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SSI: What You Need to Know


Understanding Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a benefit paid to children and adults with disabilities and low income and assets. Benefits may also extend to people older than 65 years of age who do not live with a disability. Supplemental income is administered through the Social Security Administration, and those who are eligible for SSI may also qualify for other Social Security benefits. In fact, the same application form is used for SSI and Social Security. Nonetheless, the two programs are vastly different in both design and benefits.

The benefits offered by SSI program include the federal supplement income and an additional state supplement in 46 states. Not all states offering an additional value to its residents, but those that do offer varying amounts based on cost of living in said state. Further, the benefits an SSI applicant may receive depend on the individual’s income, assets, disability and living situation.

Details on SSI Benefits

SSI payments are updated yearly in order to reflect the changes in the national cost of living. 2019 standards designate a maximum Social Security benefit of $771 a month for qualified individuals, $1,157 for an eligible individual with an eligible spouse and $386 for an essential person. This is a 2.8 percent increase in benefits from 2018, and the raise is effective starting January 1, 2019.

An individual beneficiary’s max Social Security benefit is determined by subtracting countable income. For SSI, countable income is defined as any income you receive in the calendar month that can be applied to food and living costs. Countable income does not have to be cash to be calculated against the monthly maximum. Additionally, income that cannot be used for food or shelter is not considered countable. For example, if an eligible individual receives help with his or her medical bills, it will not be counted against his or her Social Security supplement.

Notably there are income exclusions that will not be counted against a beneficiary’s Social Security SSI. This includes:

  • The first $65 of earned income each month.
  • Over the first $65, SSI only counts half of earned income. For instance, an applicant who earns $400 a month would only have $167 of countable income. First, the initial $65 would be subtracted and then the remainder would be halved for $167.
  • Work expenses of the disabled or blind.
  • Income being set aside by a disabled or blind beneficiary in order to achieve financial independence.
  • The first $30 of irregular or infrequent income each quarter.
  • State or locally-funded assistance, based on need.
  • Food stamps or HUD housing programs.
  • The first $20 of unearned income. “Unearned income” being defined as any income from government benefits, such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

Moreover, some states pay an additional benefit on top of the federal SSI amount. Each state determines its own set of requirements and cost of living index to decide who receives extra SSI payments and the value. There are two classes of the states that provide extra value. Some states provide Social Security Supplemental Income administered by the SSA and some provide state administered supplements.

There is no obligation that a state offer supplements, however, four states choose not to offer any additional benefits. These include:

  • Arizona
  • Mississippi
  • North Dakota
  • West Virginia

There are 12 states who offer extra SSI payment amounts, administered by the Social Security Administration. These include:

  • California
  • Delaware
  • District of Columbia
  • Hawaii
  • Iowa
  • Michigan
  • Montana
  • Nevada
  • New Jersey
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont

Of the states listed above, Delaware, District of Columbia, Iowa, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island are dual administration states. This means that the Social Security office administers some categories of supplement payments while the state administers other categories.

Any state that has not been listed provides state-administered supplemental Social Security income.

The remaining states administer payments on state-specific terms, and the Social Security office has no control of the state amounts of requirements. All payment information about the state supplements must come directly from the state, and the state must resolve any errors.

Details on SSI Benefits Requirements

SSI eligibility has a rather straightforward set of initial eligibility requirements. Applicants must be blind, disabled as legally defined by the American Disability Act and older than the age of 65. Candidates must have an income that satisfies the SSI income guidelines and must be a United States citizen or resident alien. Further, applicants must:

  • Live within one of the U.S. states or territories
  • Apply to any other cash benefit to which he or she may be eligible
  • Give the SSA permission to contact financial institutions to verify need
  • Not be absent from the country for 30 consecutive calendar days
  • Not be confined to a prison, hospital or other government-funded institution

Though, there is an exception to one of these requirements. SSI for Children exists for eligible applicants younger than 18 years of age, or younger than 22 years of age and regularly attending school. Under SSI, legal children cannot be married or be the head of a household. This is what qualifies a child for SSI: They must satisfy the age restriction as well as of the requirements above, and they must have a disability that is chronic or life-threatening.

When determining Social Security benefits for children, SSI counts a portion of the parents’ income as if it were available to the child. Income of any stepparents may also be counted if the child resides with the parent and a stepparent.

In order to meet the SSI income limits, an individual applying to SSI may not have more than $2,000 in total assets and a couple may not have more than $3,000 in total assets. Further, the total amount of the applicant’s countable income, as mentioned above, may not exceed the total maximum value of $771 or $1,157 per month.

Your Guide to Apply for SSI

Apply for SSI online, by phone or in person. Remember, candidates who choose to visit a local SSA office should anticipate waiting time. Of course, which beneficiaries are eligible to apply online is restricted and the deaf or hard of hearing may feel more comfortable applying in person than over the phone. There is no charge to apply, and all applicants have the right to a representative if they feel they need help in the application process.

Notably, you cannot currently apply for SSI for a child online.

To apply by phone or in person, call 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an appointment. Candidates who are deaf or hard of hearing may call 1-800-772-1213 to use telecommunication relay services. Alternatively, a candidate may ask someone else to call the Social Services Administration on his or her behalf.

To apply online, use the Social Security Disability Benefits page to access the online web portal. Eligibility factors for the applicant:

  • Be between 18 and 65 years of age
  • Never have been married
  • Not be blind
  • Be a U.S. Citizen residing in the United States or the Northern Mariana Islands
  • Not have applied for or received SSI disability benefits in the past
  • Be applying to Social Security Disability Insurance as well

If you are not eligible to apply online, you can schedule an interview to visit an SSA office. Make sure to bring proof of your identity, disability, income and marriage status. These documents can include your marriage license, social security card, bank account number, hospital records and the contact information of your doctors.

SSI and Social Security Information

A candidate can use the same form to apply for SSI disability and Social Security benefits, and some candidates will have dual eligibility. Please know that unlike SSI, social security is offered only to those who have worked long enough and contributed enough taxes into the system to be “insured.” There is no work requirement for SSI income. Additionally, SSI beneficiaries are eligible for Medicaid benefits in most states. They are also likely to be eligible for food or housing assistance, such as Section 8 Housing Assistance or SNAP Food Stamps.

A candidate may claim social security, SSI and SSDI benefits if they are eligible for all programs, however the additional value of the other benefits will be counted towards the individual’s Social Security income. Thus, claiming other social security benefits will lower the value of SSI payments but may still increase the total benefit value the applicant receives each month.