The Supplemental Security Income (also known as “SSI”) program is a general welfare program administered by the Social Security Administration and is geared towards assisting low income individuals who are either elderly, disabled or blind. This program began in 1974 and, at last estimate, helps more than 8,000,000 individuals throughout the United States. The program was a large part of President Nixon’s welfare reform efforts, which included consolidating individual state “Aid to Blind, Totally Disabled and Elderly” programs into the single federal Supplemental Security Income program.
To qualify for Supplemental Security Income benefits you need to meet several different eligibility requirements. These include being either blind, disabled or “elderly” (which essentially means age 65 or older). To be “blind” your general vision needs to be 20/200 or less. Finally, “disabled” generally means that you need to currently be receiving benefits from the Social Security Disability Insurance (“SSDI”) program (which has its own set of rules and eligibility requirements).
Additionally, you must also physically live in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Northern Mariana Islands or outside of these areas only if you are a current member of the United States military.
Additionally, you need to show that you make under a certain income each month and have less than a predetermined amount of assets. The income you are allowed to keep varies from state to state. Therefore, the Soc Security Administration encourages you to call them to find out what your particular area’s income limits are. The best number to contact them at 1-800-772-1213. In regards to your asset limits, a single applicant can keep up to $2,000 in assets while a married person can keep $3,000 and a minor applicant living with two parents can keep $5,000 in assets (only $4,000 can be kept if the minor child lives with only one parent).
Payment Amounts
After you have been awarded Supplemental Security Income benefits you will begin to receive a flat monthly payment amount until such time as you either request to cease the payments, your financial situation changes to the point that you do not qualify any longer or you die. The monthly payment will vary depending on whether you are single or married. As of the time that this article was written, single individuals will receive $674 and a couple will receive $1,011. The purpose of the SSI general welfare program is to help needy, disabled and elderly individuals meet basic needs and expenses such as food, clothing and shelter.
Additional Benefit Details
Beyond the monthly payments, SSI program recipients are also automatically enrolled into the Medicaid health insurance program. In other words, Medicaid will act as the health insurance and Supplemental Security Income acts as an income for the needy individual. In some instances, SSI recipients will also receive automatic entrance into the Section 8 housing program as well to cover the housing costs of the individual.
Source: ssa.gov/pubs/11000.html
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