Tips on Qualifying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
The Social Security Administration determines who is eligible to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
SSI receives its funding from general revenues that congress sets aside each year, unlike SSDI benefits, which gets its funding from income taxes.
Supplemental Security Income benefits are determined based on a person's need and income.
Supplemental Security Income is a federal program for the aged, disabled, and blind recipient who must meet the income requirements.
Every recipient that receives the basic SSI cash benefit receives the same amount across the nation.
Aged In order for a person to qualify for to receive Supplemental Security Income benefits, based on age, they must be 65 years of age and older.
Disability To qualify for Supplemental Security Income benefits based on having a disability, a person must meet the definition of disabled.
The Social Security Administration views a person as disabled when a person has a condition, mental or physical, that will last at least 12 months or cause severe damage and possible death if that person were to work.
In other words, the person must be completely incapable of providing an income for him or herself because it would prove to be detrimental to his or her health.
Blind According to the Social Security Administration, to qualify for Supplemental Security Income based on being visually impaired, an applicant must have 20/200 vision or less in the eye with the best vision.
Alternatively, a person must have tunnel vision of less than 20 degrees.
United States Citizen Citizenship is also a requirement to be eligible for SSI.
A person must be a United States citizen and a resident unless in the military stationed in another country.
If the applicant is not a United States citizen, they must meet other qualifications set forth by the Social Security Administration.
More details about non-citizen and non-resident status requirements are on the SSA website.
Income & Resources A person's income, both earned and unearned, is used to determine eligibility.
Wages from a job or self-employment is earned income.
Income that you received that was not earned such as, Social Security benefits, veteran's benefits, workers compensation and pension benefits are examples of unearned income.
The income of a single person filing for Supplemental Security Income cannot exceed $2000 and $3000 for a couple applying for SSI.
Not all income is used to determine eligibility.
It is important to note that when applying for SSI many resources are not factored into the final determination of eligibilty.
For example, if you own your own home that is NOT used in determining if you qualify for SSI.
In addition, you could have a personal vehicle with a value less than $4500 as your personal transportation and it will not be counted toward you in determining eligibility.
SSI receives its funding from general revenues that congress sets aside each year, unlike SSDI benefits, which gets its funding from income taxes.
Supplemental Security Income benefits are determined based on a person's need and income.
Supplemental Security Income is a federal program for the aged, disabled, and blind recipient who must meet the income requirements.
Every recipient that receives the basic SSI cash benefit receives the same amount across the nation.
Aged In order for a person to qualify for to receive Supplemental Security Income benefits, based on age, they must be 65 years of age and older.
Disability To qualify for Supplemental Security Income benefits based on having a disability, a person must meet the definition of disabled.
The Social Security Administration views a person as disabled when a person has a condition, mental or physical, that will last at least 12 months or cause severe damage and possible death if that person were to work.
In other words, the person must be completely incapable of providing an income for him or herself because it would prove to be detrimental to his or her health.
Blind According to the Social Security Administration, to qualify for Supplemental Security Income based on being visually impaired, an applicant must have 20/200 vision or less in the eye with the best vision.
Alternatively, a person must have tunnel vision of less than 20 degrees.
United States Citizen Citizenship is also a requirement to be eligible for SSI.
A person must be a United States citizen and a resident unless in the military stationed in another country.
If the applicant is not a United States citizen, they must meet other qualifications set forth by the Social Security Administration.
More details about non-citizen and non-resident status requirements are on the SSA website.
Income & Resources A person's income, both earned and unearned, is used to determine eligibility.
Wages from a job or self-employment is earned income.
Income that you received that was not earned such as, Social Security benefits, veteran's benefits, workers compensation and pension benefits are examples of unearned income.
The income of a single person filing for Supplemental Security Income cannot exceed $2000 and $3000 for a couple applying for SSI.
Not all income is used to determine eligibility.
It is important to note that when applying for SSI many resources are not factored into the final determination of eligibilty.
For example, if you own your own home that is NOT used in determining if you qualify for SSI.
In addition, you could have a personal vehicle with a value less than $4500 as your personal transportation and it will not be counted toward you in determining eligibility.
