1. Understanding SSDI

SSDI is a federal program administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA). It provides monthly payments to individuals who have a qualifying disability and have earned enough work credits through their employment history. SSDI is not needs-based; it’s tied to your work record and the Social Security taxes you’ve paid.

2. Massachusetts State Disability Programs

While Massachusetts does not have a long-term disability insurance program that mirrors SSDI, it does have programs that can provide short-term disability income or supplemental support in certain situations, including:

• Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) – This program offers short-term wage replacement if you can’t work due to your own serious health condition.
• Workers’ Compensation – If your disability is work-related, you may qualify for temporary or permanent disability benefits through the state’s workers’ comp system.
• MassHealth (Medicaid) – While not a direct cash benefit, it can provide healthcare coverage if your income and resources meet certain limits.

3. Combining SSDI With State Disability

In many cases, you can receive SSDI and certain state disability benefits at the same time. However, the total amount you receive may be subject to offset rules. The SSA limits the combined amount of SSDI and other public disability benefits to no more than 80% of your average current earnings before you became disabled.

This means if your combined payments exceed that limit, your SSDI benefit will be reduced to stay within the cap.

4. Timing Considerations

If you qualify for a short-term Massachusetts disability program like PFML while waiting for SSDI approval, you can use that income as a bridge. Once SSDI begins, your state benefits might stop, but the months you received state disability can still help you stay financially stable during the waiting period.

5. Impact on Other Benefits

If you are also eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in addition to SSDI, receiving state disability payments could affect your SSI eligibility, since SSI is needs-based and counts most forms of income. SSDI, however, is typically not reduced unless offset rules apply.