SSI, SSDI, and overpayments

SSI is a program is for people who are disabled and have very low income and assets. You do not have to have worked to get SSI.

A single person has to have less than $2,000 and a couple has to have less than $3,000.

Use the Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool on the Social Security Administration website to find out if you are eligible.

See Who is eligible for SSI on the Social Security Administration website.

Report changes that might affect your benefits to to SSA to avoid an overpayment. The Volunteer Lawyer's Project has an online interview to help you write a letter to SSA to prevent an overpayment. 

SSDI is a program is for people who are disabled and who have worked and paid into the Social Security system. For the SSDI program, it does not matter how much money you have.

Some people get some money from both programs. See if I qualify for SSDI on the Social Security Administration (SSA) website.

Report changes that might affect your benefits to to SSA to avoid an overpayment. The Volunteer Lawyer's Project has an online interview to help you write a letter to SSA to prevent an overpayment. 

An overpayment happens if Social Security pays you too much SSI or SSDI. Social Security will send you a letter telling you that you have an overpayment. The letter should tell you:

• how much you have been overpaid,
• how the overpayment happened,
• the dates the overpayment happened,
• how you can repay the overpayment,
• and your rights to appeal the overpayment and to request a waiver of the overpayment.

Learn more about SSI Overpayments from the Social Security Administration.

You can ask Social Security to waive the repayment or lower the rate of repayment of your overpayment. Learn more on the SSA website.

The Volunteer Lawyer's Project has an online interview to help you create a form you can use to ask Social Security to waive or lower your overpayment.