If you are applying for disability benefits, you’ll consider whether it makes sense to apply for the Social Security Disability Insurance program (SSDI), the Supplemental Security Income program (SSI), or both programs concurrently. Because the terms and eligibility rules are confusing, many claimants ask “Is it harder to get SSI or SSDI?”
The short answer is that the programs are designed for individuals with completely different needs but that It is usually harder to get SSDI because you must prove both disability and work history, while SSI does not have a work history requirement since it is reserved for people with minimal income and assets.
SSI also has strict rules, and many people are denied for financial reasons before Social Security even reviews their medical evidence.
Below, we’ll discuss both SSI and SSDI in simple language with the goal of helping you understand the differences so you can prepare and improve your chances of approval for either program.
What are SSI and SSDI?
To understand which program is harder to get, you first need to understand what each program does. SSDI stands for Social Security Disability Insurance. It pays benefits to disabled adults who have sufficient work credits and have worked long enough and paid sufficient Social Security Taxes (FICA) to qualify for the program.
SSDI is like an insurance program. You pay into the system while working. If you become disabled, you can use that insurance to supplement your income.
SSI, which stands for Supplemental Security Income, is a resource-based program with strict income and asset limits. It pays benefits to disabled adults and children who have very low income and assets. SSI is based on financial need, not work history or work credits.
SSDI and SSI Medical Rules
Many people believe that SSI is “easier” or that SSDI is “harder.” Medically, this is not true as both programs require claimants to meet the same definition of disability set by the Social Security Administration.
SSDI or SSI claimants must demonstrate that their disability is serious and long-standing such that they cannot perform their past work and cannot adjust to new work. Their medical condition must be severe enough to limit work activity and last for a consecutive period of 12 months or more. The medical review process for both programs is identical, so claimants who meet the medical standard of disability for SSDI will also meet the SSI standard.
Is SSDI Harder to Get?
Even though the medical rules are the same, SSDI tends to have more steps in the approval process than the SSI process because claimants have to demonstrate and prove they’ve paid into the program through their work credits. We call this meeting the ‘technical’ requirements of the program. Work credits depend on how long you worked, how much you’ve earned, and your age when you became disabled.
Many people are denied SSDI before Social Security even looks at their medical records because they do not have sufficient credits. This is called a technical denial.
Claimants generally need 40 work credits, with at least 20 earned in the 10 years before your disability began, to qualify for SSDI. However, the exact number of credits required depends on your age when you become disabled. Younger workers need fewer credits, and the number needed increases with age.
SSDI Documentation to Qualify for Benefits
To prove SSDI eligibility, you need medical records, documentation of your full work history with job descriptions, proof of paid taxes, earning reports and occasionally, wage verification from past employers. If documents are missing, SSDI may deny the claim.
Why SSI Is Also Hard to Get
Some people think SSI is easier because it is for low-income individuals. In reality, SSI has extremely low income and asset limits. Even small amounts of income or low-value gifts may disqualify you without a claimant realizing it. Even small gestures, such as a family member letting you stay in their home without paying rent, or an old car of no value on site, can hamper your claim.
Sometimes, even unemployment benefits create enough income to disqualify you from receiving SSI if they overlap with your qualifying period.
SSI also has a strict countable asset limit. In 2025, the limit for countable assets is $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple. If your income or assets exceed the program limits, you will not qualify for disability benefits.
Countable assets include:
-
Cash
-
Bank accounts
-
Life insurance
-
Property other than your home
-
Some vehicles
Many people are denied because they accidentally go over the limit.
Disability Approval Rates: What the Numbers Show
Every year, the Social Security Administration (SSA) releases approval statistics.
The most recent numbers show the following:
-
SSDI initial approval rate is about 37%
-
SSI initial approval rate is about 30%
But these numbers are complicated, and don’t tell the full story. Many SSI denials happen before medical review because of financial ineligibility. Those early denials are not counted in the approval rates, but would push the approval rate even lower if they were counted. More SSI claims are denied overall when you include financial denials.
Denials for both programs are very common, which is why many claimants choose to work with a disability lawyer on their claim. Studies show that claimants working with disability lawyers win more claims than those who file without an attorney.
Is It Harder to Get SSI or SSDI?
In summary, applying for disability benefits is a long and complicated process. Both programs have strict qualifications claimants must meet. SSDI is harder because of work rules.
You must prove:
-
Enough work credits
-
Recent work history
-
You are “insured” at the time of disability
SSI is harder because of money rules.
You must prove:
-
Very low income
-
Very low assets
-
Strict financial need
The medical rules for both programs are equally strict for both.
What Helps You Get Approved for Either Program
Regardless of whether you apply for SSI or SSDI, strong medical evidence including doctor’s notes, test results, imaging, inpatient stay records, and a consistent treatment history will strengthen your claim. The Social Security Administration will also want to see a record of you following your doctor’s treatment plan. If you skip appointments or stop treatment without explanation, SSA may deny you.
Why Many People Hire Disability Lawyers
Disability lawyers strengthen your claim in a number of ways, by helping you collect medical evidence, organizing your records, completing forms, and ensuring you don’t miss any deadlines. They’ll also help direct you towards the right program and all work on a contingency fee basis, so they don’t recieve a fee unless you win your claim, and their fee is collected from any backpay owed to you so you don’t have to pay for their services out-of-pocket.
Applying for Both Programs is Hard in Different Ways
So, is it harder to get SSI or SSDI?
Here is the honest answer:
-
SSDI is harder for people who do not have enough work credits or recent work.
-
SSI is harder for people who cannot meet the financial rules.
-
The medical rules are the same, and both programs deny most people on the first try.
If you’re considering applying for disability and would like to speak with a local disability lawyer on your claim, please contact our firm today for a free evaluation. There is no obligation to hire us and no fee for our services unless your claim is successful.
