- A key difference between SSI and Social Security disability or retirement benefits is that a general federal fund, not worker contributions, funds SSI. The program helps old, blind or disabled people who have little or no other income by providing them with income to meet the recipient's basic needs for food, clothing and shelter. Some states contribute additional money to resident recipients' SSI income.
- After your death, your surviving children will not receive SSI benefits. Benefits paid through SSI are only paid to the person who qualifies for benefits. No benefits are payable to a surviving spouse or child. All benefits end when the recipient's life ends.
- Children can qualify for SSI benefits on their own. A child may be eligible for SSI benefits if the child is under age 18, is not doing substantial work at a job, has a physical or mental condition that results in certain serious limitations and the condition is expected to last at least one year and to result in the child's death. If your child is eligible, he may receive SSI benefits both during your lifetime and after your death.
- Social Security Disability Insurance differs from SSI in that SSDI is based on an individual's prior work and contributions to Social Security. Contributions the recipient made while she was working fund SSDI. A deceased worker's children may receive survivor benefits up to age 18, or age 19 if the children are attending secondary school full time. Disabled children can get SSDI survivor benefits beyond age 19 if they are disabled and became disabled before age 22.
- Individuals who receive Social Security disability or retirement income based on prior work also may receive SSI benefits, if the Social Security benefit is low enough to qualify. In that event, surviving children under age 18--or age 19 if the child is still attending secondary school--would receive survivor's benefits based upon the deceased parent's Social Security benefits but not based upon the SSI benefits.
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