Confused about SSI vs. SSDI eligibility - can my bipolar relative receive both Social Security benefits?

The social worker is incorrect. Your brother-in-law CAN receive both SSI and SSDI simultaneously - this is called "concurrent benefits." However, the total amount will be affected since they offset each other. If his SSDI payment would be higher than his current SSI payment, he would get: - The full SSDI amount - A reduced SSI payment (or possibly none if SSDI exceeds certain thresholds) The denial is likely NOT because he's receiving SSI. SSDI denials are extremely common on first application (about 65-70% get denied initially). Since he has a documented mental health condition and hospitalization history, a reconsideration and potentially an appeal with an ALJ (Administrative Law Judge) has a good chance of success. At the reconsideration stage, I'd strongly recommend getting a disability attorney. They typically take cases on contingency (no upfront cost, they get paid from backpay if you win). They understand exactly what medical documentation is needed to prove his case.

ya the social worker is totally wrong! i get both ssi and ssdi. my ssdi is only like $740 cause i didnt work that many years before i got sick and my ssi is like $225 to bring me up to the max. they call it concurrent benefits. the SSA office should have automatically checked if he was eligible for both when he applied!!!

GET A LAWYER NOW!!!! Don't wait!!! The system is DESIGNED to deny people the first time no matter how deserving. I wasted a whole year trying to do it myself and got denied twice. Got a lawyer and was approved in 4 months. My bipolar was way less severe than your brother's situation sounds and I got approved. They work on contingency so no money upfront. The SSA people will tell you anything to get you off the phone. Half the time they don't even know their own rules. My own case worker told me three completely different things on three different calls!!!!

Yes, he can potentially receive both SSI and SSDI benefits concurrently. To clarify a few important points: 1) SSDI eligibility is based on work credits and medical disability, NOT on whether someone receives SSI 2) The maximum SSI federal benefit in 2025 is $943/month (plus any state supplement), while SSDI benefits are calculated based on his lifetime earnings 3) If he qualifies for SSDI and the amount is less than his current SSI, he'll continue receiving SSI to make up the difference 4) If his SSDI amount exceeds the SSI amount, his SSI may be reduced or eliminated, but his total benefit would be higher 5) SSDI also comes with Medicare after 24 months, which is a significant additional benefit Regarding the reconsideration: only about 15% of reconsiderations are approved. However, with proper medical documentation and representation, his chances improve substantially at the hearing level (if reconsideration is denied). I recommend consulting with a disability attorney now. They can help gather the proper medical evidence and prepare for the possibility of a hearing. Most disability attorneys work on contingency and are limited by SSA to charging no more than 25% of backpay (capped at $7,000).

when i was going thru this whole mess with my son, trying to get him his benefits, i couldnt even get someone on the phone at social security! their hold times were like 3-4 hours then they'd just disconnect me! was so frustrating esp when he needed his meds. i tried for WEEKS! finally my cousin told me about Claimyr and it saved me. its a service that basically calls SSA for you and gets you to a real person. saved me hours of hold time. you can see how it works here https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - might help while your dealing with this mess!

My own mental health journey with the SSA took 3 years from initial application to finally getting approved. Most people don't realize that around 2/3 of all disability applications are denied initially - it's basically part of their process. I spent my entire career as a licensed clinical social worker before my own disability, and I STILL needed to hire an attorney for my SSDI case. Your brother-in-law's situation - with documented hospitalizations, a clear bipolar diagnosis, and an inability to maintain employment - is exactly the type of case that should eventually be approved. One suggestion: make sure all of his medical records from EVERY provider and hospital are being submitted. Missing records from even one provider can result in denial. Also, get statements from former employers about how his condition affected his work performance before he had to stop completely. The good news is that when he finally gets approved for SSDI, he'll receive backpay from his initial application date. Make sure he knows that if he gets a large backpay amount, he needs to spend it down properly (on approved expenses) or it could affect his continued SSI eligibility.

Just to add a practical note - if your brother-in-law's bipolar disorder includes periods where he has trouble managing his finances, you might want to look into becoming his representative payee. My daughter has bipolar and during manic episodes, she would spend all her money immediately, leaving nothing for rent and necessities. Being a rep payee allowed me to ensure her benefits were used for housing and basic needs first. It's a bit of paperwork but worth considering if money management is an issue during episodes. SSA has a specific form for this (SSA-11).

A quick update on timing expectations: the reconsideration phase typically takes 3-5 months (though some areas are faster). If denied again, requesting a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) can take 8-12+ months depending on your location. The good news is that the ALJ approval rate is much higher (around 50%) than initial applications or reconsideration. With appropriate medical documentation and attorney representation, those odds improve significantly. For SSI/SSDI concurrent benefits calculation: if he's approved for SSDI at $1,200/month, his SSI would be reduced to approximately $743 (current $943 SSI minus $200), for a total of $1,200. This is because SSA counts SSDI as unearned income for SSI purposes, but they disregard the first $20 of unearned income. Hope this helps with planning!