subject: Basics Of Ssi Benefits [print this page] SSI benefits or Supplemental Security Income is a disability program of the federal government which is aimed for people who have limited income and resources.
Unlike Social Security Disability Insurance or SSDI that is funded through payroll deducted taxes, SSI benefits come from the US General Treasury Funds.
Under the Title XVI of the Social Security Act, SSI beneficiaries may receive federal cash assistance of up to $674 as of 2009.
The income is given to help the individual meet their basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing.
SSI beneficiaries are also given access to medical coverage given by the state through its Medicaid program.
SSI benefits may also increase through supplemental payments made by the state.
In California, SSI benefits may increase up to $233 as of 2007.
To qualify for SSI benefits, you should meet the following requirements:
Aged, Blind or Disabled
To be eligible for SSI benefits, you have to meet the definition of any of the three:
Aged To be deemed aged, you should have reached the age of 65 or older. A person is considered to have attained an age the day before their birthday.
Blind To be considered blind, you should have a central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the use of correcting lens.
Disabled You are deemed disabled if you have the inability to perform substantial gainful activity because of a physical or mental impairment that is expected to last for at least 12 months.
Income and Resources
To qualify for SSI benefits, you should have limited resources and income:
Income The limits will vary depending on the state you live in, your living arrangements, the number of people living in your residence and your type of income.
Resources Generally, the limit is $2,000 for single individuals and $3,000 for an individual and his/her spouse. Conditional benefits may be given if a substantial part of the resources cannot be sold within 20 working days.
Residence
To be eligible for SSI benefits you have to meet any of the following requirements:
US citizen living in the United States
Legal aliens residing in the US
Children of military parents born overseas and were disabled or became blind overseas
Students studying abroad who got approved for SSI benefits a month before leaving the US. Absence should be less than 1 year and should be studying to improve their ability to perform substantial gainful activities
Benefit Calculation
The computation of your benefit starts with the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR), which is $674.
The amount will decrease depending on your income and number of resources that includes cash or anything that can be turned to cash like art, stocks or other investments.
To know more about calculating your SSI benefits, you should consult with a disability attorney.
