SSI stands for Supplemental Security Income. Social Security administers this program.
They pay monthly benefits to people with limited income and resources who are disabled, blind, or age 65 or older. Blind or disabled children, as well as adults, can get SSI benefits.
For additional information about SSI,
consider the following:RESOURCES
How is SSI different from social security benifits?
Many people who are eligible for SSI may also be entitled to receive Social Security benefits. In fact, the application for SSI is also an application for Social Security benefits.
Unlike Social Security benefits, SSI benefits are not based on your prior work or a family member's prior work.
SSI is financed by general funds of the U.S. Treasury--personal income taxes, corporation taxes and other taxes. Social Security taxes withheld under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) do not fund the SSI program.
In most States, SSI beneficiaries also can get Medicaid (medical assistance) to pay for hospital stays, doctor bills, prescription drugs, and other health costs.
SSI beneficiaries may also be eligible for food stamps in every State except California. In some States, an application for SSI benefits also serves as an application for food assistance.
SSI benefits are paid on the first of the month for the entire month.
To get SSI benefits, you must be disabled, blind, or at least 65 years old and have "limited" income and resources.
In addition, to get SSI benefits, you must:
be a resident of the United States
be absent from the country for more than 30 days
be either a U.S. citizen or national, or in one of certain categories of eligible noncitizens
How is SSI like social security?
Both programs pay monthly benefits.
The medical standards for disability are the same in both programs for individuals age 18 or older. There is a separate definition of disability under SSI for children from birth to age 18.
Social Security Administration administers both programs.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a Federal income supplement program funded by general tax revenues (not Social Security taxes). It is designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people, who have little or no income, and it provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter.
The Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST) helps you find out if you could get benefits that Social Security administers. Based on your answers to questions, this tool will list benefits for which you might be eligible and tell you more information about how to qualify and apply.
BEST is NOT an application for benefits and does not know, or ask for, your name or Social Security number. It does not access your personal Social Security records and will not give you an estimate of benefit amounts. BEST will NOT screen for help with Medicare prescription drug plan costs. If you have Medicare, you might be eligible for this program.
What benefits will BEST screen for?
BEST will screen for the following benefits:
Medicare
Social Security Disability
Social Security Retirement
Social Security Survivors
Special Veterans
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
You will have to file an application. Most of the forms to apply for SSI benefits are not designed for self–completion. The claims representative interviews you and uses a personal computer to complete the forms with information you give to us or someone else gives to us on your behalf.
Apply as soon as possible so that you do not lose benefits. They cannot pay benefits for time periods earlier than your application effective date. If you call them to make an appointment to apply and you file an application within 60 days of the call, SSI may use the date of your call as your application filing date. If you do not keep this appointment and you do not contact SSI to reschedule the appointment, they will try to contact you. If they do not get in touch with you to reschedule the appointment, they will send you a letter. The letter will say that if you file an application within 60 days from the date of the letter, they will use the date of your original contact with as your SSI application date.
If you are in a public institution, but you will be leaving within a few months, you may not be eligible for SSI benefits until you leave. You may, however, be able to apply before you leave so that SSI benefits can begin quickly after you leave. Check with the institution and SSI about filing an application under the "prerelease procedures."
You have the right to receive help from Social Security
Social Security will help you get documents you need to show that you meet the SSI eligibility requirements. If you are applying because of disability or blindness and they decide that the medical information needed to make a decision is not available from existing sources, they will pay for you to have a doctor’s exam or test and make the appointment for you. If you need a medical exam or test, you must go to the exam or test in order to receive SSI benefits. They may also pay your travel costs to get to this exam or test. You may appoint someone to help you with your SSI claim and go with you to your appointments.
Social Security will notify you in writing of any determination about your eligibility or any change in your benefit amount. They will also send copies of all notices to your representative if you have one. Each notice affecting your eligibility or change in SSI benefit amount will explain your appeal rights.
Cited Source: The above statements, regulations, policies, procedures, forms, governance, or laws, are cited from "The U.S. Social Security Administration", "The Department of Social Security", and/or their agencies, departments, affiliates, and/or subsidiaries. Any inaccuracies or misstatements should be brought to our attention immediately via the "Contact Us" link which can be found at the bottom of each page.
