How to File for SSDI and SSI Benefits

Marilyn Donoff • July 12, 2025


Supplemental Security Income Application

Many people contact our office when they need to file for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). For the most part, they're intimidated—they probably haven't filed before, and they have no idea how to apply. Accordingly, for people who retain our attorneys, we file applications on their behalf.


But you might not want to hire an attorney, or might not even have the option. Many law firms don't accept clients until after they've received an initial denial. Under section 206(a) of the Social Security Act, Social Security disability attorneys are only paid from "past-due benefits," what most people call "back pay." If you're lucky enough to get a quick approval, then your attorney might make a very small amount or nothing at all. 


For people who want to file on their own, we wanted to share some information and tips. We want to emphasize that a lot of this is simplified. Last year, Rebecca and I taught a short course on how to file applications: there's a lot to talk about! But when people come to us later in the process, we see a few problems again and again (and again). We hope that this guide can help you avoid some common pitfalls.


Should You Apply for SSDI, SSI, or Both?

The Social Security Administration administers two major disability programs: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). And it also administers many more minor disability programs—depending on whether you count certain programs as unique or as subsets of other programs, almost twenty more disability programs (such as auxiliary benefits, spousal benefits, child's insurance benefits... and so on). And, in an ideal world, you would check all of them to see if you're eligible.


For the most part, though, people are interested in applying for SSDI and SSI.


Easy tip: When in doubt, you should apply for both SSDI and SSI. It's not your job to deny yourself. If you're ineligible for a program and apply for it, the Social Security Administration will simply deny you.


I cannot emphasize how often we see people who lose hard-earned money when they don't apply for both programs. We even see people who started their claims with other attorneys who filed for SSDI or SSI, but not both, and then the person loses out on thousands of dollars in back pay. It's maddening. Among the people who consult with our office after applying on their own, we conservatively estimate that about 10–15% did not apply for benefits for which they probably would have been entitled. These people generally lose thousands of dollars.


Nonetheless, for informational purposes, you may want to know the non-medical eligibility requirements for SSDI and SSI.

Non-medical eligibility for SSDI is based on your work history and contributions to the Social Security system. To qualify, you must have earned sufficient "work credits," which are acquired by paying payroll taxes. Generally, you need 40 credits to qualify for SSDI, with 20 earned in the 10 years before becoming disabled, although younger workers may qualify with fewer. Unlike SSI, SSDI does not take your financial need or income into account. If you've never had a job—or if you've never paid taxes—you very likely won't qualify for SSDI.


Non-medical eligibility for SSI is based on financial need rather than work history. Among other requirements, individuals must have limited income and countable resources below certain thresholds—generally less than $2,000 for individuals or $3,000 for couples in 2025. Not all income and resources count toward this limit. While SSI eligibility can feel a little complicated to some people, for the most part, you won't qualify for SSI if you have substantial savings.

Again, though, when in doubt: Apply for both programs.


Apply Soon

We also see people who wait too long to file for benefits. If you wait long enough, you won't receive back pay for months during which you were disabled and otherwise would have been eligible for benefits.


For SSDI, you can receive “back pay” for up to one year before your application. This means that if your disability began prior to the date you filed, you may be eligible to receive benefits retroactively—up to 12 months before the application date. So, for example, if you wait three years after your disability began to apply for SSDI, you might lose about two years of benefits.


For SSI, you can receive benefits starting the month after your application. So, if you wait six months after your disability started to apply for SSI, you will generally lose about six months of SSI benefits.


If you wait too long to apply, there may be legal strategies to recover earlier benefits. For example, your attorney can sometimes still establish that you had a "protective filing date" or "reopen a prior application." But, often, claimants lose benefits because they wait too long to apply.


How to Apply for Social Security Benefits

There are four primary ways to apply for SSDI and SSI benefits.


We have opinions on which methods maximize your chances of success and which help your claim move through the process as quickly as possible. Sometimes it's a case-specific recommendation. For the most part, though, it's a matter of personal preference.

The applications are probably more "art" than "science." You should do your best when completing the applications. But we aren't sure that we can give many general tips; we mostly have case-specific advice. In the next two sections, however, we touch briefly on two common issues: inaccurate alleged onset dates, and incomplete information.


Consider Your Alleged Onset Date

When filing for disability benefits, one of the most important—but often overlooked—decisions is selecting your alleged onset date: the date you claim that you were first unable to work. Generally, then, the alleged onset date will come shortly after you stopped working. It's rare that the Social Security Administration will find you disabled prior to the date that you alleged.


We can't, in blog post, provide too much advice on alleged onset dates. If you improperly allege disability prior to when your disability began, you may submit inaccurate information (in the worst case scenario, leading to a fraud investigation). But if you allege that your disability started after it actually started, you might lose months of benefits. You need to choose carefully. Sometimes, of course, the alleged onset date is pretty clear: Some previously healthy people become suddenly disabled through a traumatic event, such as a stroke or car accident. But if the alleged onset date isn't clear, we recommend that you consult an attorney.


Provide All the Required Information

If you don't supply all the necessary information, your application may be delayed, dismissed, or denied.


You should start by providing all the requested information on the applications. Without getting into details, think of it this way: Even if you have a serious heart condition, if you don't tell the Social Security Administration which cardiologist you see, then the disability adjudicator won't know much about the details of your cardiology treatment. They might think that you're just complaining about a minor issue.


Once you’ve submitted your application, the Social Security Administration may ask for additional information to evaluate your claim. Respond to these requests as quickly and completely as possible. In most situations, you should complete and return any questionnaires, attend scheduled medical exams, and provide further documentation if requested.


Even if the requests feel burdensome (or feel repetitive), think of it this way: The adjudicator has to review your disability claim. They may need certain information about your disability in order to approve your claim, and if you don't provide it to them, they can't approve your claim. So, at some point, they will do something other than approving your claim, such as denying your claim.


Social Security Disability Applications Matter

Social Security disability benefits matter, a lot. They can make all the difference in your life. You should take the application seriously. We have repeatedly seen how simple mistakes can make significant differences in claims. While this guide doesn't cover everything, we hope it serves as a helpful starting point as you start your applications.

What Is Supplemental Security Income?

July 10, 2025
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal program that helps people who are disabled, blind, or elderly and have limited income and resources. The program is designed to provide financial support to those who need it most, helping them maintain a basic standard of living when working is difficult or impossible. A Short History of SSI Established under Title XVI of the Social Security Act, the Supplemental Security Income program was created in 1972. Unlike Social Security retirement or disability benefits, which are earned through a worker’s payroll taxes, SSI is a need-based program. Administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) but funded by general tax revenues—not Social Security trust funds—SSI provides monthly cash payments to individuals and couples who meet very stringent criteria. More than 7 million people rely on SSI benefits, including over 1 million children with disabilities. SSI is more than simple financial aid. For many recipients, these monthly payments represent the only reliable source of income, helping them pay for food, rent, utilities, and essential medications. Without SSI, countless Americans would face homelessness and malnutrition, or forgo important medical care and prescriptions. Through this support, SSI helps stabilize communities by reducing the strain on local charities and healthcare systems. By keeping vulnerable individuals housed and supported, the SSI program promotes public health, reduces emergency service usage, and sustains a baseline of economic participation even among those who cannot participate in the workforce. Who Is Eligible for SSI? Supplemental Security Income benefits are for people who are: Disabled, Blind , as defined by law, or Age 65 or older . Beyond these thresholds, the applicant must have limited income and limited resources . As of 2025, claimants generally must have countable resources of $2,000 or less , or $3,000 for couples. Certain assets—such as your home, a single vehicle, and some personal effects—are excluded. Many people are surprised to learn just how low the resource limits are for SSI eligibility. The current caps have not changed in decades; they don't adjust with inflation. As a result, even modest savings can disqualify someone from receiving SSI benefits. Congress has considered proposals to increase these thresholds, and current rules allow some individuals to maintain greater assets in specific types of trust accounts, such as special needs trusts. It is important to distinguish income (wages, Social Security benefits, etc.) from assets (savings, investments, property), which impact eligibility and benefits in different ways. Both income and assets, however, can render someone ineligible for SSI benefits. How Is Disability Determined for Adults? To be found "disabled" for SSI purposes, an adult must show that they have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment—or a combination of impairments—that prevents them from performing substantial gainful activity (SGA). The condition must be expected to last at least 12 consecutive months or result in death. In layman’s terms, to get SSI benefits, you must be unable to work full-time for at least a year. The SSA uses a five-step process to make this determination. This process asks whether the claimant is currently working above the SGA threshold, whether they have a severe medical condition, whether any of their conditions meet or equal the high standards detailed in the SSA’s Blue Book, whether the person can return to their past relevant work, and whether the claimant can perform any other work considering their age, education, and work experience. Each step ensures that benefits only go to those who can't work. Many SSI claims ultimately reach the hearing level, where they are decided by an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). At this stage, the claimant is required to submit evidence and is often asked to testify. In most hearings, a vocational expert hired by the Social Security Administration will testify about the types of jobs available to people with similar limitations. Claimants or their representatives can cross-examine this witness to challenge whether such jobs are realistic, or even exist. How Is Disability Determined for Children? For children under the age of 18, the Social Security Administration uses a different standard to determine disability. Instead of evaluating whether a child can work—most kids, after all, couldn't hold down a job, and we don't expect them to do so—the SSA examines whether the child has an impairment that results in "marked" or "extreme" limitations, or a combination of conditions that results in functionally equivalent limitations. SSA assesses a child's abilities by comparing the child to their same-aged peers without impairments. This includes evaluating the child's learning, mobility, communication, and social interactions. If the child’s condition meets or medically equals one of the listings, or functionally equals them in severity, the child has satisfied the non-medical eligibility requirements for SSI benefits. How Much Does SSI Pay? The SSI payment amount is not fixed but varies based on living arrangements and countable income. As of 2025, the federal benefit rate (FBR) is $967 per month for individuals and $1,450 for couples. Some states supplement these federal amounts with additional payments. Moreover, in some states, SSI recipients may become automatically eligible for Medicaid and other assistance programs. SSI thereby becomes the foundation for receiving several types of social aid. But SSI monthly payments may reduce due to other considerations, most notably in-kind support and income. For individuals who live in someone else's household and receives free shelter from that person, the Social Security Administration may apply what's called the Presumed Maximum Value (PMV) rule. Under this rule, the SSI benefit is typically reduced by one-third of the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR) plus a small amount, which in 2025 totals a reduction of approximately $334 for individuals. This means that instead of receiving the full $967, an individual affected by the PMV rule would receive about $633 per month. As of September 30, 2024, the Social Security Administration no longer considers whether someone receives free food when reducing SSI payments due to in-kind support. In addition, income reduces the SSI benefit amount on a dollar-for-dollar basis after certain exclusions are applied. The first $20 of most income received in a month is not counted, nor is the first $65 of earnings. After that, SSI benefits are reduced by half of the remaining earned income. How to Apply for SSI Benefits You can apply for SSI through: A paper application (form SSA-8000-BK or SSA-8001-BK) A phone call with the Social Security Administration Less commonly, visiting a local SSA office It can be daunting to apply for SSI. The application process typically requires gathering a significant amount of documentation, including detailed medical records, financial statements, and proof of living arrangements. Applicants must also navigate rules and eligibility standards, as well as procedural requirements and deadlines, that can be difficult to interpret. Nonetheless, it's important put in the effort to get these things right: Mistakes or incomplete information can lead to delays or denials. Final Thoughts on SSI Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides basic financial support to disabled and elderly individuals with limited means. For many recipients, including children, it's the difference between stability and hardship, possibly even homelessness. Donoff & Lutz, LLC represents claimants navigating the application process, including people applying for the first time and those appealing denials. Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this blog does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice specific to your situation, please contact Donoff & Lutz, LLC directly to speak with an attorney.

Struggling with a Disability Claim? Donoff & Lutz, LLC in Dayton, Ohio Is Here to Help

By Marilyn Donoff • June 2, 2025
If you’re facing challenges when applying for Social Security disability benefits, you’re not alone. Welcome to the blog of Donoff & Lutz, LLC , a boutique Social Security disability law firm based in Dayton, Ohio. With nearly 50 years of experience handling Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims, our firm—indeed, our family—has proudly helped more than ten thousand Ohioans secure their well-earned disability benefits.