Qualifying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
The SSI program (Supplemental Security Income) provides payments to adult or children who are disabled and have limited income and resources. If your income and resources are too high, you will be turned down for benefits no matter how severe your medical disorders. You'll be turned down even if you don't qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) because you haven't paid enough Social Security taxes.
Your monthly income must be very low—your income can't be higher than an amount set by the state in which you live—from about $1,000 to $1,900 per month. But only about half of your wages will be taken into account.
Here you can learn about how much SSI pays, whether you can work while collecting SSI, and about the SSI limits on income and resources (one of the most complicated areas handled by Social Security).
Articles on SSI
Articles on SSI
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Income and Asset Limits for SSI Disability Eligibility
To get disability benefits from SSI, you can't have much income or assets, though Social Security gives you some breaks when counting your income.
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The Social Security Administration's rules for determining a person's income are a common source of confusion for SSI applicants because not all income is counted.
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How Much Will I Get in SSI Disability Benefits?
The amount of your monthly SSI check will depend on whether you're single or married, live alone or with others, and have other income or not.
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How Much Can You Work While Receiving SSI Disability Benefits?
You can work as long as your countable income doesn't go above the SSI income limit.
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Presumptive Disability: Eligibility and Filing
Applying for Social Security disability benefits can be a long and frustrating process, but some SSI applicants can qualify fort immediate benefits.
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Can I Get Interim Assistance (IA) While Waiting for SSI?
You can get temporary cash assistance in most states, but you’ll have to pay it back when your SSI benefits are approved.
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Can a Tax Refund Affect SSI Eligibility?
Social Security will ignore your federal tax refund for 12 months; after that, if you have too much money, you could lose your SSI benefits.
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Special Needs Trusts for SSI Purposes
Use a trust to leave money to a loved one with a disability—without jeopardizing government benefits.
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Can a Special Needs Trust Pay for Food and Shelter?
If you are serving as trustee of a special needs trust, you need to know whether you can use trust funds to pay for food or shelter.
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Types of Services SSI Can Provide for Kids With Disabilities
SSI can help pay for food, shelter, and services for children with special needs.
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How Can My Child Qualify for Social Security Disability?
If your child has a disability that greatly affects their ability to function, they may qualify to receive Social Security disability benefits.
More About This Topic
More Legal Topics
- After Approval of Disability Benefits
- Debt and Disability Payments
- Disability Appeals
- Disability Lawyers
- Filing for Social Security Disability Benefits
- Getting Disability for Specific Illnesses and Injuries
- How Social Security Makes Disability Decisions
- Qualifying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
- Reasons Social Security Disability Applications Get Denied
- Social Security Dependent and Survivor Benefits
- After Approval of Disability Benefits
- Debt and Disability Payments
- Disability Appeals
- Disability Lawyers
- Filing for Social Security Disability Benefits
- Getting Disability for Specific Illnesses and Injuries
- How Social Security Makes Disability Decisions
- Qualifying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
- Reasons Social Security Disability Applications Get Denied
- Social Security Dependent and Survivor Benefits
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