Can you collect unemployment if your on social security

In nearly all of the US, there are no rules which prevent you from receiving both unemployment benefits and Social Security disability support. This is also true for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and unemployment benefits, thanks to recent laws changes since the year 2000.

In practice however, it is very difficult to be a recipient of both plans. This is because the criteria for receving both are at odds with one another; to collect unemployment benefits you must be actively searching for work while the only way to qualify for disability benefits is being unable to work.

The only state which you will have problems receiving both benefits is Minnesota. It used to be common that states had laws that reduced the amount of unemployment benefits received if the recipient was receiving other parts of Social Security support. While this has been repealed across the US, Minnesota’s rules around this will continue until July 3, 2022.

  • Are Social Security disability payments for lifetime?
  • What conditions are considered a disability for Social Security?
  • What is the average monthly Social Security disability benefit?

For SSI payments, it is only income from work which could reduce the amount of support you receive. However, as unemployment benefits are not considered work income then receiving the support won’t reduce the amount of SSI payments you could receive.

What about Supplemental Security Income and disability benefits?

Eligibility requirements for SSI benefits are fairly strict as the programme is designed to support specific groups of low-income Americans. Recipients of SSI payments must be aged 65 or older, blind ordisabled. The eligibility for SSDI payments are more difficult as claimants must have a disability, from this list, that prevents them from working.

Social Security Number 001-01-0001 was given to Grace D. Owen of Concord, New Hampshire. She applied for a number on November 24, 1936. pic.twitter.com/W2azEm0Giw

— Vsauce (@tweetsauce) May 8, 2022

For claimants, there are no rules in place to prevent them from receiving both parts of benefit support. However, receiving both payments could take you over the income threshold for SSI payments as SSDI payments are included in counting towards the eligibility for the former.

As more than 16 million Americans have lost their jobs in the last three weeks, many have scrambled to apply for unemployment insurance to help cover their expenses.

And some workers age 62 and up may also consider tapping another source: Social Security retirement benefits.

During the financial crisis, more people decided to file for benefits early at 62 to replenish lost income, according to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. In 2009, about 42.4% of 62-year-olds started receiving benefits, up from 37.6% in 2008.

Taking retirement benefits at the first possible opportunity will result in smaller monthly checks for the rest of your life. If you wait until your full retirement age – 66 or 67, depending on the year in which you were born – you will get 100% of your earned benefits. Plus, for every year you postpone benefits until age 70, those checks will be even larger.

That deal has only gotten better as interest rates have gone down and payouts from private annuities have also declined, said David Blanchett, head of retirement research at Morningstar.

"Today, right now, trying to really focus on delaying Social Security is a really smart move for folks at retirement," Blanchett said.

Still, if your income has dropped suddenly, starting your benefits may be a safety net.

Here are the big questions to ponder before you claim.

Can I receive both unemployment and Social Security?

The answer is yes. Generally, unemployment insurance doesn't count Social Security retirement benefits in its income calculations, said Demetra Nightingale, institute fellow at the Urban Institute, a nonpartisan think tank. Other sources of income, such as annuities or investment income, also typically don't count.

But whether you qualify for unemployment depends on the rules of your state.

"As long as they're eligible under the state rules ... then they would qualify," Nightingale said.

Can you collect unemployment if your on social security

Some states previously had Social Security offsets, which meant they would reduce unemployment benefits when someone is also receiving Social Security. But those rules have largely been repealed, according to the National Employment Law Project.

Of note, if you are receiving Social Security disability benefits, it means you are too disabled to work and therefore ineligible for unemployment benefits, said Gary Burtless, senior fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution, a think tank.

What if I change my mind or my circumstances shift?

If you decide to claim benefits now, there are a couple of ways you may be able to adjust your strategy later if your circumstances change.

If you start receiving checks now and later change your mind, you have up to one year to withdraw your application.

There are restrictions, however. For example, you cannot do this 12 months after you made your decision. And you can only do this once.

Another catch: you must repay all of the benefits that you and your family received.

Still, this could be an option if your finances improve and you can afford to stop getting those checks and let your benefits grow.

It does not always pay to take benefits early if you still have income coming in and you are younger than your full retirement age. According to Social Security rules, your benefits will be reduced by $1 for every $2 you earn over $18,240. 

More from Personal Finance:
Many Americans can't pass this basic Social Security quiz
People on Social Security are eligible for stimulus payments
Social Security offices close due to coronavirus

Another strategy is to claim your retirement benefits early and then suspend those checks when you reach your full retirement age.

That way, you can let your benefits grow up until age 70, when the Social Security Administration would automatically begin sending you checks again. You can request to start payments again at any time.

Understand that any family members who receive benefits based on your record will not be able to do so while your own benefits are suspended.

For individuals who need the income now, it could be a "very important lifeline for them," said David Freitag, a financial planning consultant at MassMutual.

"Taking benefits for a year and suspending them at full retirement age might be a good way to restore that loss of taking a benefit early," Freitag said.

Where can I go for help?

Admittedly, the stakes are now higher when it comes to knowing what decision you want to make.

That is because the Social Security Administration, like many businesses, is running on a reduced capacity in the wake of COVID-19.

The agency's offices are currently closed to the public. And while there is help available by phone, individuals with critical issues are taking a priority.

"You can apply online for benefits, and you don't have to go to any office, which is good news," Freitag said. "You just have to have the right information about your filing strategy."

The Social Security Administration's website has an abundance of tips on the ins and outs of retirement benefits.

It may also help to use a Social Security calculator to understand how your decision will impact your finances.

Can I collect unemployment and Social Security at the same time in California?

Yes, you can. Collecting unemployment insurance does not prevent you from receiving Social Security retirement benefits or vice versa.

How long can you collect unemployment in Florida?

Weeks of Unemployment Insurance Available and Unemployment Rates.

Can you collect unemployment and disability at the same time in NJ?

The maximum that you can collect in unemployment insurance and Disability During Unemployment benefits combined is one and one-half times the maximum benefit amount on your claim. Benefits are paid for calendar weeks, beginning Sunday and ending Saturday.

Can you collect unemployment and disability at the same time in NY?

You may not collect unemployment benefits and disability benefits for the same period of time.