizens is whether the government has access to their personal information, such as their bank history.
Typically no, the government does not have access to such information. However, certain situations could result in them gaining access to your details.
A good example of such a situation is applying for social security benefits. Again, understanding how and why these checks take place will aid you in determining whether these checks are problematic or not.
Concurrent Benefits
At this point, you understand that Supplemental Security Income and the Social Disability Insurance Income are different programs with different eligibility requirements.
However, what happens when you qualify for benefits from both programs? Does the government gain access to your accounts if you qualify for either one? And can qualifying for one affect the other?
When an individual is eligible for Supplemental Security Income and Social Disability Insurance Income, we say they have concurrent benefits.
Because the eligibility criteria for both programs are different, your SSDI payments could reduce your SSI payment or disqualify you from receiving it at all.
Another reason why SSDI benefits could affect your SSI benefits is that SSDI benefits are much larger than SSI benefits.
While both programs aim to assist disabled individuals, SSDI benefits are provided regardless of your financial status. On the other hand, SSI benefits assess your financial buoyancy to determine your eligibility for the program.
The federal government’s threshold for your countable income is $794 per month for individuals and $1191 for couples. This is also the maximum payment allowed on SSI payments.
Social security considers your SSDI payments as countable income but exempts $20 from whatever you receive. Therefore, should your SSDI benefit exceed $814 ($794 + $20), you no longer qualify for the SSI program.
If your SSDI benefit is less than that, you will retain your eligibility for the SSI benefit. However, your SSI amount would be reduced by your SSDI, leaving you with anything between $794 – $814.
Supplemental Security Income Program
If you are part of the Supplemental Security Income Program, the government gains access to personal information such as your bank account. This is because they need this information to determine your eligibility for the program.
The Supplemental Security Income Program is a federal one funded by the US Treasury general funds. The program aims to assist adults and children who have limited income and resources.
To be eligible for this program, you have to meet the following requirements:
1. Disabled, blind, or age 65
2. Low income and resources
3. Be a US citizen
4. Reside within the US
Other things that could affect your eligibility are your marital status and the income level of certain family members like your spouse or children; this is called deemed resources.
At this point, you may be wondering what the Supplemental Security Program considers as part of your income and resources.
Resources are things you own, and this typically includes:
1. Cash
2. Land
3. Bank accounts
4. Stocks
5. Bonds
6. Insurance
7. Vehicles
8. Property
9. Deemed resources
10. anything else you can exchange for cash and use on food or shelter
Individuals with resources worth over $2000 and couples over $3000 are not eligible for the supplemental security program. The maximum benefit you can receive is $794 per month and the average benefit received is $577.
Social Disability Insurance Income
If you receive Social Disability Insurance Income, the Social Security Administration will not check your bank account.
This is because your financial status is not a factor affecting your eligibility for the program.
The Social Disability Insurance Income program is administered and funded by the US Social Security Administration.
The program aims to provide for individuals who are disabled and unable to work for a period of up to 12 months or suffering from a medical condition expected to end in death.
In summary, you are eligible for the program if:
1. You cannot work because you have a condition that could last up to a year or end in death
2. Your disability is not partial or short term
3. Your disability meets the program’s definition of a disability
4. You are younger than the retirement age
Based on your work record, certain members of your family could also qualify for this benefit. The maximum benefit received is $3148 per month, and individuals receive an average of $1128 per month.
| Factor | SSI | SSD |
| Eligibility | Age, blindness, disability, limited income, and resources | Disability and work credits |
| Concurrent Benefit | Is affected by SSDI | Not affected by SSI |
| Maximum benefit | $794 | $3148 |
| Average benefit | $577 | $1128 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How Does Social Security Define A Disability?
A disability is a condition, medical or otherwise, that prevents you from working for a year or more. Partial or short-term disabilities do not qualify for these benefits.
How Long Does it Take to Process My Application?
The average time to process a social security benefit ranges from 3-5 months.
What Do I Do If My Applications Are Rejected?
Tons of applications get denied by social security for SSI or SSDI benefits. If social security denied yours and you believe you qualify, find a competent advocate to represent you.
Conclusion
If you are worried about Social Security looking into your personal information such as banking transactions, you should first consider what benefit you receive from them.
Being registered under the Supplemental Security Income, your bank account is being checked. This is typically done on an annual basis to confirm your eligibility for the program.
But if you receive Social Disability Income, your account isn’t being monitored since you will receive this benefit regardless of your financial status.
However, if you qualify for both, your Social Disability Income could reduce your Supplemental Security Income or disqualify you from getting it.
What if you’re not sure if you are receiving Social Disability Income or Supplemental Security Income?