Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Social Security Income and You

Supplemental Security Income or SSI is a federally run program that provides cash benefits to low-income persons who are over the age of 65, disabled or blind without the resources to pay for basic needs such as food, shelter and clothing. It is also available for persons who have not paid enough of their quarter earnings into the Social Security program, for whatever reason. SSI makes monthly payments to people who have low income and few resources, meeting the Social Security disability eligibility requirements.

Children's SSI benefits are also available for blind or disabled children.

Blind or disabled adults can also qualify to get SSI-based Social Security claim benefits.

Eligibility for SSI Benefits: A person must be disabled as defined by the Social Security Administration, meeting a strict recourse eligibility test prior to any medical conditions being considered.

How does SSI differ from SSDI?

Unlike Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits, SSI benefits are funded by general funds from the U.S. Treasury generated by income taxes paid every year by individuals and businesses. Social Security taxes, withheld from workers' paychecks under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act, (FICA) do not help fund the SSI program. Funding for the SSI program, along with the maximum monthly amounts that can be paid out to a qualified SSI recipient, are set by Congress every year as part of the federal budget.

The basic SSI program amount is the same nationwide. However, many states add money to the basic benefit. Consulting SSI Associates will help you get more information on special state exceptions.

SSI Qualifications

To qualify to get SSI benefits, a person must:

Be disabled, blind, or at least 65 years old and have "limited" outside income and resources.
Be a resident of the United States and not be absent from the country for a full calendar month or more than 30 days.
Either be a U.S. citizen or national, or in one of certain categories of eligible non–citizens.
Be a resident of one of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, or the Northern Mariana Islands.
Give the Social Security Administration permission to contact any financial institution and request any financial records that the financial institution may have.
File an application; and meet certain other requirements.

See our full list of disabilities eligible for SSI benefits.

Personal Income Qualifications

Whether a person qualifies for Supplemental Security income benefits also depends on other sources of personal income, obtained monthly.

Income is defined as money received such as wages, pensions, and other benefits including other Social Security benefits. Benefits considered include food and shelter. The amount that can be collected through SSI is dependent upon where a person lives and how much other income they receive each month.

Personal Income and Property Exclusions for SSI Benefits

While income is a consideration, not all of a person’s income is counted.
For example, income not counted includes:

The first $20 a month of most income you receive.
The first $65 a month you earn from working and half the amount over $65.
Food stamps.
Shelter you get from private non-profit organizations.
Most home energy assistance.

The Social Security Administration does not count everything a person owns when deciding whether or not a person has too many resources to qualify for SSI.

For example, they do not count:

The home you live in and the land it is on.
Life insurance policies with a face value of $1,500 or less.
Your car or automobile, in most cases.
Burial plots for yourself and members of your immediate family.
Up to $1,500 in burial funds for you and up to $1,500 in burial funds for your spouse.

If you qualify to receive Social Security benefits through SSI, you may also receive other benefits as well. These would include but are not limited to:

A person living in a certain type of institution.
A person living in a publicly operated residence that has more than 16 residents.
A person living in a publicly operated institution for the purpose of being educated or job training.
A person living in public emergency housing or shelters for the homeless.

Supplemental Security Income Denial Assistance

How Our Attorneys can help you with your SSI Claim

If you have already filed an application with the Social Security Administration income assistance, you may have found yourself in the troubling situation of being denied for SSI benefits.

SSI Associates has handled many special disability denial cases and can help you with your SSI claim to get you the benefits you need. More often than not, a first time Social Security applicant is denied benefits and must go through the SSI appeal process. At this point, applicants are much more likely to win with an experienced and professional SSI lawyer on their side, arguing their case.

We have years of experience with denied SSI cases and can help with your case.

Begin by filling out our free disability case evaluation or call us for a free phone consultation at (216)225-9562.

Don't wait! Get in touch with us to get disability results!