Social security disability and social security retirement

You, or Your Family Members, May Be Eligible for Increased Benefits

Our mission is to deliver Social Security services that meet the changing needs of the public.

It's not unusual for a benefit recipient's circumstances to change after they apply or became eligible for benefits. If you, or a family member, receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), certain life changes may affect eligibility for an increase in your federal benefits. For example, if your spouse or ex-spouse dies, you may become eligible for a higher Social Security benefit.

To find out if you, or a family member, might be eligible for a benefit based on another person’s work, or a higher benefit based on your own work, see the information about benefits on the Social Security website. You can also use the Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST) to find out if you could get benefits that Social Security administers. Based on your answers to questions, this tool will list benefits for which you might be eligible and tell you more information about how to qualify and apply.

The questions and answers below are about a few of the life changes that could possibly increase your benefits.

Has your spouse or ex-spouse died?

IMPORTANT: If you are receiving benefits, there are certain life events that you are required to report. For a complete list, please select the publication below that applies to the type of benefits you receive.

NOTE: Failure to report a change may result in an overpayment.

What You Need To Know When You Get Retirement Or Survivors Benefits

What You Need To Know When You Get Social Security Disability Benefits
(Pages 11-18)

What You Need To Know When You Get Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
(Pages 7-19)

Contacting Social Security

Our website is a valuable resource for information about all of Social Security's programs. There are a number of things you can do online.

In addition to using our website, you can call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213. We treat all calls confidentially. We can answer specific questions from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Generally, you’ll have a shorter wait time if you call during the week after Tuesday. We can provide information by automated phone service 24 hours a day. (You can use our automated response system to tell us a new address or request a replacement Medicare card.) If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call our TTY number, 1-800-325-0778.

We also want to make sure you receive accurate and courteous service. That is why we have a second Social Security representative monitor some telephone calls.

Related Information

• Retirement Planner
• Disability Planner
• Survivors' Planner

Understanding SSI Home Page / Understanding Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Overview

SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI) OVERVIEW

WHAT IS SSI?

SSI stands for Supplemental Security Income. Social Security administers this program. We pay monthly benefits to people with limited income and resources who are disabled, blind, or age 65 or older. Blind or disabled children may also get SSI. 

HOW IS SSI DIFFERENT FROM SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS?

Many people who are eligible for SSI may also be entitled to Social Security benefits. In fact, the application for SSI is also an application for Social Security benefits. However, SSI and Social Security are different in many ways.

Social Security benefits may be paid to you and certain members of your family if you are “insured” meaning you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes. Unlike Social Security benefits, SSI benefits are not based on your prior work or a family member's prior work.

SSI is financed by general funds of the U.S. Treasury--personal income taxes, corporate and other taxes. Social Security taxes collected under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) or the Self-Employment Contributions Act (SECA) do not fund the SSI program.

In most States, SSI recipients also can get medical assistance (Medicaid)- to pay for hospital stays, doctor bills, prescription drugs, and other health costs.

Many States also provide a supplemental payment to certain SSI recipients.

SSI recipients may also be eligible for food assistance. In some States, an application for SSI also serves as an application for food assistance.

SSI benefits are paid on the first of the month.

To get SSI, you must be disabled, blind, or at least 65 years old and have "limited" income and resources.

In addition, to get SSI, you must also:

• be either a U.S. citizen or national, or a qualified alien;


• reside in one of the 50 States, the District of Columbia or the Northern Mariana Islands; and


• not be absent from the U.S. for a full calendar month or 30 or more consecutive days.

HOW IS SSI LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS?

Both programs pay monthly benefits.

The medical standards for disability are generally the same in both programs for individuals age 18 or older. For children from birth to the attainment of age 18 there is a separate definition of disability under SSI. The medical standard is based on the severity of your disability; financial need is not considered at this step in the eligibility process.

SSA administers both programs.