Understanding Disability Insurance: A Guide to SSDI and SSI States with Disability Insurance

It can be difficult to navigate the state disability programs available to meet your needs. Here we explore the differences between Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI) and the state-specific disability coverage you can expect based on your state eligibility.

How Disability Insurance Programs Vary By State

According to the SSA, disability insurance in different states vary based on who provides insurance, getting through the approval process, the types of compensable injuries or illnesses, and the level of benefits available.

What is the Difference Between SSDI and SSI?

Both SSDI and SSI are critical for disabled individuals who find themselves unable to earn a living due to their condition. There are essential differences between SSDI and SSI that indicate when you should apply for each:

SSI: To apply for SSI, you must meet one of the following requirements:

• You are 65 or older
• You are totally or partially blind
• You suffer from a medical condition impacting your ability to work and that is expected to last one year or result in death

And the following non-medical factors:

• Your income, including any social security benefits you receive, pensions, supplements for shelter and food, part-time work, etc.
• Your assets, including bank accounts, stocks, and bonds, if valued above $2,000 for one person or $3,000 for a couple, not including your home or car
• The application for any Social Security benefits available to determine if you are eligible to receive further funding

SSDI: SSDI benefits are based on an established work history and a list of disabilities that limit your ability to perform Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). It is based on the following medical and non-medical disability criteria:

• 40 work credits, 20 of which were earned in the last ten years
• Suffering from a condition expected to last at least a year or that will result in death
• Proof of a qualifying mental or physical disability
• Your grid rule evaluation

Disability Insurance Eligibility By State

Rules regarding qualifying for disability benefits do not vary from state to state. As a result, you don’t have to worry whether a move from one state to another impacts your ability to receive disability. At the same time, you won’t become eligible if you are rejected for disability in one state by moving to another.

SSI Programs Across States

SSI is not funded by Social Security taxes, which means the state you live in can change your payments. Because most states supplement federal SSI payments to a certain degree, this impacts how much you can expect to receive.

Also, some states require different types of information from recipients receiving SSI. These states have specific requirements as follows:

• California requires SSI recipients to inform the SSI office of any changes to where meals are eaten.
• Hawaii, Michigan, and Vermont require recipients to inform the Social Security office if they live in an assisted-living facility, the level of care they receive when living in an assisted-living facility, and changes to the level of care.
• Massachusetts: You must inform the Social Security office if you are paying more than two-thirds of the living expenses for your household and when those expenses increase or decrease.
• New York: The Social Security office requires information related to where you eat your meals as well as whether the people you live with impact how your meals are prepared. They also require information regarding changes to your living situation.

States with Their Own Disability

Some states offer their own disability programs in hand with federally funded SSI payments provided by the SSA. In this case, how you apply and receive both will vary. For example, if you live in the following states, when you apply for SSI, you are also applying for the state additions to your benefit payments:

• California
• Delaware
• Hawaii
• Iowa
• Michigan
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Vermont

If you live in any of the remaining states, you need to apply to the state separately to receive state-funded payments.

SSDI By State

SSDI benefits do not change by state as it is based on your average lifetime earnings. However, there are factors such as state average incomes or employment rates that impact the average benefit amounts paid. Here are the averages by state:

• New Jersey: $1,505.33
• Delaware: $1,462.23
• Nevada: $1,430.04
• Connecticut: $1,416.96
• Arizona: $1,414.45
• Maryland: $1,413.31
• New York: $1,407.15
• New Hampshire: $1,400.88
• Hawaii: $1,399.88
• California: $1,395.93
• Florida: $1,391.59
• South Carolina: $1,387.31
• Michigan: $1,384.77
• Colorado: $1,374.74
• Illinois: $1,372.64
• Washington: $1,371.51
• Virginia: $1,371.15
• Massachusetts: $1,366.75
• Pennsylvania: $1,365.92
• Wyoming: $1,365.71
• Georgia: $1,361.26
• North Carolina: $1,359.17
• Indiana: $1,355.25
• Utah: $1,351.22
• Minnesota: $1,350.71
• Alaska: $1,348.58
• West Virginia: $1,344.70
• Texas: $1,341.37
• Wisconsin: $1,340.21
• Oregon: $1,338.75
• Rhode Island: $1,338.57
• Idaho: $1,334.02
• Alabama: $1,333.89
• Tennessee: $1,325.22
• Kentucky: $1,322.16
• Kansas: $1,321.28
• Missouri: $1,319.28
• Ohio: $1,303.69
• Oklahoma: $1,303.18
• Louisiana: $1,300.18
• Mississippi: $1,297.66
• Arkansas: $1,294.57
• Iowa: $1,291.55
• Montana: $1,287.91
• New Mexico: $1,280.54
• Vermont: $1,279.63
• Maine: $1,274.98
• Nebraska: $1,274.63
• North Dakota: $1,269.30
• South Dakota: $1,265.47
• District of Columbia: $1,209.39
  

Geographic Differences in Disability Benefits

Here is how your state impacts SSI and SSDI benefits:

SSI

Because SSI is administered by the SSA and not funded by Social Security taxes, you will experience geographic differences in monthly payments based on your state. Since most states supplement federal SSI payments using state funding, this impacts the amount of additional funds available.

Average payments by state are as follows:

• District of Columbia: $606.08
• Pennsylvania: $595.82
• Maryland: $594.15
• Washington: $591.23
• Michigan: $590.80
• Ohio: $590.39
• Minnesota: $590.18
• Illinois: $586.11
• Delaware: $585.50
• Indiana: $580.90
• Nevada: $580.12
• Wisconsin: $578.77
• Louisiana: $577.24
• Oregon: $576.08
• New York: $575.48
• West Virginia: $574.91
• Arizona: $574.76
• Connecticut: $574.38
• Rhode Island: $572.34
• Oklahoma: $571.53
• Arkansas: $571.43
• Massachusetts: $570.89
• Virginia: $569.92
• Kentucky: $569.38
• Kansas: $568.08
• Florida: $567.70
• Utah: $566.99
• Tennessee: $565.69
• Georgia: $565.54
• Idaho: $564.18
• Colorado: $563.14
• Missouri: $559.71
• Alabama: $558.17
• South Carolina: $557.47
• North Carolina: $556.50
• Iowa: $555.95
• Hawaii: $554.03
• Mississippi: $553.18
• Nebraska: $553.03
• Maine: $551.64
• Texas: $550.84
• California: $549.21
• Vermont: $549.19
• New Mexico: $548.28
• Wyoming: $548.06
• Alaska: $546.50
• New Hampshire: $544.45
• New Jersey: $544.02
• South Dakota: $542.73
• Montana: $536.35
• North Dakota: $530.70
  

SSDI

The following five states offer state SDI:

1. California: Up to $1,620 per week for 52 weeks
2. Hawaii: Up to $76 per week for 26 weeks
3. New York: Up to $170 per week for 26 weeks
4. New Jersey: Up to $1,025 per week for 26 weeks
5. Rhode Island: Up to $1,007 per week for 30 weeks

Expert Guidance and Appeal Process

If you want to ensure you receive the full amount of disability benefits available in your state, disability advocates act as valuable allies whether you are completing your application or need assistance in the appeals process. As licensed professionals, Princeton’s disability advocates capably manage your application or disability appeal and hearing equipped with the information they need to prove your eligibility.

Reach out to Princeton Disability Advocates here.