If your loved one’s spinal cord injury (SCI) keeps them from working, and it looks like they won’t be able to work for a year or more, you should check if they can get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Income (SSDI). You might be able to get SSI if you have a disability and also have a low income or resources. SSDI gives financial benefits to people with disabilities who have a certain number of work credits. It can take five months or even longer to start getting SSDI payments, so it’s important to apply soon. Sometimes, a person can get both SSI and SSDI at the same time, which is called concurrent benefits. Applying for these payments does not mean your loved one will never work again. Many people with SCI learn to manage their condition and go back to their old jobs or find new ones. The Social Security Administration has a guide called “The Red Book” that helps transition for people who are getting SSI or SSDI to go back to work.