SSI Payments: Are You Now Eligible? Here's How To Apply and Get the Benefits

Supplemental Security Income is another Social Security Administration program that aims to provide monthly payments to adults and children with a disability or blindness.

Those with disability or blindness should also have income and resources below specific financial limits to be able to get the SSI payments.

SSI payments distribute cash to its recipients to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter.

If you are interested in filing your SSI application, you should first check the Supplemental Security Income eligibility to ensure that you are meeting the requirements for the SSI payments.

Supplemental Security Income Eligibility

The SSI program usually provides monthly payments to people who are at least age 65 or blind or blindsided; have limited income; have limited resources; and are U.S. citizens, nationals of the U.S., and some non-citizens.

The state you live in usually determines how much money you can receive in SSI. There are also income limits to receive benefits, such as wages, Social Security benefits and pensions, and noncash benefits you receive.

Meanwhile, there are certain things that are not counted when it comes to your income such as the first $20 of your monthly income and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

The shelter one gets from private nonprofit organizations is not included, and most home energy assistance programs.

For those sponsored noncitizens, their sponsor's income and resources may be included. Meanwhile, for those younger than age 18, part of your parents' income and resources are included.

Married applicants will have to include their spouse's income and resources when determining if they qualify for SSI.

Some resources are counted when determining if you are eligible for SSI such as your home and land, life insurance policies worth $1,500 or less, car, burial plots for you and members of your immediate family, and more than $1,500 in burial funds for you and your spouse.

How to Apply for SSI

The SSA noted on its website that the application process for SSI usually takes five to 10 minutes, asking you basic information about the applicants such as the applicants' Social Security number, name, and date of birth.

Mailing address, phone number, and email address are also asked for the person interested in SSI while it is optional for you to give your name, phone number, and email address if you are helping someone.

A Social Security representative schedules an appointment to help you apply for benefits once you complete the online process.

SSA will send the appointment date and time by mail and email, if provided, within seven to 14 business days to the person applying.

Once approved, recipients can receive $914 worth of SSI payments for an individual or child recipient, while a couple receives $1,371 worth of SSI payments for 2023.

The SSI payments will increase in 2023 due to the recent cost-of-living adjustment rate change.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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