GREENSBORO DISABILITY LAWYERS EXPLAIN THE CRITERIA FOR RECEIVING SSI BENEFITS

Clients often ask Greensboro disability lawyers how to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits.

GREENSBORO DISABILITY LAWYERS WILLEXPLAIN SSI

There are times when a person who would otherwise be eligible for Social Security disability cannot receive it because they did not work for a long enough period or in a recent enough time frame to be approved. For them, there is SSI. This is a federal welfare option. SSI is paid from general revenues instead of the Social Security trust fund.

UNDERSTANDING THE REQUIREMENTS TO RECEIVE SSI

To be eligible to receive SSI, it is necessary for you to:

• Be declared “disabled” when the Social Security Administration uses the same definition as it does for Social Security disability.
• Fall into the applicable levels for income and assets.
• Be a citizen of the United States or meet the criteria to be a limited exception to that rule.
• File the required application.

MEETING THE INCOME AND ASSET REQUIREMENTS FOR SSI

There are income requirements to be eligible to receive SSI benefits. If you receive a monthly amount of countable income that surpasses the SSI benefit amount, you will not be eligible. Also, the more you make or have in countable income, the lower the amount of SSI you can receive. Certain unearned income will not count toward the determination of SSI. Examples of what will not be counted include the first $20 of any income you receive in a month separate from wages; the first $65 of wages each month and half of the monthly wages that exceeds $65; the amount that you receive for food stamps per month; scholarships and grants to pay for education; and government assistance on a state and local level. If there are spouses or parents of minors living with the applicant, this is also subject to a formula. For assets, there is a limit of $2,000 per individual applicants. For a couple, the limit is $3,000. There are assets that will be excluded. This includes a home regardless of its value, and one automobile regardless of its value if it is used for work purposes or to receive medical treatment.

CERTAIN CLAIMANTS CAN RECEIVE BOTH SSI AND SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INSURANCE (SSDI)

Some claimants can receive SSI and SSDI if the Social Security disability benefits are below a certain threshold. If both are received, the total income from these two programs combined will equal the SSI benefit total plus $20. In addition, if a person is disqualified from receiving SSI, it might still be possible to receive SSI in the five-month interval after disability occurred. This is based on whether or not the income and assets are low enough.

Call Experienced Greensboro Disability Lawyers

If you have questions about the SSI program, call 704-815-6055 to speak to Greensboro disability lawyers at the Bridgman Law Offices today.