Does a substance use disorder prohibit access to SSI or SSDI benefits?
No, not necessarily. The Social Security Act was amended in 1996 to state that an individual may not be eligible for SSI or SSDI benefits if drug addiction or alcoholism (DA&A) is material to the disability determination. (DA&A is “material” if the individual would not be deemed disabled if the use of drugs or alcohol were to stop.) People who have other disabling conditions that are independent of their drug addiction or alcoholism (e.g., a serious mental illness) are still eligible for benefits. Because most states link SSI and Medicaid beneficiary actions, the loss of SSI or SSDI benefits due to the DA&A benefits elimination will automatically trigger the loss of Medicaid coverage as well.
