What Is The Difference Between Title Two And Title Sixteen Disability?

If you are struggling with a disability, you may wonder if you’re entitled to disability benefits for your condition. If your disability has rendered you unable to work, disability benefits can be tremendously helpful in relieving financial stress as you try to provide for yourself and those you love.

The good news is that for those who satisfy the necessary criteria, there are different types of disability benefits that may be available. The Social Security Administration offers two programs – Title Two and Title Sixteen – which provide disability benefits to qualifying individuals.

You may be asking yourself what the differences are between these two programs and whether or not you might be eligible to receive benefits under one or the other. Let’s take a closer look together.

Title Two – Social Security Disability Insurance

Title Two Benefits are also known as Social Security Disability Insurance benefits or SSDI benefits for short. SSDI benefits can be tremendously helpful in relieving financial stress while struggling with a disability.

To qualify for SSDI benefits, an individual must meet the following criteria:

• The individual has a qualifying disability that is established by sufficient medical proof.
• The disability has rendered the individual unable to work for at least one continuous calendar year or more.
• The individual has earned enough work credits at the time of the onset of their disability. Work credits are earned by paying Social Security taxes regularly from income earned at a qualifying job.

Those who seek SSDI benefits should understand that the amount of benefits paid will not depend upon the particular disability that an individual has. Instead, the monthly benefit amount will be based on the individual’s average lifetime earnings and what they paid into the Social Security system. The maximum SSDI amount available in 2024 is $3,822 per month.

To determine how much a particular individual might receive in SSDI benefits each month, the Social Security Administration will reach that figure by indexing and averaging the 35 highest earning years in an individual’s working life. This is called the Averaged Indexed Monthly Earnings, or AIME for short. The AIME is then included in a formula that will determine the monthly benefit amount. Generally, the more a person has earned and paid into the system, the greater their benefit will be.

Title Sixteen – Supplemental Security Insurance

Supplemental Security Income benefits, or SSI benefits, for short, are established by Title Sixteen. As is the case with SSDI benefits, to receive SSI benefits, individuals will need to establish that they have a qualifying medical condition that has rendered them disabled for at least one continuous calendar year or more.

While Title Two and Title Sixteen benefits share some things in common, they also have distinct differences. These include:

• Work Credits: SSI benefits differ from SSDI benefits in that an individual doesn’t have to have work credits or have paid into the Social Security system through a job to receive these benefits.
• Income Limits: To receive SSI benefits, an individual must have income and resources below a specific limit established by the Social Security Administration. This limit may differ from year to year, but individuals must have total resources below the limit in order to qualify for benefits.
• Funding: SSDI benefits are funded by Social Security taxes, while general tax revenues fund SSI benefits.

Those who apply for SSI benefits will need to be able to present medical proof regarding their disability, as well as proof of their income and assets. If approved for benefits, those who qualify for SSI can receive a maximum of $943 per month for an individual or $1,415 per month for a couple. Some individuals may receive more than this amount if they live in a state that supplements federal SSI payments with state funds.

Regardless of which type of benefit you think you may be entitled to, your first step should be contacting an attorney who knows and understands the law and can advise you regarding your particular circumstances. At Keener Law, we’re here for you.

Call Keener Law Today

At Keener Law, we know and understand every aspect of the law that pertains to disability benefits. That means we know the best legal strategies to pursue on your behalf as you seek the benefits you need and deserve. When you’re struggling with a disability, you should be able to focus on caring for yourself and those you love and on moving forward toward a better chapter ahead. You don’t need to worry about complicated legal matters, too. Instead, you can leave those matters to us, knowing that you’re in good hands when you do. If you’re ready to get started, give us a call today. We look forward to speaking with you soon.