I spent the beginning of this week in Spokane, WA where I experienced hail, snow, sun, and an informative training facilitated by Jonathan Beard. Building Changes sponsored the training for homeless families providers. The training sought to clarify the not always obvious differences between SSI and SSDI. While their acronyms are only one letter off, they are very different programs.

SSI stands for Supplemental Security Income and is a welfare program that makes payments to aged, blind and disabled people who also meet the means test (looks at income, resources, and living arrangements). SSDI on the other hand is an insurance program, hence its name, Social Security Disability Insurance, and claimants must have paid money into it through the Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA payroll tax deductions) for enough years to be covered and at least some of these taxes must have been paid in recent years.

Jonathan walked us through how to get clients enrolled in both programs and helped demystify the concept of people on SSI and SSDI returning to work. Generally there is fear about returning to work because people don't want to risk losing their benefits, and the important healthcare associated with it. In recent years Social Security has worked to decrease this risk by adding work programs such as the Trial Work Period for SSDI, a provision that allows a period of nine months in which a beneficiary can work and receive full benefits no matter how much is earned. For a full list of work incentive programs, please see Jonathan's presentation overview. Please also feel free to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with any questions you may have.

Raising awareness about the option of employment for people on benefits is critical and part of Building Changes ongoing technical assistance efforts. Together, through better information, I believe we can get people back to work!