SSI for Adults: Who Qualifies and How

Thursday, March 24, 2011

WHO

(Kids can get SSI too. A separate blog post will discuss SSI benefits for children.)

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal benefit that makes monthly payments to adults who have low income and few resources and are:

*Age 65 or older;
*Blind; or
*Disabled.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) manages the SSI program. Even though Social Security manages the program, SSI is not paid for by Social Security taxes. SSI is paid for by U.S. Treasury general funds, not the Social Security trust funds.

Income
Income is money you receive such as wages, Social Security benefits and pensions. Income also includes such things as food and shelter. The amount of income you can receive each month and still get SSI depends partly on where you live. The current income limit in California is $1,000 per month.

Social Security does not count all of your income when they decide whether you qualify for SSI. For example, they do not count:

*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 nonprofit organizations; and
*Most home energy assistance.

If you are married, they also include part of your spouse’s income and resources when deciding whether you qualify for SSI. If you are younger than age 18, they include part of your parents’ income and resources. And, if you are a sponsored noncitizen, they may include your sponsor’s income and resources.

If you are a student, some of the wages or scholarships you receive may not count.

If you are disabled but work, Social Security does not count wages you use to pay for items or services that help you to work. For example, if you need a wheelchair, the wages you use to pay for the wheelchair do not count as income when SSA decides whether you qualify for SSI.

Also, Social Security does not count any wages a blind person uses for work expenses. For example, if a blind person uses wages to pay for transportation to and from work, the wages used to pay the transportation cost are not counted as income.

If you are disabled or blind, some of the income you use (or save) for training or to buy things you need to work may not count.

Resources (things you own)
Resources that SSA counts in deciding whether you qualify for SSI include real estate, bank accounts, cash, stocks and bonds.

You may be able to get SSI if your resources are worth no more than $2,000. A couple may be able to get SSI if they have resources worth no more than $3,000. If you own property that you are trying to sell, you may be able to get SSI while trying to sell it.

Social Security does not count everything you own in deciding whether you have 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 (usually);
*Burial plots for you and members of your immediate family; and
*Up to $1,500 in burial funds for you and up to $1,500 in burial funds for your spouse.

Other rules you must meet
To get SSI, you must live in the U.S. or the Northern Mariana Islands and be a U.S. citizen or national. In some cases, noncitizen residents can qualify for SSI.

If you are eligible for Social Security or other benefits, you should apply for them. You can get SSI and other benefits if you are eligible for both.

If you live in certain types of institutions, you may get SSI.

If you live in a city or county rest home, halfway house or other public institution, you usually cannot get SSI. But there are some exceptions.

If you live in a publicly operated community residence that serves no more than 16 people, you may get SSI.

If you live in a public institution mainly to attend approved educational or job training to help you get a job, you may get SSI.

If you live in a public emergency shelter for the homeless, you may get SSI.

If you live in a public or private institution and Medicaid is paying more than half the cost of your care, you may get a small SSI benefit.

HOW

If you are applying for SSI, you can complete a large part of your ­application by visiting the Social Security Administration website at www.socialsecurity.gov. You also can call them toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 to ask for an appointment with a Social Security representative.

Parents or guardians usually can apply for blind or disabled children under age 18. In some cases, other third parties can apply for children.

You should bring certain items when you apply. Even if you do not have all of the things listed below, apply anyway. The people in the Social Security office can help you get whatever is needed. Please bring:

*Your Social Security card or a record of your Social Security number;
*Your birth certificate or other proof of your age;
*Information about the home where you live, such as your mortgage or your lease and landlord’s name;
*Payroll slips, bank books, insurance policies, burial fund records and other information about your income and the things you own;
*The names, addresses and telephone numbers of doctors, hospitals and clinics that you have been to, if you are applying for SSI because you are disabled or blind;
*Proof of U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen status.

You also should bring your checkbook or other papers that show your bank, credit union or savings and loan account number so SSA can deposit you benefits directly into your account. Direct deposit protects benefits from loss, theft and mail delay. The money is always on time and ready to use without making a trip to the bank.

A note for people who are blind or disabled

If you work, there are special rules to help you. You may be able to keep getting SSI payments while you work. As you earn more money, your SSI payments may be reduced or stopped, but you may be able to keep your Medicaid coverage.

You also may be able to set aside some money for a work goal or to go to school. In this case, the money you set aside will not reduce the amount of your SSI.

Blind or disabled people who apply for SSI may get free special services to help them work. These services may include counseling, job training and help in finding work.

Attorneys do not typically represent applicants in the initial application stage, because 1) the process is straightforward and all information requested in the application is known to the applicant or easily obtained by the applicant, and 2) attorneys cannot collect a fee for the initial application preparation unless paid out-of-pocket by the applicant.

However, attorneys (like us) do assist applicants on appeals of denied benefits in the reconsideration process and/or a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge.

Right to appeal

If you disagree with a decision made on your claim, you can appeal it. The steps you can take are explained in Your Right To Question A Decision Made On Your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Claim (Publication No. 05-11008).

You have the right to be represented by an attorney or other qualified person of your choice. More information is in Your Right To Representation (Publication No. 05-10075).

The above information is available also at: http://ssa.gov/pubs/11000.html.

If you have received a letter denying your SSI benefits, please call (916) 442-5835 to discuss your case. Our attorneys have a combined 80+ years of experience in assisting injured and disabled persons get the benefits they deserve.

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