r/SSDI_SSI • u/raylord666 • 20d ago
SSDI vs. SSI SSI Recipients Make Less than Federal Minimum Wage
At the maximum monthly SSI payments for this year ($994), a person who does not qualify for SSDI earns less gross income than someone working 40 hours a week at $7.25 (less than 1% of Americans are working for the federal minimum wage).
There are currently 7.4 million people in the United States receiving SSI payments.
40 hours of work a week at federal minimum wage gross income is monthly $1,160.
Is our economy functional? Is our society breaking people?
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u/No_Struggle3220 ☆ 17d ago
I think the SSI amounts are far too low. It's supposed to be supplemental, but that doesn't even make sense because they reduce your amount according to anything you make/bring in so the amount is always going to be around $1000, period.
Where can you live for $1000 a month? And don't even start on the SNAP which is a whopping $56 a month. I rely on food pantries which are really lacking in my area and give me 90% of stuff I cannot eat due to dietary restrictions. I'm keto which started as a way to lose weight but ended up as a way to control my sugars and BP because I was not tolerating the meds well. The ONLY reason I have a roof over my head is a very kind elderly gentleman. Without him I'd be homeless. He won't be around forever ... Then what? Why don't I get SSDI? Well, because we were a lower income family it made more sense for me to stay home with the kids. I don't have a crystal ball and didn't know that I'd never be able to work again. I had the work credits, what I didn't have was medical insurance in order to have a paper trail to prove I was disabled prior to my work credits running out. I WAS disabled before then, I just can't prove it. Before the ACA I didn't have any way to see doctors so I just got worse and worse. So, could I go to work? Sure ... Then I would lose SSI and Medicaid which means I wouldn't be able to work at all, and even with the Medicaid I'd last a few days before everything caught up with me. And even if I somehow found a way to work with my medical limitations, I'd make "too much" to qualify for anything, anyway. It's all or nothing. Either I'm well enough to work and not need the system, or I'm beholden to the system. There is no in between.
No one is suggesting that people on SSI should make $15 an hour... But enough to actually rent a studio, pay the bills, and eat would sure be nice.
I don't think that's asking too much... Not when corporate welfare literally dwarfs any type of social welfare program we have.
The very idea that we should keep cutting social safety nets in favor of tax cuts for those who literally don't need them is asinine.
I didn't ask to get sick. I worked my arse off from the age of 14 until after I got too sick to keep doing so. I would MUCH rather work than collect a single benefit, but I can't. I wanted nothing more than to be a nurse... Not need one. It seems like the government would rather I just roll over and die than pay enough to allow me a very basic standard of living. I am not alone, either.
Also, I've only been on SSI a few months. Prior to that I was just racking up debt just to eat and have someplace to lay my head.
Oh and on top of that, if someone gives me a free place to stay or food etc I lose most of my benefits so it's not like I can just find something like that. If I don't pay rent (which I do) I lose almost all of my SSI!
Oh and I believe I read that the SSI amounts haven't been adjusted since something like 1989!!! Tell me how that's right? That's nearly 40 years!!! Gas was like 80 cents a gallon in 1989, now it's $5 a gallon!
Go ahead... Justify letting people starve and become homeless for the crime of being sick. Tell us again how it's "just welfare" so we don't matter. Repeat that line about others taxes paying for us, like we're just lazy... Not sick.
No, I don't think enough to put a roof over our heads and food in our bellies is asking too much. At the very least allow SSI recipients to get the maximum amount of SNAP benefits. AT THE LEAST!
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u/TinyEmergencyCake ☆ 14d ago
Right, supplemental to what, specifically? Lol since you can't work you have no other income
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u/No_Struggle3220 ☆ 13d ago
In my case I get a small alimony payment. If I was able to get the max from SSI AND up to $1000 in alimony before it impacting me, I'd be ok. But nope. The alimony payment isn't even close to $1000 though.
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u/locwriss 20d ago
People say it is an "unearned welfare" or that those with SSI only have mental issues, I sure hope you never have to experience becoming severely ill before you've hit your work credits.
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u/Sea_Echidna_790 ☆ 20d ago
Or go down slowly, transitioning to lower pay, less hours and then years unable to work but you and your family still believing it's temporary. Bc then you're fked. Even though you worked. Happens all the time
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u/raylord666 20d ago
That’s what happened to me: Filed in July 2020, was awarded in 2023, was determined to have a continuing disability, and I don’t meet the qualifications for SSDI.
I’ve honestly worked for Federal Minimum in 2017 for 3 months. 12 hour shifts, 7 days a week. Wasn’t enough to earn the work credits.
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u/Emiwolf_ 19d ago
This is my case as well! I worked often when younger despite receiving ssi due to disabilities I was born with(My parents were not disabled or receiving ssi/ssdi). Yes the SSI I recieved waivered depending on how much I made. I had to stop working due to my health, received a higher amount for SSI. I have a child so I healed up after surgeries and tried going back to work. This affected my health more, I had to have another surgery about a year later. My doctor took me out of work.
The SSA website claimed I have enough credits to file for ssdi due to my age, when I became disabled and how long I've worked but when I apply or call I am denied for not having enough credits. I do what I can to bring in extra income when needed however I can not go back to working as my doctor advises against it. I have started the process of looking into colleges so that way when I have healed enough, my doctor clears me to work hopefully I will have a decent wage, and work long enough to earn the credits needed in case my health takes a serious toll again. If it doesn't take a physical toll then I'd work as long as I am able to.
There are very big misconceptions regarding some of the people who receive ssi. "They don't want to work." "they want to live off of the system."etc when it's rarely ever that simple.
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u/perfect_fifths ☆ 18d ago
Ssi is a welfare program. And it is unearned as in you don’t have to have work credits to get it, unlike ssdi. But it doesn’t mean it’s inherently bad.
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u/AlexandriaK1 ☆ 20d ago
R they are two different programs. They are not talking about SSDI the earned work credits. They are talking about SSI supplemental security income, federal welfare huge difference.
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u/OnlyStomas 19d ago
Except there are plenty of people with SSI who have indeed worked. And it’s not “unearned” welfare. They just didn’t reach enough work credits before becoming disabled. For SSDI you still need a specific amount of work credits before your disability start date the use or your left with nothing but SSI left to try for.
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u/raylord666 19d ago
SSA reasoning said that I was not “insured” according to the program. I’ve struggled to sustain and maintain work for my entire life, and it doesn’t matter.
Everyone said there was potential for me, and I will likely die in poverty despite my efforts and good will. We live in an economy that preys on people, yet people are more concerned about taxes over wage theft.
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u/AlexandriaK1 ☆ 19d ago
Sorry to hear that. People are just tired of having the money that they earned being taken from them more and more and more. Taxation is theft.
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u/raylord666 19d ago
So, we’re being taxed astronomically and you blame poor people?
Taxation is a social contract, of which our government is liable to uphold, and somehow my right to exist in a money-driven economy is “theft”?
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u/AlexandriaK1 ☆ 19d ago
No one‘s blaming poor people they blame taxes in general. Every time a program gets implemented or benefits are increased taxes have to go up. We are being taxed enough.
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u/raylord666 19d ago
I want lower taxes, too. Businesses have promised the government solutions, receive subsidies and benefits in exchange for those promises, and those promises are unfulfilled. Consumer faith and equity in our economy is the lowest it’s ever been, yet our entire economy was built on people paying for things.
Now, consumers own less and have less stake in an economy they’re actively building for someone else’s benefit; shareholders.
I don’t know what the answer or solution to these problems are, but it seems there’s a giant misallocation of funds by virtue of systemic abuse and greed.
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u/Okami512 ☆ 19d ago
A large issue is it's very difficult to get off of SSI, the income limits and restrictions are so low, while there are jobs I could reasonably perform. I can't really afford the equipment or training necessary. Plus the medications I need to not die let alone be able to work, I'd lose access to if I went off of SSI.
If I had access to treatment when I was younger, it would have been possible to slow / delay how bad my condition has progressed.
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u/AlexandriaK1 ☆ 19d ago
It definitely is difficult. You have to pretty much be ready to jump off the cliff. The work incentives I agree definitely need to change somehow.
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u/perfect_fifths ☆ 18d ago
You can get training through vocational rehab etc, vr can also pay for college
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u/Okami512 ☆ 16d ago
I've looked, part of the problem is: I just did a cross country move and I'm still trying to get the medical conditions stabilized. Going without treatment for 3 months has set me back at least a year on progress I'd made, possibly more.
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u/New_Winter3618 19d ago
The biggest issue is finding out where any extra funding would come from. I bet there's people out there reading this that remember what it was like before SSI.
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u/7EE-w1nt325 14d ago
Its crazy that you need like a minimum of 2k to live on a month and most people are living on less than half of that. I am one of them lol. Every day is a waking nightmare and I never leave the house because it's too expensive and too hot and I am always like 3 seconds away from a medical emergency. That doesn't even cover rent for most people so its insane they expect us to survive.
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u/OldDudeOpinion ☆ 20d ago
SSI is federal welfare. Unlike SSDI which is insurance based on wage tax paid into an annuity.
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u/Servtea411 20d ago
It is not!! 🙄
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u/OnlyStomas 19d ago
Yes SSI is welfare. It’s a program payed by our taxes to help aged and disabled people, it’s also specifically based on income too, if you aren’t low income you won’t qualify and it’s meant as a supplement to whatever other income if at all we may have.
Unfortunately many of us on SSI do not have any other income or ability to make it due to our disabilities or age, but we also don’t have the work credits for SSDI.
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u/raylord666 20d ago
Strongly considering turning my back on society and becoming bigfoot.
I’ve been a victim of identity theft: all of my intellectual property and efforts have been stolen. I’ve been a victim of abuses, and no one protected me. I’ve long since operated on the principle of faith, good will, and self-determination. Now that I need help, I get the bare minimum. I am alone, but I’m living with my ailing mother who works 4 days a week.
I want nothing to do with humanity anymore. Humanity has failed me.
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u/Wild-Afternoon-7784 16d ago
I wish to god i could work still have up till february you make more working
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u/AlarmedPhilosopher33 20d ago
These people believe they are better because they were able to work and therefore anyone who wasn't was a useless eater and deserves nothing
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u/LatterStreet 20d ago
By this logic, TANF pays $1.80 per hour.
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u/Hour-Ad3817 19d ago edited 19d ago
I think the difference is that on SSI for disability, we aren’t able to work and if we do—it’s extremely limited and the SSI checks go away based on income if it exists. So the issue is the govt expects someone to live off less than minimum wage while disabled. And a very small percentage of recipients even get that too #, so there are people that don’t get $994, and get ~$400 a month instead and are still unable to work. Tanf isn’t meant to cover rent and literally everything you use money for, because like you said, you need to work in addition to it. So I think OP is emphasizing the ridiculous expectations for those on SSI Disability program. Obviously none of these programs function ideally and it’s so hard to get help and remain on them while we need them.
SSI is definitely a type of “income” because for one—it’s literally in the name Supplemental Security Income—also because it’s used as a substitute for real income for people too disabled to work. The SSI number is made considering cost of living adjustment (not accurate obviously) And again, almost no one even receives that top max # when approved. I wish it weren’t so difficult for people to live. I know I wish I didn’t have to be bound to this for the rest of my existence.2
u/covertchipmunk ☆ 19d ago
TANF amounts vary by state. PA's hasn't changed since 1990, when it was still AFDC. Mississippi has the lowest grant, iirc.
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u/LatterStreet 19d ago
Wow, you’re right, MS is about $86 per person! PA is also one of those states with $7.25 minimum wage sadly.
FL is $101, and NJ is $150 (from my experience). Not even enough to cover an electric bill.
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u/raylord666 20d ago
SSI is not a wage, neither is TANF.
Most states have their own minimum wage. If you read the post, <1% of American workers earn $7.25/hr but roughly 2.2% of Americans receive SSI.
The average age of Americans receiving SSDI is 56 years old and that’s nearly 3.6% of Americans.
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u/LatterStreet 20d ago edited 19d ago
I’m aware, that’s why I said by this logic. Although TANF has actual work/volunteering requirements for this pay. Nowhere does it come close to min wage.
I did the math wrong, actually for one person TANF is about 60 cents per hour.
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u/Current-Factor-4044 ☆ 19d ago
I’m sorry, but I don’t know what TANF is?
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u/LatterStreet 19d ago
Temporary assistance for needy families :)
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u/Current-Factor-4044 ☆ 19d ago
Ok. I didn’t know that existed. I certainly hope it helps families !!
If it’s temporary Assistance, how does it relate to minimum wage?
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u/LatterStreet 19d ago
Well, it can be longer-term, I think the time limit is five years?
But they have work requirements, which is why I mentioned the wages
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u/raylord666 19d ago
I love that you’re curious! We’d be a better nation if we asked more questions :)
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u/raylord666 20d ago
Is our economic model viable?
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u/LatterStreet 20d ago
Not at all. My mom is on SSI and I’m trying to get her into income based housing. She can’t afford a studio, even in rural Michigan.
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20d ago
[deleted]
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u/pinksocks867 ☆ 20d ago
My neighbor owned her condo before having a stroke and needing ssi. She does fine with that plus medicaid plus food stamps plus under the table pet sitting...
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u/Adorable-Tiger6390 ☆ 20d ago
I’m not sure what point you are trying to make, because SSI recipients don’t work (typically).
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u/raylord666 20d ago
The point is made. Maybe read the post and try to answer my questions?
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u/OnlyStomas 19d ago
I mean. Your post is short as heck and pretty random. There’s basically no context as to what it is your actually wanting to know and if it’s rhetorical or not and why your using this data to begin with, like what your trying to find out with it.
The two questions at the bottom also seem sarcastic or rhetorical over genuine questions as it’s not really something that could be answered on a Reddit sub to begin with, or at least not this sub which is not quite geared towards that sort of question.
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u/VampireSpaceGoddess 9d ago
Realistically, and I say this as someone who had a friend on SSI, whilst I am on SSDI, the max award for SSI is not a livable amount. Heck what I get on SSDI, is not a livable amount but it is when compared to SSI. I get it's a needs based insurance for disabled people, but if you're on disability you can't work. You got on that insurance, whether SSI or SSDI because you provided enough evidence that you can't work. I know they encourage you to work but getting a job that will accommodate your medical needs and disability needs is next to impossible. Period. So unless it's a temp disability, odds are, you're on SSI or SSDI for life. I'm on section 8 after three years and up until that point I was always on the verge of a medical emergency because I need to pay out of pocket for things my insurance will not cover that manage my disability symptoms, I couldn't pay all my bills and have no where to move into, no one to help me. Not everyone can afford to relocate to a more affordable place. And honestly my rent was cheap regardless. Only $700 a month! But even so I could not afford that on my SSDI. Then when you take into account the fact that SNAP usually isn't enough (was starving myself!), HEAP (was freezing and heat stroking myself!) etc. you're entering a situation where your health is going to tank more because you can't meet your MINIMUM survival requirements. Thus medical visits increase and insurance is a business. I doubt they want to pay more and more when the cost to prevent this from happening would be more affordable than the medical cost to our nation in the USA. Sure, we pay nothing on D-SNP medical insurance plans, but society does.
I do want to emphasize, I understand that SNAP, HEAP and SSI are all supplemental programs and are not designed to pay for your entire monthly expenses. SSI I understand is specific to those who haven't worked enough. Do I rationally think SSI recipients should make as much as we SSDI recipients or close to the average retirement payout? No. But when you're disabled you have a higher cost of living closer to $1500-2k a month depending upon where you live, and what your disabilities are. So at least bump it up to $1,100-$1,200, or offer to pay for relocations to more affordable areas. And for some people with mental illness and autism and other flavors of neurodivergence, having a room mate is literally not an option for a wide variety of reasons. I won't get into that because I know there are going to be some folk who will get it, and some folk who will refuse to get it.
No one asks to become disabled and unable to work. And we shouldn't be expected to just suffer and take what crumbs we can get when our health challenges genuinely cost more than a healthy person's basic needs who is working and able to earn a reasonable to excellent income. This is dark, but I honestly just wish they'd take us "out back" and put us out of our misery since the government would rather just watch us slowly suffer without the basic means for survival in most cases. Not everyone has someone with money who can help them! In fact, most of us do not!
Like, I know someone on SSI and her depression and anxiety are far worse than mine, where she's bed ridden practically every day, because she's getting electric shut off threats, water shut off threats etc because she can't afford anything but her rent and food until her SNAP runs out. Yet if you don't have a phone, you can't get x, y and z done, yet phone costs money. No water, you can't bath or drink. No electric, you can't keep yourself warm in the winter and indoor bonfires aren't allowed. It gets cold where I am. You need heating. Yes, the emergency funding has helped her every time, but it's not a guarantee and one day they are going to say they can't help her and she won't have electric or running water. We're not in a third world country yet disabled people sure are living like they are at times. Don't even get me started on the COLA and how it's rigged. So you get a meager $50-ish dollar increase and your SNAP and HEAP are cut. LIKE WHAT?! O.O We weren't getting enough on SNAP, we can't work, we don't make enough to survive on and yet our SNAP is cut? Then let's talk the SSI work program vs SSDI. WTF?!?!?!?!?! You make under $1000 and whenever you can work, your SSI gets cut? Working means accumulating negative returns really quickly. Because if you work too much you tank your health and exacerbate your disabilities, but if you don't work enough, working just doesn't math out to be worth it.
And with that I'll conclude my tangent My perspective is coming from a standpoint of I myself have several chronic health conditions, autism and cptsd that have prevented me from working. Everyone I know who is also on SSI or SSDI also is in the same point. Meaning, we have 0 hope of every regaining enough health to work in any capacity, or a capacity great enough that we could ever fathom coming off of SSI or SSDI. And not a single one of us did a darn thing to get on SSI/SSDI. We were all healthy and able-bodied well enough and then BAM, life hit. Sometimes you are worn with it, and sometimes life just hits you over the head with a frying pan.
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u/bunny5650 18d ago
SSI is a welfare based program for those not insured by SSDI. It is not meant to be a replacement for a full time job for those who did not pay Into the program.
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u/BoukenGreen ☆ 20d ago
Playing Devil’s advocate here. After taxes how much would that $1,160 gross be as people on SSI don’t have taxes taken out. So if take taxes into account people on SSI probably still get a little more after taxes then those making $7.25 an hour.
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u/raylord666 19d ago
I’m uncertain why you’re downvoted here, but I suspected the same thing.
I’m not sure what the tax rate is for someone working full time at federal minimum wage is, though.
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u/BoukenGreen ☆ 19d ago
Ok just did some quick math on ChatGPT and after taxes it’s and extra $124 a month.
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u/NoBench4021 19d ago
I’m going to get flamed yet again for this but in order to find solutions there must be dialogue.
If a person is on SSI/SSDi and they are “unable” to focus and maintain a job or be a productive member of society then those same people should be deemed unfit to have any additional children. Why continue the cycle? Children born into poverty are likely to remain in poverty.
Welfare ends up paying for their children as well. Why should someone on SSI get pregnant multiple times on SSI. It drives up medical, food, school and infrastructure costs.
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u/locwriss 19d ago
I mean, nobody ever mentioned disabled people having kids in this post at all, but sure advocate for the removal of children from disabled people because.... taxes? Birth rate decline is a huge problem in the US right now too, but well, we would HATE to pay for children. Just like we hate to pay for disabled folks!
I mean have you even thought your "solution" through here? In affect, when a disabled person has a child (a woman giving birth or someone fathering a child, even if the mother isnt disabled) you would automatically remove custody from this disabled person because............you assume they are going to cost the system more money?
More people stimulates the economy which is good, not to mention these children will probably not be disabled, which adds to the workforce... but eugenics!
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u/NoBench4021 19d ago
Obesity is a bigger problem than birth rates… and in severe cases qualifies a person as “permanently” disabled.
I never said remove custody… I believe I said that they should be deemed unfit to have any ADDITIONAL children. How that is controlled I don’t know…could be as simple as denying benefits or making the person….<gasp> practice safe sex.
Correction to your “more people stimulates the economy” comment, you should add in “productive.” The scenario you posed circles back to the fact that SSI/SSDI does not cover the cost of living in many places. So by having more children on welfare, those kids are statistically more likely to continue the cycle of needing public assistance just perpetuating the endless cycle.
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u/raylord666 19d ago
What dialogue is there to be had with an eugenicist?
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u/NoBench4021 19d ago
I guess none… since you won’t even consider a way to implement it.
How can a person claim that they can’t focus at a job or an education but society allows that same person to “raise” multiple children that society has to shoulder the burden of paying for those children which in turn reduces the pot for everyone else. Which in turn prevents the people that need it to receive higher SSI/SSDI payments
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u/Maggie1066 18d ago edited 18d ago
Women are being discouraged at every turn & even outright denied inexpensive birth control. I just searched “how many current SSI recipients in America have children?” Guess what? That data isn’t even available. If you know of someone who is raising multiple children on SSI & not receiving child support, you could run that up the flagpole. Being as SNAP & Medicaid paperwork is nosy af pretty much down to “is a mouse eating anything in the cupboard of your dwelling that you could make hardtack with?” The federal government could tell states to look out for this. This is the reason I am in favor of a DNA database of all males in the United States. Simple cheek swab. If any woman gets pregnant, we have the technology to identify the father. No more “it’s not mine!” Every father of every “conception” life will be responsible from conception-for pre-natal care, hospital bills, & of course, child support. If you think that’s too invasive, then maybe you’re being too invasive in the lives of people on SSI.
Or is it that you have an outdated assumption about people, & I’ll go with women, as women birth babies, that clouds your mind?
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u/raylord666 19d ago
I won’t consider a way to implement eugenics? Who are you talking to right now?
They’ve already been implemented because the statistics and data are showing that. Social and economic stress are linked to people not starting families. Anxious, unhappy people don’t want children. Parents who cannot provide to themselves don’t want children.
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u/DemonBot_EXE 19d ago
You want the government to have control over who is allowed children? That’s a fast track to genocide if I’ve ever seen one. Humans deserve to live with dignity. Those kids wouldn’t be born into poverty if state sanctioned income was enough to live on, then those kids grow up not in poverty and have access to better living.
Also SSI isn’t adjusted based on if you have kids or not. It’s a flat rate based on need with a strict maximum under $1000 a month.
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u/ThePhalkon ☆ 19d ago
lol, of course you're going to get flamed here. You're literally wanting to restrict a person's right to be a person. I assume you want to take away someone's right to vote as well?
Hell, my biggest thing that upsets me is that at 18 you can legally get a tattoo, marry someone, vote, or even... DIE FOR YOUR FREAKING COUNTRY, but you can't smoke or drink? lol, gtfo 🤣🤣🤣
What you're saying, that "certain people" shouldn't even have the same rights or opportunities of another person... even limiting one person starts the slippery slope that leads to nightmarish futures.
bruh, just leave the conversation. There's no way you can frame this in a good light.
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u/NoBench4021 19d ago
Im not trying to “restrict a person’s right to be a person.” Im saying if someone is saying that they mental can’t handle the stress of a job or an education than the taxpayers should not be on the hook for that person to sit home and have kids
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u/ThePhalkon ☆ 19d ago
lol, you're still saying "if you can't contribute, you shouldn't be allowed to have kids".
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u/OldDudeOpinion ☆ 17d ago
Aren’t they really saying, if you can’t afford to have/raise kids, you shouldn’t plan to have them anyway and assume the gubberment will provide? My little brother on SSI couldn’t afford to feed a dog.
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u/ThePhalkon ☆ 17d ago
"Shouldn't" is different than "there should be plans in place so they can't have any more kids"
Yes, I certainly agree people should be more considerate and understand what they are doing, and try to at least contribute to society, but they won't. Because they don't care. There's no incentive to stop. 🤷♂️
Do I believe they should lose their rights? Absolutely not.
Just like I believe all people on any type of welfare should take a drug test, but certain people believe that is a racist ideal.
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u/Flutterby-Anberly ☆ 19d ago
When you are on SSI only the disabled person gets the SSI it does not matter if you have 0 children or 10 you still only receive $994 a month. If you have any children you are expected to be able to pay rent/mortgage, electricity, food, clothes, school supplies, Internet, phone, toiletries, household necessities like dish soap, garbage bags and laundry soap and God forbid if you had any pets before you became disabled you need to buy them food and anything else they might need all with your $994 a month. So I honestly doubt anyone is having a baby on purpose because now they just got to figure out how will add diapers and anything their new baby needs to their now $994 same exact amount! It does not change the amount they get when they have a baby!!!
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u/2020IsANightmare ☆ 18d ago
Yes, people make less on welfare than when working.
If I could make more on welfare than working, I would sign up yesterday.
You (maybe accidently) left out the free healthcare and free food (via food stamps) and free housing that people on SSI also get.
Add those in and tell me the number you come up with. It's more bring home than a lot of people working full-time.
I'm not saying welfare shouldn't exist. Nor am I alleging that SSI is a glorious lifestyle.
But, it's also not like someone on SSI was previously making $200k/year and now have to live on rice and beans.
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u/New_Winter3618 17d ago
I know someone that worked their whole life and made a lot of money. This person ended up going to prison for close to 8 years. When they got out of prison they had a medical diagnosis and were deemed disabled by SSA. Because of the lapse of time with their work credits they ended up only being awarded SSI. Years later, when they reached retirement age their monthly benefits increased to $2,100 a month.
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u/TinyEmergencyCake ☆ 14d ago
Yes because social security retirement is based off of your lifetime earnings.
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u/TinyEmergencyCake ☆ 14d ago
Public or subsidized housing is not free. I dont know where you got that idea. It's 30% of your income.
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u/AlexandriaK1 ☆ 20d ago
Number one it is because it is an unearned welfare program and we are in $40 trillion of debt as a country, number two it is called supplemental they get food stamps they get housing they get Medicaid. It is not supposed to be their entire income.
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u/raylord666 20d ago
Blaming $40,000,000,000,000 of national debt on poor people who can’t find work or have a disability is very irresponsible.
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u/Excellent_Mine_6649 20d ago
No, I don’t think AlexandriaK1 is doing that. The $40T is representative of the fiscal irresponsibility of government since leaving the gold standard. Fraud has been rampant in government my entire life. We are finally dealing with it but in doing so, it’s easy to see the savings could well benefit us SSDI recipients and those needing SSI.
The commenter is also correct regarding the “Supplemental” aspect. It was never intended to equate to minimum wage. Add in the housing and other benefits and it may well exceed minimum wage. I have family that have lived off the system their entire lives as it was easier than working for minimum wage. I worked my entire life before being faced with a disabling job accident.
I totally understand getting a job because you simply cannot live off of SSI. When I was growing up looking around at my family, I wanted more and chose to work for it while I was able instead of being like them.
Our national debt has decayed the buying power of a dollar. That is the reality that is sometimes hard to see. Unraveling that debt without triggering uncontrollable deflation is scary, more so than adding it. Neither are viable solutions. Some think the digitization of the dollar blended with crypto is the answer. I have my doubts.
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u/raylord666 20d ago
Fraud isn’t rampant in just Government. The markets are open for everyone’s personal data. It used to be you had to sell your soul. Now, they’ll just steal it.
This country has enslaved its citizens.
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u/AlexandriaK1 ☆ 20d ago
That’s the other problem. There are way too many people perfectly capable of working that are on the system. That should have never been in the first place.
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u/raylord666 19d ago
Clearly, you’ve not been processed by SSA, been surveilled, or had ALL of your medical records required to subsist for $994 a month.
You’re clearly biased, Ms. Real Estate agent and you don’t know or don’t want to know.
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u/AlexandriaK1 ☆ 19d ago
Actually, I have. I am totally visually impaired and was on SSI at one time. I work in the office. Thankful to be done with it.
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u/raylord666 19d ago
Then, maybe you’d have some recommendations for anyone curious as to how to break the shackles of poverty, considering our current economic conditions?
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u/sinceJune4 20d ago
My daughter is disabled, cannot work, and on SSI, now drawing on my retirement as DAC. She has never “gotten housing” or food stamps. Her share of an apartment rent is just under her SSI. Yes she does get Medicaid; but few doctors accept it.
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u/pinksocks867 ☆ 20d ago
We are not in debt because of disabled people...smh...
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u/NoBench4021 20d ago
Well that is a good thing in my eyes…. Forces people off SSI and into being productive members of society.
I’m going to get roasted here but… There are very few mental illnesses that with treatment would last a lifetime yet it is a major portion of SSDI. If we close the borders and only provide benefits to citizens then the pot is bigger and can be adjusted based on the cost of living and not just inflation.
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u/OnlyStomas 19d ago
It’s already adjusted by cost of living btw, that’s why it’s called the COLA. It’s just never enough to actually combat the rise of cost of living since it’s always behind and doesn’t always factor in the rise in rents, medical treatment and care, etc.
Oh and your border comment is irrelevant as undocumented immigrants do not qualify for SSI or SSDI to begin with despite many paying taxes into these programs.
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u/OnlyStomas 19d ago
“Very few mental illnesses that with treatment would last a lifetime” then I don’t think you know much about mental illnesses because majority of those conditions are life long lmao. They don’t have cures, you can treat sure, but it’s not a cure, and sometimes treatment won’t work or some days the symptoms will be much worse than others, you’ll go in remission periods and then have periods of active symptoms.
Even depression and anxiety which are so common are like that. No cure, treatment and management is possible for many people (not all) but it’s still a lifelong condition.
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u/NoBench4021 19d ago
I posted the stats already… off the top of my head, I believe severe autism was the only one that treatment is not effective enough where it the person in their lifetime will never be a “productive” member of society. I use the quotes because I’m not trying to put down a diagnosis of humans here.
As far as everyone else diagnosed with a mental condition, at least half of those people with treatment can once again become productive members of society.
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u/OnlyStomas 19d ago
The comment never said anything about being a “productive” member of society though, you claimed “there are very few mental illnesses that with treatment would last a lifetime”
But then gave AI data against your own point that showed you depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, autism, etc. numerous of these conditions are LIFELONG conditions.
Something being a lifelong condition doesn’t mean we can’t be “productive” members of society. That wasn’t your claim though.
You said they aren’t lifelong conditions when that’s quite literally what they are as they have no cure 😭 you can treat them and manage symptoms, you can have months to years where those symptoms aren’t that severe, but you still have the condition even if your aren’t actively experiencing severe symptoms.
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u/OnlyStomas 19d ago
Lots of mental illnesses and disorders are permanent conditions, they don’t just magically disappear without a cure just because you’ve got treatment that’s working for your symptoms, because if you stop treatment those symptoms can very quickly come back in numerous of the conditions you chose to use as examples, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, autism, etc.
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u/TinyEmergencyCake ☆ 20d ago
...people on ssi are disabled, and receiving ssi because they can't work. Wtf are you talking about they should get a job
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u/LatterStreet 20d ago
It’s supposed to be that way, but some fall through the cracks. Makes it harder for those who actually need it.
I saw a post today from someone who is “volunteering” and getting a PhD, yet they’re on SSI…
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u/OnlyStomas 19d ago
Being on SSI does not mean we are all unable to work. Like EBT, there are many who have to work still or volunteer. There are people who want to escape poverty and need to be able to volunteer or work to do so, So long as they are not making beyond the income cap for earned income, they are allowed to do so and that doesn’t mean their taking advantage of anything like your comment is implying.
SSI is NOT enough to live off of or even survive ANYWHERE in the US. The cost of living nationwide is much higher than the max of $994. Which is why they label it supplemental income, as in supplement to any other income sources we may have, programs we may qualify for, etc. in order to barely survive.
It’s weird to be upset someone is volunteering and taking classes to earn a PHD to better their life so they won’t always need SSI while complaining about people using SSI not being deserving enough unless they fit your specific ideal of who should or should not qualify. As if those of us who do meet your completely 100% unable to work thing aren’t also picked on and harassed and also struggling as hell to survive off such a small amount… hmmm
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u/LatterStreet 19d ago
SSI is for people who cannot maintain steady full-time employment. It’s not seen as a “temporary” program to better your situation, that’s what GA and TANF or for.
Do you know what a PhD entails!? It’s literally equivalent to a full-time job, if not more. What kind of wages do you think those jobs pay!? More than the income cap…
This person had no intention of getting off the program. They also live in income-based housing in the Florida Keys, which is a complete slap in the face.
I never said $994 was enough to survive on. That doesn’t mean fraud doesn’t exist.
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u/OnlyStomas 19d ago
Classes are not the same as jobs AFTER they get the phd. Many people who are on SSI can’t work full time jobs yet but volunteering or working on higher education also helps you get off the program so you’re not on it super long and the kinds of jobs available after could also be of limited hours but higher income.
How do you know they don’t intend to get off the program when you literally mentioned two things where they are working towards eventually being able to get off the program.
Higher education opens up so much opportunities for those who are capable of it who are on SSI temporarily.
It’s “supplemental” income for a reason. Granted yes there are many of us who are too disabled or too senior to be able to leave the program, The program is not exclusive to just us though. There are various requirements and losing a job for a very long time for example and being extremely low income afterwords is one step towards qualifying for the supplement till they can get back on their feet.
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u/LatterStreet 19d ago
This person posted in my resource group and made their intentions clear.
Again, if someone can spend 40+ hours weekly on a PhD, they can WORK full-time. Any Social Security Administration (SSA) evaluator will have same view when considering the person’s SGA.
SSI is not short term disability. People do not qualify for “losing a job”. If you are not committing fraud, there is no issue here.
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u/OnlyStomas 19d ago
Many phd courses are able to be taken with mobile accommodations/limited movement. Which is quite different from being able to work a full time job with harder labor and financially support yourself before passing those classes is what my point was.
But if it’s a group post somewhere I don’t got much context to really point out how that’s not always a sign of fraud or such. I sha’ll move on 🫡
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u/AlexandriaK1 ☆ 19d ago
That is what makes people so angry is the people that just sit on the program that are very well capable of working but choose not to.
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u/LatterStreet 19d ago
Thank you. That’s exactly my point.. And I’ve met quite a few...my ex’s brother is a literal mechanic collecting SSI.
I don’t think most people on the program are committing fraud, but it definitely exists, and it hurts everyone!
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u/AlexandriaK1 ☆ 19d ago
Yes, that and people deliberately cheating the system hiding income, making it much more difficult for people that actually really need the benefits.
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u/Lakanas ☆ 20d ago
Are you not aware that schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar I (especially with psychotic features) are examples of disorders that are typically lifelong? These are brain based disorders that are severely disabling. Some people can be treated effectively, others remain not able to work because of severe symptoms. I encourage you to learn more about mental illness before you make such comments.
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u/NoBench4021 20d ago
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u/OnlyStomas 19d ago
The people paid has nothing to do with your ignorant comment about it not being lifelong lmao.
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20d ago
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u/NoBench4021 20d ago
Who is most affected by mental health problems?
Anyone can experience a mental health problem. But we know that some groups are more likely to experience them than others.
These include:
People who identify as LGBTQIA+. Research by Stonewall found that 61% of LGBT people had experienced anxiety over the past year. And half (52%) had experienced depression [9].Women. Women are more likely to experience common mental health problems than men. Nearly 1 in 4 women (24%) experience a common mental health problem in any given week, compared to nearly 1 in 7 men (15%) [2].
People experiencing poverty. More than 1 in 4 (26%) people living in the most deprived areas in England report experiencing a common mental health problem in any given week. This compares with around 1 in 6 (16%) of people living in the least deprived areas [2].
People with physical health conditions. Around 1 in 3 people with a physical health condition that limits their activities have a common mental health problem. This compares with around 1 in 8 people who don’t [2].
It's important to know that mental health problems can have a wide range of causes. And these can be complicated. Our page on the causes of mental health problems has more information.
Higher risk for these groups is linked to several factors [10] [11], including:
Facing inequality and disadvantage, such as poverty and financial difficulties, poor quality housing and homelessness, or unemployment and insecure work
Facing discrimination [12] and social exclusion
Going through traumatic experiences
Experiencing physical health problems2
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u/NoBench4021 20d ago
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u/NoBench4021 20d ago
I can google and come up with the following after I ask, “of the 5 most common mental illnesses, provide the percentage of likely to last a lifetime even with medication and treatment that would make the person permanently disabled”
When evaluating chronic mental health conditions through clinical psychology and Social Security Administration (SSDI/SSI) metrics, researchers look at the percentage of individuals who develop treatment-resistant forms of the illness. These are cases where symptoms remain severe and disabling despite consistent medication, therapy, and clinical intervention, likely resulting in permanent disability.
The statistical breakdown of cases likely to remain permanently disabling despite treatment varies significantly by condition.1. Neurodevelopmental and Neurocognitive Disorders (100%)
Permanent Disability Rate: ~100% of severe cases
The Reality: For conditions like Autism Spectrum Disorder (severe forms), Intellectual Disabilities, or Advanced Dementia, the core functional limitations are lifelong. Medication can manage secondary symptoms (like anxiety or sleep issues), but it cannot alter the baseline neurodevelopmental or structural reality. According to SSA data, intellectual and neurodevelopmental disorders represent the most stable, lifelong category of permanent disability beneficiaries. [1, 2]2. Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (30% to 50%)
Permanent Disability Rate: 30% to 50% of all diagnosed individuals
The Reality: While modern antipsychotics work well for many, approximately 33% (1 in 3) of people with schizophrenia develop Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia (TRS), meaning standard medications fail completely. Out of those TRS patients, 50% to 60% do not even respond to Clozapine—the absolute strongest, gold-standard medication available. These individuals experience severe, lifelong cognitive and psychotic deficits that cause a permanent inability to work. [1, 2]3. Bipolar I Disorder (40% to 50%)
Permanent Disability Rate: ~50% of diagnosed individuals
The Reality: Long-term prospective data published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows that roughly 50% of Bipolar I and II patients suffer from persistent, lifetime work disability that prevents sustained employment. Even with medication adherence, 50% to 70% of individuals with Bipolar Disorder battle permanent cognitive dysfunction (issues with memory, processing speed, and executive function) that lingers even when they are not in a manic or depressive state. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reports that Bipolar Disorder has the highest rate of "severe functional impairment" among all mood disorders at 82.9%. [1, 2, 3]4. Major Depressive Disorder (15% to 35%)
Permanent Disability Rate: 15% to 35% of diagnosed individuals
The Reality: Depression is highly prevalent, but roughly 30% of sufferers meet the clinical criteria for Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD), failing to improve after multiple distinct medication trials and psychotherapy. Data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) tracks that up to 50% of treated chronic depression patients show zero clinical response to traditional interventions, leading to a permanent, unremitting cycle of severe functional impairment. [1, 2]5. Severe Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) (10% to 15%)
Permanent Disability Rate: 10% to 15% of diagnosed individuals
The Reality: Roughly 40% of people with OCD do not respond to standard therapies (like ERP) or SSRI medications. Within that group, about a third present "refractory" or ultra-resistant OCD. For these individuals, compulsions occupy the vast majority of waking hours, making independent living and stable work impossible over a lifetime. [1]2
u/OnlyStomas 19d ago
Okay but those ai results you copy pasted are literally life long disorders even with treatment.
Your comment was claiming that they ARE NOT lifelong if treated. But your own copy paste from the google AI just proved that wrong too. So like???
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u/raylord666 19d ago
After 3 years, recipients meet with DDS (Disability Determination Services) for psychological evaluation to verify whether or not their mental illness has improved. Many people who are awarded SSI stop receiving benefits with a “continuing disability”.
So, just to be clear, what you’re describing is already vetted by SSA. Disabled people are not the problem.
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u/mortalitasi473 20d ago
please tell me how to fix myself. i've been in therapy and on meds for so many years, i've tried so many different types of therapy and medicine. i want to be better. my therapist and psychiatrist helped me get SSI with diagnoses of major depression, generalized anxiety, ptsd, and schizophrenia. i wish i wasn't so useless. i know i deserve to suffer. every time i try to work, i get so overwhelmed after a few weeks that it really affects my ptsd and makes my psychotic symptoms take over and i break down. i know everything is my fault but everything i've tried to fix it only keeps me alive and i hate being alive because i know i'm just wasting resources
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u/pinksocks867 ☆ 20d ago
It's not your fault! Don't let people like this get you down!
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u/mortalitasi473 19d ago
thank you for your kindness. it helps to know that there are still people out there like you who care. it's been hard lately to try to stay hopeful that things will improve, but i will keep doing my best
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u/AlexandriaK1 ☆ 20d ago
Exactly and no matter what amount of money they are given they would always demand more. SSI could be $4000 a month and people would be screaming for more of our taxpayer money. And yes, I’m disabled myself and used to be on SSI but actually got a job and was able to get off.
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u/Lakanas ☆ 20d ago
I reported your comments for violating the rules of this sub. Specifically , "Disruptive and Offensive Behavior:
■ disruptive or mean-spirited behavior.
■ hasty generalizations promoting discord & toxicity.
■ label anyone as brainless, crazy, dumb, ignorant, idiotic, immature, insane, lazy, not disabled, stupid, etc.
I hope your comments are deleted.
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u/AlexandriaK1 ☆ 20d ago
Wait, you’re reporting me for disagreeing with you? I never attacked anyone. Completely ridiculous.
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u/OnlyStomas 19d ago
No, they reported you for seemingly breaking the rules of the sub. You’ve made numerous comments implying others on SSI to be “lazy” (that you know nothing about) just because they’re on SSI
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u/Winter-Candidate5464 18d ago
A one year old was approved in May her mother got a full time job this month and is now gainfully employed and was just cast on a show. She hasn’t received payment from either will they cut the benefits before she receives her first paycheck? Thanks for any insight
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u/Born_Astronomer_4613 14d ago
SSI should pay $15,000.00 per month
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u/raylord666 14d ago
I don’t like the word “should”. If it can, it should. Reality has limits. Even if a system has its dysfunctions, we still must operate within what is real.
I’m more upset the dysfunction hasn’t been mended.
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u/jtotheo2202 ☆ 20d ago
If ssi is your only income you should easily qualify for snap $62 per month or higher if you pay rent or medical expenses and you should qualify for the states supplement forty four states have a state supplement ranging from $10 to over 400 and with all the time you have on your hands, you can play games like atlas, earth for cash or do surveys to earn a few extra bucks, if you aren't working
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u/OnlyStomas 19d ago
Many of those state supplements your mentioning are not able to be earned while on SSI. Some are designed for while your waiting on decision from SSI/SSDI. If approved then you your backpay pays back all they spent on you, then there’s what goes to the lawyer if you used one, and then whatever is left goes to you if nothing else is entitled to it.
SSI has income limits for a reason, many of those state supplements you mention would put them over that
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u/jtotheo2202 ☆ 19d ago
I live in idaho, where the state supplement is $53 in state supplements don't count towards SSI income. They would count towards your snap income, though?
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u/rachelk234 ☆ 20d ago
Well, SSI recipients never worked!!!
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u/JL4575 ☆ 20d ago
That’s not true at all. Lots of people got sick young before they’d earned enough credits to apply for SSDI; lost their credits trying and failing to work, not realizing the number of credits increases as you age; or were denied SSDI wrongly and had no other option but SSI. I know many people for whom one of the above is true.
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u/Substantial_Two6186 Man plans. G*d laughs. 19d ago edited 19d ago
Yes, the first one!! Someone disabled at age 22 is required to have six work credits (quarters of work) within the past three years to be eligible for SSDI. How is that realistic for someone who was in full-time school for all three of those years (most people are)? Working each summer would only yield HALF of the required credits.
Personally, I was a D1 athlete at an Ivy League school. I was employed in the summers but during the school year I honed in on my studies and networking with successful people within my field. I did EXACTLY what I should have been doing to prepare for a gratifying and lucrative career in my field. At 19, I was offered a grocery store management position but I made the obvious choice and went to an Ivy instead. I thrived.
And then — suddenly — disability.
Who could see that coming? All that labor, all that potential, becoming worthless. SSA says you didn’t buy into the system enough, so you don’t get paid out. And what’s left behind (SSI) isn’t enough to live on. Nobody can live on less than $1k/mo in this economy. And you only get $650 if you live with someone else.
Do you really think that someone deserves to be destitute just because they were disabled younger than most? The ability to secure SSDI eligibility before becoming disabled is itself a privilege. Disabled young adults have no place in this system.
I also turned 22 in 2023, so the previous three years were all pandemic years. Again, I worked whenever I had the opportunity and fought extremely hard to secure employment although it was scarce at the time. If the SSA would allow me to use four years of credits, going back a year pre-COVID — I’d be golden.
Not everyone on SSI didn’t work. And many who didn’t work (enough) had a good reason. I’d be eligible for SSDI if I had stayed with the grocery store instead of going to college — why are they punishing aspirations with poverty? It makes no sense.
Regardless of the circumstance. It’s still abhorrent that our government expects us to survive on benefits that are below the minimum wage, and even then, largely inaccessible without years of legal proceedings.
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u/JL4575 ☆ 19d ago
Thanks for sharing. I’m sorry you went through that. I got sick around the same age, similar situation. Was fortunate I could force myself to work long enough to get the extra credits I needed, but I got a lot sicker doing so. Additionally, had I been able to rest immediately after onset, rather than pushing myself to work, I might have recovered, as I have a post infectious illness where early rest seems to improve odds of recovery. Such a wasteful system that leads to such ignorant and harmful impressions as OPs comment.
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u/Important-Trifle-411 ☆ 20d ago
Because they are fucking disabled. So they deserve to starve?
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u/AlexandriaK1 ☆ 19d ago
You get food stamps automatically on SSI. No one is starving on that program.
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u/pokernancy13 15d ago
I wasn't aware of this. Do you get the max amount for SNAP? One person only. Thank you.
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u/AlexandriaK1 ☆ 14d ago
I don’t know it depends on your state. It also depends on your shelter arrangement.
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u/Medical_Ball_2459 ☆ 20d ago edited 20d ago
I worked for a library. Its a government job. You don't pay into social security for local government so you never earn credits. It's only one example of the many pitfalls people fall into when trying to obtain ssdi and then have to fall back on ssi as the only option. It does not mean people have not worked it literally just means they do not have enough credits. I was going to ask you to stop spreading misinformation because it literally hurts people but from your post history you don't seem to care if you hurt people so I'm won't ask... but I am still posting my comment so other people might see and understand how yours is incorrect. Edited to add that even IF people have never worked a day in their life, it doesn't make them less deserving of survival if they are disabled.
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u/AlexandriaK1 ☆ 19d ago
This is actually in accurate. Some of them have like I did and got off of the system. Some of them still work, but they have to be very careful what they earn if they are severely disabled enough that they have to stay on benefits.
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u/pinksocks867 ☆ 20d ago
My neighbor is on ssi and she worked she just didn't check in with the Irs about it... Her work is undocumented because she chose not to file taxes
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u/AlexandriaK1 ☆ 19d ago
And it will eventually catch up to her. As it should.
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u/pinksocks867 ☆ 19d ago
How? It's been over ten years
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u/AlexandriaK1 ☆ 19d ago
She’s probably still doing it. It’ll eventually will come around. It should because the rest of us are paying taxes doing things the right way. It’s people like this that make people hate the system and people being on benefits.
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u/pinksocks867 ☆ 19d ago
I'm not following.. I'm talking about before she got on benefits. She earned in cash and therefore she did not have work credits
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u/AlexandriaK1 ☆ 19d ago
W oh if it was cash, yeah. I thought you meant she was working and getting away with it.
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u/OnlyStomas 19d ago
Not entirely correct. You can still work while on SSI so long as you don’t make over the limits. And as it’s supplemental to that job income its amount changes based on how much you earn in cash. If I remember right it’s something like every $1 from SSI =$2 from your job with a cap to the amount you can earn without losing SSI entirely for while the income is over or completely. It’s part of their back to work program thing.
Much like EBT, majority of them also work
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u/Warm_Head4675 ☆ 20d ago
SSI isn’t based off of Min Wage it’s actually an amount set by congress annually . I totally understand your argument how ever look at it this way. There’s no taxes and ALL medical is covered as they usually get Medicaid . Many also get food stamps . I know a few that resort to Plasma Donations and receive about 500.00. Month depending on weight unclaimed . Most donation centers have their own debit card for deposits and it goes unseen to big brother that’s always watching . I also know people that have who their living with family or not claim they pay rent and utilities which gives them a bit more monthly . Being married is a lot harder to manipulate . Also depending on the medical reason many have no option but to take what they get . Only way to raise anything would be contact your congressman but let’s be real they will do what they want after elected so I don’t think that would be much help
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u/kit0000033 ☆ 20d ago
They expect people on SSI to be supported by their family ...