How Does Supplemental Security Income Work?

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a government benefits program for aged (over the age of 65), blind, and/or disabled persons.  SSI is only available for those persons who have relatively low incomes and resources, and for disabled children; SSI benefits are designed for persons who don’t have a sufficient earnings record to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), which is what most working people pay into throughout the course of their lives until retirement or disability occurs.  To that end, SSI is funded by general taxes, not regular Social Security taxes.

Income and Resources for the Purposes of SSI

In the year 2010, the maximum amount of SSI benefits that you can receive is $674.00 per month, or $1,011.00 for a married couple; the federal government generally adjusts the monthly maximum amount of SSI for the cost of living every year or two.  Additionally, some states pay an additional supplement to the base federal SSI amount.

If you have over $2,000 worth of resources, or $3,000 worth of resources for a married couple, you become ineligible for SSI.  Resources include items like land, vehicles, and bank accounts.  However, there are some resources that the Social Security Administration (SSA) does not count for SSI purposes, such as your primary home, one vehicle, household goods, furniture, and clothing.  SSA also will look at whether you sold or gave away significant assets or resources in the course of determining your eligibility for SSI benefits.

Applying for SSI

In order to apply for SSI, you can contact the SSA by telephone, and/or complete the necessary application forms in person at your local SSA office.  A SSA claims representative will interview you and assist you in filling out the application forms.  At this time, you cannot apply for SSI benefits online. 

If the SSA determines that it does not have enough information to establish that you are disabled, they will assist you in obtaining medical records regarding your medical condition(s), and may pay to have you examined or undergo medical tests.  You must comply with the SSA’s requests in order to be eligible for SSI benefits. 

Once the SSA has determined whether you are eligible for SSI benefits, you will receive a written notice about your eligibility and SSI benefits.  If you are awarded SSI benefits, you will always receive written notices from the SSA about any changes to your benefits in the future.

Retaining the Services of a Disability Attorney

If you are having difficulty obtaining and/or qualifying for SSI benefits, or if you believe that you have been wrongfully denied SSI benefits, you should strongly consider contacting an experienced disability attorney for assistance.