Understanding the 4 Types of Social Security Payments
Knowing the different types of Social Security payments is essential for making informed decisions about your financial future. The four main types are Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Retirement Benefits, and Survivor Program Benefits.
Each payment type is tailored to support individuals in specific situations, such as those who are disabled and unable to work, retirees seeking financial stability, or family members of deceased workers. Partnering with Victor Makris can significantly increase your chances of getting approved for Social Security benefits. His expertise and guidance can help ensure that you receive the payments you deserve, giving you the financial support you need.
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The application process can be complex. Still, Makris Law Firm is here to simplify it for you. With over 45 years of experience, we’ll guide you through every step, ensuring you receive the benefits you deserve at every stage of life.
1. Social Security Disability Income
What Is SSDI?
Social Security Disability Income, known as SSDI, is a federal disability insurance program was passed by Congress in 1935. Every you draw a paycheck and pay FICA withholding you are paying into this system,. This means that if you become disabled from working before reaching retirement age, you can apply to get your social security early on the basis of disability.
The program is insurance-based, not welfare-based like the SSI program. It does not matter what your other income or assets happen to be. There is no minimum age limit. To receive SSD benefits, you have to apply during the time that you are insured. If you qualify for SSDI, you get a monthly disability check from the U S Treasury, and after 2 years of payments then Medicare coverage.
How To Qualify For SSDI?
There are 4 main categories of people who can receive SSDI due to a disability:
In all of these categories, it is assumed that the worker is insured under Social Security. If you have been paying Social Security taxes with each paycheck and have been working for at least 10 years, chances are you are insured for Social Security Disability. You have to have a minimum of 6 credits and a maximum of 40 credits to be insured. The older you are, the more work credits you need. If you are over 30 you will need to have at least 40 credits to be insured.
Understanding Social Security Work Credits and Coverage
You earn a credit for each quarter that you work. You have to make a minimum amount in each quarter to get the credit. The minimum amount you have to earn per quarter has risen through time. In the year 2025, the minimum amount is $1,810 per quarter. This is adjusted upward every year. However, in the past, it has been much lower. You only have to have met the minimum that was applicable during each quarter that you worked to earn a Social Security credit.
Your local Social Security office can determine if you are covered after looking at your earnings record. Suppose you are insured and you stop working for any reason. In that case, you are generally will be insured for only about five years. If you file for SSDI, you have to prove with medical records that you were disabled within the five years of coverage.
How Much Can You Get In SSDI?
The amount of your monthly disability check is a reflection of your hard work and dedication. The higher your earnings were, and the longer you worked, the more your check will be. This means that your past efforts can lead to a brighter future, with potentially higher benefits.
For example, suppose your 2025 income before earnings averaged about $20,000 per year. In that case, your monthly check might be in the lower average range, or about $1,000 – $1,400 per month. However, if your 2025 income earnings averaged $90,000 and over, your monthly check might be closer to the $3,822 maximum. Both amounts are increased if you are married and additionally increased for each child you have under age 18.
These are estimates only because your number of work years and your highest earnings years also play a large part in the benefit formula. To get an estimate of what your disability check might be, call the Social Security Administration at 1.800.772.1213 and ask for a Social Security Statement.
This will contain a more accurate estimate of what your monthly benefit will be should you be found disabled before retirement age and also at the age of retirement.
Social Security Disability Claim Reviews
2. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Qualifying For Supplemental Security Income
What Is SSI?
Supplemental Security Income, known as SSI, is a welfare-based disability program. SSDI pays on the basis of you having paid into the system and being insured before becoming disabled. SSI is more like a welfare check. If you qualify for SSI, you get a monthly disability check and Medicaid coverage. You can get SSI based on reaching retirement age or the basis of disability.
So, suppose you become disabled from working before reaching retirement age. In that case, you can apply for SSI on the basis of disability. The program is welfare-based, not insurance-based like SSD.
Suppose you are going to apply for SSI. In that case, this means you either don’t qualify for SSDI because you or your deceased spouse did not have enough work credits or because your estimated SSDI payment is so close to the poverty level (i.e., less than 967.00 per month) that you filed both an SSDI and an SSI application.
The SSI benefit cap ($967.00 per month in 2025) is much lower than SSDI, which can go as high as $3,627 at the age of full retirement.
How To Qualify For SSI?
There Are Three Main Categories Of People Who Can Receive SSI:
There is also an income and asset test. if you are single and have income over $967.00, or have a working spouse making over $2,000 with whom you live and no other dependants there is a good chance you would be financially disqualified. If you are single and your assets (not including your home, personal property in it, and one car) exceed $2,000 (or married $3,000) this can also disqualify you.
The SSI benefit cap for a married individual is $1,450.
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There Are Five Questions That Social Security Uses To Determine Disability:
1) Is the person applying working?
If they are and making over $1,620 per month, then they do not qualify. If they pass this question, they go to the next question.
2) Do they have a severe impairment that is medically determinable?
Ninety percent of the battle here is, has the applicant been going in for treatment and is their condition and treatment well documented in medical records? If their disabling conditions are so severe to interfere with working, then they go to the next question.
Here are some disorders that are considered severe:
3) Are any of your impairments severe enough meet a Social Security Listing?
A "listing" is a specific definition Social Security uses for various impairments. These definitions are detailed in a list published by Social Security, which outlines the requirements for each condition.
For example, if your best-corrected vision in each eye falls below a certain threshold, you would meet the criteria for the Eye listing and be considered disabled. Similarly, there are listings for other body systems.
Social Security deems a low back condition disabling if you have a herniated disk, experience muscle weakness, pain, numbness, loss of leg control that affects walking and standing, and reduced arm function.
Even if a condition doesn't match a listing, it may still be considered equivalent. If your impairment meets or equals a listing, you are classified as disabled.
If None Of Your Conditions Meet Or Equal A Listing, They Go To The Next Question.
4) Can you do any work you’ve done in the last 15 years?
If you can still perform your past work, you are not considered disabled.
If you cannot, the next question will be asked.
5) Can you perform any other work?
For example, if your previous job required you to stand all day, but now, due to a leg problem, you can only stand for a few hours, could you do a job that allows you to sit and use your hands instead?
If so, you might not be considered disabled.
3. Retirement benefits
As of 2025, the age of full retirement rises to age 67 for anyone born after 1960. If you are at least 67, and have worked and got Social Security credit for at least 40 quarters of work, are are a U S Citizen or lawful resident, you can apply to receive retirement benefits. However, prior to the normal retirement age of 67, you can take early retirement at age 62. If you do that, however your monthly retirement check will generally be about 20% less.
The average monthly benefit for all retired workers is a about $1,827. The maximum monthly retirement benefit for a retired worker at full retirement age is $3,822 per month as of 2023.
Why is there a difference? If your 2025 and before earnings averaged about $20,000 per year for most of your work life, your monthly check might be in the lower average range or about $1,000 – $1,400 per month. However if your 2025 and before earnings averaged $90,000 over many years, your monthly check might be closer to the $3,822 maximum.
Both amounts are increased if you are married and additionally for each child you have under age 18. These are estimates only, because your number of work years and your highest earnings years also plays a large part in the benefit formula that the Agency uses to calculate your benefit.
4. Survivor Program Benefits
Dependent parent age 62 or older receives 82.5% of the deceased workers benefit.
There’s a limit to the amount that one family household can receive each month is called the family maximum.. The limit varies, but it is generally equal to between 150% and 180% of the basic benefit rate. If the sum of the benefits payable to family members is greater than this limit, the benefits will be reduced proportionately.
Any benefits paid to a surviving divorced spouse based on disability or age won’t count toward the family maximum amount.
For widow’s and widower’s survivor benefits, remarriage before age 60, (age 50 if you have disability), will disqualify the applicant
If a worker a dies, survivor benefits are payable to:
Benefits for Divorced Spouses
If you are divorced from a deceased worker you can receive benefits on your ex-spouse’s record. To qualify, you must:
Percentages for a surviving divorced spouse range between 71.5 – 99% of the deceased workers benefit
Benefits for Surviving Parents
Parents of deceased workers can receive survivor benefits if they are:
Dependent parent(s) of the deceased worker, age 62 or older, receive:
Benefits for Surviving Children
Children of deceased workers can receive survivor benefits if they are:
Child under age 18 (up to 19 if in school) or is disabled receives 75% of deceased worker’s benefit ;
FAQ For Social Security Programs
How Much You Can Get In SSI?
The basic monthly check is $967.00 for a single person and $1,450 per couple. Most people who qualify for SSI will also qualify for food stamps and Medicaid. If you prevail in receiving SSI monthly benefits
What kind of disability do I need to prove to qualify for SSDI or SSI?
To qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you need to show that you can't engage in substantial gainful activity because of a physical or mental impairment that is medically identifiable.
This condition must either be expected to result in death or last continuously for at least 12 months. Social Security doesn't consider partial disabilities, so short-term conditions like a broken arm that heals within a few months usually don't qualify.
However, suppose a condition requires ongoing treatment or surgeries and continues for a year or more. In that case, it may meet the criteria for disability under the Social Security Act.
How can I estimate my future disability benefits?
To get an estimate of what your disability check might be, call the Social Security Administration at 1.800.772.1213 and ask for a Social Security Statement. Calling SSA will give you a more accurate estimate of what your monthly benefit will be at the age of early retirement or full retirement and if you wait to take benefits at age 70.
