Navigating SSI

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

SSI is a supplement of income paid to people with limited income and resources who are disabled, blind, or age 65 or older.
It is a needs-based resource. It is a cash monthly benefit you receive.

Dup15q Alliance is proud to announce we are partnering with Tyler and Maderer Law Firm to offer a specialized Help Ticket program.   This specialized Help Ticket is open to all Dup15q Alliance Families to submit questions specific to Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

SUBMIT A HELP TICKET

What is the difference between SSI and SSDI?

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is intended for individuals who used to work but can no longer do so due to a physical or mental impairment.

Social Security Income (SSI) is designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people, who have little or no income. It provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter.

Key Takeaways

  • If your family’s countable resources are over $2,000 a month your child under 18 will not qualify until they are an adult. 
  • Special Needs Trusts are put in place can help protect these resources from disqualifying the individual from receiving SSI
  • If you are providing shelter and food for your adult child you can write a monthly receipt for Food and Rent to ensure these are not counted as In-Kind Support and reduce the SSI Benefit.
  • The monthly maximum Federal amounts for 2022 are $841 for an eligible individual

SSI Eligibility

Meet the Definition of Disabled
  • 18 and up -The adult is not capable of working on a full time basis.
  • Child -The child has severe functional limitations mentally or physically because of their medical condition.

*If your family’s countable resources are over $2,000 a month your child will not qualify until they are an adult. 

Then… Meet the Resource Test
  • Resources are things the person who applies for SSI owns such as: cash; bank accounts; stocks; U.S. savings bonds; land; life insurance; personal property; vehicles.
  • Anything else the individual owns which could be changed to cash and used for food or shelter is considered a resource.
  • Applicant resources also include deemed resources. Sometimes a portion of resources from a  parent, parent’s spouse are deemed as belonging to the person who applies for SSI. We call this process the deeming of resources.
  • Countable resources must not be worth more than $2,000.  

*Special Needs Trusts are put in place can help protect these resources from disqualifying the individual from receiving SSI.*

Then… Meet the Income Test

Total of any income received any time of the month.

  • Unearned – is all income that is not earned such as Social Security benefits, pensions, State disability payments, unemployment benefits, interest income, dividends and cash from friends and relatives.
  • Earned –  is wages, net earnings from self–employment, certain royalties, honoraria, and sheltered workshop payments.
  • In-Kind Support & Maintenance – is food, shelter, or both that you get for free or for less than its fair market value.
  • Deemed – is the part of the income of your spouse with whom you live, your parent(s) with whom you live

To get SSI, your countable Income and Resources must not be worth more than $2,000.

*Generally, the more countable income you have, the less your SSI benefit will be. If you are providing shelter and food for your adult child you can write a monthly reciept for Food and Rent to ensure these are not counted as In-Kind Support and reducing the SSI Benefit.

*Special Needs Trusts are put in place can help protect these resources from disqualifying the individual from receiving SSI.*

Apply for Benefits

You can apply for benefits online here: Apply for Benefits, Social Security (ssa.gov)  or make an appointment at your local Social Security Office to apply in person: Social Security Office Locator

The monthly maximum Federal amounts for 2022 are $841 for an eligible individual. Payment reduction:  The monthly amount is reduced by subtracting monthly countable income.

Special Needs Trust Planning 27

Q & A: Social Security Q & A | Dup15Q Alliance

Resources:

Social Security Administration

Home ~ NOSSCR: is a specialized bar of association for attorneys and advocates who represent Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income Claimants. If you would like to find a local attorney please call them at 845-682-1881.