There is a difference between SSDI and SSI. SSDI is for people who have worked for a while and have paid into that program. SSI is for people that do not really have a work history or they do not meet the standards of SSDI. SSI if for people who do not have any work history or very little work history. You can work and still qualify for SSI. However if you are receiving SSI and you go to work you need to notify them. They will not close your case but you have to turn in your paycheck stubs to your local SSA office. Depending on how much you make will depend on if you will still get money form SSI. If you make to much, they will not give you money but has long has you continue to turn in your paycheck stubs they will keep your case open. The reason they do that is in case you stop working you do not have to wait to have your SSA reinstated. You just call and say you no longer are working. Does this make sense?

Example: My son has autism and mild retardation, however he works in a flower shop 5 days a week. He works around 25-30 hours a week depending on whats going on. He has an open case with SSI. I turn in his paycheck stubs every other month. I do this because if he was to loose his job his SSI would kick right in. If I stopped turning in those paycheck stubs then they would drop him from the SSI program.

He has worked off and on since he was 16 he will be 25 this year. He did not have enough work history to qualify for SSDI.

Some applications do ask if you have a disability. The reason being is that if they hire someone with a disability they can get a extra tax break. Walmart hires a lot of people with disabilities because of the tax break and the cheap labor. TJ Maxx, CVS also hires people with disabilities for the same reasons.