How to be Eligible for Supplemental Security Income?

In order to apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) the main requirement is that an individual should be 65 years old or older, blind, or disabled. Blindness as defined by Social Security disability program as having a central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in better eye with best correction or having a limitation in the field of vision of better eye so that the widest diameter of visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees. However, if one’s visual problem can not be classified in any of these conditions, SSI benefits can still be provided based on one’s disability.

Meanwhile disability’s definition is classified differently for a child and adult. The term “disabled” for a child means that one is below 18 years old and has proven physical or mental impairment based on medical findings which resulted in marked and severe functional limitations. On the other hand, the term “disabled” for an adult means that one is 18 years old and older and has proven physical or mental impairment based on medical findings which resulted in inability to do any substantial gainful work. For both child and adult, other medical findings may also state that one’s condition may result to death or lasted or expect to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.

Other detailed requirements are as follows: He or she has limited income and resources.
Income is the salary that one obtains from work or from other sources like Social Security, employment compensation, unemployment benefits, Department of Veterans Affairs, friends or relatives including free food and accommodation. Resources can be defined as one’s personal possession including cash, bank accounts, stocks, US saving bonds, land, vehicles, personal property, life insurance and others which is convertible to cash and can be used to purchase food and pay one’s accommodation.
The SSI’s limits for resources that they count are: $2,000 for individual or child and $3,000 for couple.

In addition to the requirements, he or she is a U.S. citizen or national, or in one of certain categories of aliens, that is, a non–citizen who meets the alien eligibility criteria under the 1996 legislation and its amendments. He or she should legally reside in one of the 50 states of the US, the District of Columbia, Northern Mariana Islands, or he or she should be a child of military parent assigned outside the US, or he or she is a student who is temporarily abroad. He or she is present from the country for a full calendar month or more than 30 consecutive days. He or she applies for any other cash benefits or payments for which he or she may be eligible, e.g., pensions and Social Security. He or she allows Social Security Administration to contact any financial institution for whatever financial records he or she may have. He meets other certain requirements in his or her application process.

Some examples of those who are not eligible for SSI benefits include a fugitive felon, a convict or prisoner, employee of public institution and an individual who gives away or sells his or her resources to reduce them in order to apply for SSI benefits. Furthermore, a non–citizen SSI beneficiary who did not meet the criteria for the alien status and an individual who is a SSI beneficiary and has been away from the US for a full calendar month or more than 30 consecutive days.

The SSI is paid monthly to individuals. The amount paid is basically the same in all states. However, there are states that give additional money to the basic benefit.