This column is designed to provide general information from The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii and should not be utilized as a substitute for professional legal advice.

  Question: I got hurt a couple of years ago on the job and can't work now. My worker's compensation has since run out and I can't make ends meet. I heard that I might be able to apply for Social Security. How do I do that? And how much could I get?

Answer: The Social Security Administration provides two financial programs to help people with disabilities: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). To qualify for SSI, a person must have limited assets and income. The maximum amount of SSI a single person can receive is $637 per month .

To qualify for SSDI, a person must have worked enough work quarters and paid into the Social Security system. SSDI does not have asset limits. The amount of SSDI a person receives depends on the amount of money the individual paid into the Social Security system.

To apply for either program, contact the Social Security Administration at (800) 772-1213.