Last updated: December 2009

(Chapter 1 Section 3 of the Senior Citizens Handbook)

What It Is: A program that provides a basic monthly income for people who do not have enough money to meet their basic needs.

Where To Apply: Social Security Administration (SSA).

Who May Be Eligible: People who are 65 years old or older, people of any age who are blind or disabled.

What is SSI?

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs-based program run by the federal government that provides a basic income for older people, disabled people and blind people. Often, you can supplement this income with benefits from other programs including Medicaid, Food Stamps, and Aid to the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (AABD) which are available from the Illinois Department of Human Services (Public Aid).
 
The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers the SSI program. They can send you checks even if you have never worked, or have not worked enough to qualify for Social Security. However, the amount of benefits you can receive under SSI is usually less than what you can receive if you qualify for Social Security. In 2008, for an individual, the SSI benefit level is $637 per month, and $956 for an eligible couple, where both receive SSI. The amount goes up every year.

If you are eligible for SSI, you also may be entitled to receive a retroactive benefit. In general, you are entitled to receive benefits going back to the first full month following the month in which you filed your application for SSI.

ADVOCACY TIP
SSI is totally different from Social Security benefits. Social Security is an insurance program that provides income to workers who retire or become disabled, and to their dependents and survivors. SSI is a financial aid program for needy people who are elderly or disabled, and who meet specific low-income and asset guidelines. 

If you are entitled to receive Social Security benefits in an amount less than the current SSI benefit amount, you may receive an SSI payment for the difference between your Social Security benefit and the SSI amount, plus $20.

Who is Eligible?

You may be eligible to receive SSI if you are 65 years old or older, if you are blind or if you are disabled. There are special rules for non-citizens.

For purposes of SSI eligibility, you are "disabled" if you are unable to work because of a physical or mental impairment which has lasted or is expected to last for at least 12 months or is expected to result in death.

Certain medical conditions are automatically presumed to make you disabled. These conditions include:

• Amputation of a leg at the hip;
• Allegation of total deafness;
• Allegation of total blindness;
• Allegation of bed confinement or permanent immobility;
• Allegation of a stroke with difficulty in walking or using a hand;
• Allegation of cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy or muscle atrophy;
• Allegation of down syndrome;
• Allegation of severe mental deficiency;
• Allegation of ALS.

While not automatically presumed disabling, conditions related to renal disease, the central nervous system, malignant neoplasms, or HIV and AIDS are typically presumed to be disabling.

Social Security describes these conditions in a part of their regulations called the "Listing of Impairments." Many other conditions are considered "disabled" under the Listings, but you need to have the required type of medical proof and the indicated level of severity for your particular illness.

Income and Asset Limits for SSI 

To determine eligibility, SSA considers your income and assets.

Income Limits - Because SSI is a welfare program, your benefits may be reduced or you may not be eligible at all if you have other sources of income.

“Income” includes money that you earn from employment. It also includes such things as pensions, alimony, child support, interest and room and board provided to you on a regular basis.

In general, SSA does not count the first $20 per month of any kind of income, plus the first $65 per month of earned income. They also do not count certain types of income, such as the value of food stamps, energy assistance, federally funded student assistance programs and federally subsidized housing assistance.

Asset Limits - You may have no more than $2,000 in assets ($3,000 in the case of a married couple where both receive SSI). The SSA does not count some types of property in determining whether you meet the asset limit. These assets are considered exempt.

“Exempt assets” include:
• The home in which you live;
• Your household goods and personal effects (to the extent that their equity value is less than $2,000);
• The value of your car, if it is used for your transportation or for a member of your household.

To be eligible for SSI based on disability, you have to show that you are disabled. SSA uses a 5-step analysis to determine disability. This analysis is discussed in the section of this Handbook titled "Social Security."

How to Apply

You may apply for SSI at your local Social Security office or by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (toll-free).

ADVOCACY TIP
You should apply as soon as you believe you are eligible. The date your benefits begin may depend on when you apply.

How Working Effects SSI

If you work, you can continue to receive SSI until the amount of your countable income is greater than the amount of your SSI benefit. SSA will not count the first $20 plus the first $65 per month of earned income, so those earnings will not affect your SSI benefit.                       
Example: If you receive SSI and earn $85 per month, you remain eligible for a full SSI benefit without any reduction.

If you earn more than $85 per month, SSA will reduce your SSI benefits by $1 for every $2 that you earn over and above the $85.
Example: If you earn $100/month, SSA will reduce your SSI benefits by $1 for every $2 earned between $85 and $100, which comes to a monthly reduction of $7.50.

If you lose your job or your wages are reduced, SSA can increase your SSI because of your reduced income. If SSA stops your SSI payments because of your earnings and you then lose your job or your wages are reduced, your SSI benefits will start again without the need for a new application if it has been less than 60 months since you received your last SSI check. If it has been more than 60 months since your SSI stopped, you will need to file a new application for SSI and you may need to prove that you are still “disabled.”
 
See information about overpayments in the section of this Handbook titled "Social Security."

If SSA Denies You SSI, or Reduces or Terminates Your Benefits

You can appeal any decision that SSA makes affecting your benefits which you believe may be wrong. This includes decisions to deny benefits or to reduce or terminate benefits. See information about appeals in the section of this Chapter titled "Social Security."

Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) on SSI

The ARRA provides a one time stimulus payment and other relief in the form of funds to SSA to expedite processing of claims which are now taking on appeal and average of two years:

$250 one-time payment goes to almost everyone who receives:

• Social Security,
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and/or
• Railroad Retirement Benefits, and Veterans, Disability Compensation or Pension Benefits.

As long as you received a benefit in November 2008, December 2008 or January 2009 (Spouses each get a one-time payment.) If you were found retroactively disabled and entitled to benefits for these months. you are eligible because the stimulus payment can be made until December 31, 2010.

You will not get one-time payments if:

• You owe state or federal agencies money or are delinquent in child support
• You are not legally in the US
• You are living overseas
• You are on SSI in a nursing home or governmentally run facility.
•  You were denied benefits because you made false or misleading statements
• You were in prison or violated parole or probation
• You are a child receiving Social Security (through a deceased or disabled parent)

Your payment will be received by the first week in June 2009 and there is NO need to file a tax return.

SSA is making the payment automatically and the one-time payment will be made separately from regular monthly benefit payments. Payment method will be the same as for monthly benefit (direct deposit or mailed check).

• Payment won’t count as income for purposes of determining eligibility for or amount of any federal, state, or local benefit. Payments are not taxable income and there is no tax return required in 2010 because of getting this one-time payment.

Where to go for More Information

Statutes and Regulations

• The federal statute relating to the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program can be found at 42 USC § 1381.
• The federal regulations for that program can be found at 20 CFR 416.
• The American Recovery and Rehabilitation Act of 2009 (ARRA) as found on www.recovery.gov

Agencies and Organizations

To apply for benefits or to file an appeal, contact your local Social Security office, or call 800-772-1213 (toll free) or 800-325-0778 (TTY) nationwide for information and assistance.

You can also visit the Social Security Administration website.

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