Retirement Survivors Disability Insurance

Retirement, Survivors, Disability Insurance (RSDI) is only available from the Social Security Administration (SSA) to individuals with the required work history and/or their dependents. These may be in the form of primary benefits for the wage earner, or auxiliary and survivors benefits available to the dependent. There is also a burial benefit paid upon the death of the primary wage earner, if there is a surviving spouse and/or a dependent or disabled child.

Individuals are not required to apply for RSDI as a condition of eligibility for Medi-Cal; however, the EW can refer the person to apply at the nearest Social Security office if they are potentially eligible. 

Full Retirement Ages for RSDI

Birth Year

Full Retirement Age

1943 - 1954

66

1955

66 and 2 months

1956

66 and 4 months

1957

66 and 6 months

1958

66 and 8 months

1959

66 and 10 months

1960 and later

67

Budgeting

An RSDI overpayment adjustment amount is to be treated as unavailable income.

An individual may be employed and still receive RSDI. The maximum yearly earnings amount varies depending upon the age of the recipient. SSA should be contacted when more information or clarification is needed.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

An individual may be eligible for SSI if they are:

  • Age 65 or older, or
  • Legally blind at any age, or
  • Disabled at any age when the impairment:
    • Is expected to last at least 12 months and prevents any substantial work, or
    • Is expected to result in death.

Individuals are not required to apply for SSI as a condition of MC eligibility, however, if the individual meets any of the above requirements, the EW can refer the person to the nearest Social Security Office using a “Referral to/from Social Security” (SCD 169).

Receipt of SSI may be verified by:

  • The award letter
  • MEDS [INQX] Screen
  • A statement from financial institution clearly indicating SSI direct deposit
  • Completed SCD 169 from SSA

Budgeting

  • Retroactive SSI lump sum payments are considered exempt for a period of nine months following the month of initial receipt for Pickle, Disabled Adult Child, and Disabled Widow(er)s programs.
  • Retroactive SSI lump sum payments are exempt without a time limit and not considered income for Medically Needy/Medically Indigent (MN/MI) programs and other programs following MN/MI rules.

Other Unearned Income

Railroad Retirement and any other payments made by the Railroad Retirement Board.

  • Unemployment Insurance Benefits. (Disaster Unemployment Insurance Benefits are exempt for MC)
  • Proceeds from a life insurance policy in excess of the lesser of:
    • $1,500, or
    • The amount expended on the insured person's last illness and burial expense.
  • Loans which require no repayment.
  • Gifts.
  • Nonexempt child/spousal support, whether provided voluntarily or by court order.
  • Inheritances which are in the form of cash, securities or other liquid assets.
  • Contributions from any source.
  • Prizes and awards.
  • Net income from the rental of real property which does not meet the definition of earned income.
  • Net income from personal property which does not meet the definition of earned income; for example, the interest portion of income from a deed of trust.
  • Dividends paid to the owner of a life insurance policy. Dividends accruing to the policy must be counted in the cash surrender value of the policy.
  • Interest payments from any source (i.e., interest bearing checking and savings accounts, trust deeds, sales contracts, etc. unless it can be exempted as Irregular or Infrequent Income).
  • Royalties which include, but are not limited to, payments received by:
    • The owner of a patent or a copyright.
    • A person for the use of their invention.
    • The owner of a mine, oil well, or other similar holdings, for the extraction of the product or other use.
  • The portion of a Public Assistance recipient's income which was NOT used to determine their own grant.
  • That portion of incentive payments or training allowances made to an adult under WIA which exceeds actual training expenses.

Related Topics

Non-MAGI MC Income