Social Security Disability Benefits Include Supplemental Security Income
The Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, program makes payments
to people with low income who are age 65 or older or are blind
or have a disability.
The Social Security Administration 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
The basic SSI amount is the same nationwide. However, many states
add money to the basic benefit. You can call the Social Security
Administration to find out the amounts for your state.
Do You Qualify for Supplemental Security Income
Whether you qualify for SSI depends on your income and resources.
Income includes Money you receive such as wages, Social Security
benefits and pensions. Income also includes such things as food,
clothing or shelter. The amount of income you can receive each
month and still get SSI depends partly on where you live. You can
call the Social Security Administration to find out the income
limits in your state.
Your spouse’s
income and resources are figured in when deciding whether you
qualify for SSI. If you are younger than age 18, part
of your parents’ income
and resources are considered.
If you are disabled but work,
the Social Security administration 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 your SSI case is being considered.
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.
Rules to Qualify for Supplemental Security Income
Rules Governing Qualifications for SSI include:
- You must live in the United States or the Northern
Mariana Islands and be a U.S. citizen or national.
- 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 to Apply For Supplemental Security Income
If you are applying for SSI, you can find much of the material
you need at the Social Security Administration's website, located
at http://www.socialsecurity.gov. Parents or guardians usually can apply for blind or disabled
children under age 18. In some cases, other third parties can apply
for children.
What You Need to Apply For SSI
When you are applying for SSI, you will need
- 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 the
SSA can have your benefits deposited directly into your account.
Direct deposit protects benefits from loss, theft and mail delay.
Other Benefits Available
You may be able to get Social Security benefits at the same time
you are receiving SSI. If you have worked and paid into Social
Security long enough, you also may be eligible for Social Security
benefits while you are receiving SSI. Retirement benefits can be
paid to people age 62 or older and their families. Disability benefits
go to people with disabilities and their families. Survivors benefits
are paid to the families of workers who have died. If you think
you may qualify for Social Security benefits, call our Disability
Lawyers to make sure you receive all the benefits you deserve.
Social Security Disability Law Firm
Our Law Firm is experienced in the process of applying for Social
Security Disability Benefits. We will help you navigate the difficult
journey of getting the benefits you deserve.
Our lawyers can help you with denied
claims, and more importantly, help you meet all the qualification
guidelines so we can prove the extent of your diability to
the Social Security Administration before your application is
denied. We can help you throughout the entire disability benefits application
process.
Help for Denied Disability Benefits
If your claim for Social Security Disability Benefits is denied,
our lawyers will present your case at the hearings,
providing a strong defense in an effort to reverse
a denied claim.
Contact The Rasansky Law Firm for help with your Disability Benefits application
or to fight a denied claim. |
