subject: Important Documents Needed For Ssi Application [print this page] The Supplemental Security Income or the SSI is one of the benefits that people with disability (blind or any other disability) and of people 65 years old and above can avail of. This program by the Social Security Administration provides benefits that will sustain the basic needs of the qualified applicants who have little or no income. Qualification for SSI benefits is determined through successful submission of important documents and other proofs.
The applicant, before getting qualified for SSI, must have already applied for other Social Security benefits such as the disability insurance. As such, it would be important to have his Social Security Card or Number ready. He must also provide a birth document. A public or religious birth record recorded before the applicant turned five would be essential. If he already applied for other Social Security benefits, he does not need to provide any proof of birth.
One of the most important requirements of the SSA in determining the eligibility of an applicant for SSI is proof of citizenship or alien status. The document that can be submitted could be any of the following: public or religious birth record showing the place of birth in the US, certificate of naturalization, US passport or a certificate of citizenship. An alien applicant must provide a permanent resident card, an arrival/departure record, or any immigration document.
Another requirement that SSI applicants must follow is the proof of income and resources. An applicant, for him to be eligible for SSI benefits, must have limited income and resources. Possession of resources for a single applicant should only be a total of not more than $2,000, while an applicant with a spouse is $3,000.
For proof of limited income, the applicant must provide proof of earned income such as payroll stubs (for regular wage earners) and last fiscal years tax return (for self-employed individuals), as well as unearned income. For proof of limited resources, he must provide proof such as bank statements (both checking and savings accounts), deed of sale of property, insurance policy (life or disability), burial contracts, and vehicle registrations, among others.
Medical sources and work history are also of importance when filing an SSI claim; that is, if the applicant is blind or disabled. Filing for SSI benefits is easy; it does not require all of the mentioned documents for one to become qualified. As such, one or two documents are enough. When an applicant has problems with his documents, he can seek help from a local SSA representative or from a Santa Monica attorney.
