The Social Security Administration offers several disability programs, including Social Security Disability Benefits (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which are designed to help people who are too ill or injured to work and whose inability to work is expected to last for at least one year. SSI is available to adults who are unable to work, as well as disabled children. In order to qualify for SSI benefits, you must provide medical proof that you are unable to work. Additionally, in order to qualify for SSI, you have the added burden of proving you have limited income and assets, or in the case of a child, your parents have limited income and assets. Legal assistance is not required to apply for SSI benefits. But with the burden of having to prove both medical eligibility and financial eligibility, it is a good idea to seek the help of an experienced, knowledgeable attorney who can help you properly develop your claim for SSI benefits. Elizabeth Patterson, a Southern New Jersey lawyer specializing in SSDI and SSI claims, will help you with your claim for SSI benefits.
Life Changes Impact SSI
SSI is a means-based program. Means-based programs take into account your personal finances, including your income and your assets, when determining your eligibility for benefits. SSI programs are similar to welfare because only those people with very limited income and assets will meet the non-medical criteria for benefits. Your income and assets may fluctuate with changes in your life circumstances. These changes can affect eligibility for existing benefits, as well as future benefits. For instance, if you are currently receiving SSI benefits and your living arrangement changes, your benefits may decrease. Knowing in advance how a life change can impact your SSI allows you to make an informed decision as to whether or not it is in your best interest to proceed with the change. If a life change is unavoidable, you should know its impact on your benefits so you can determine if you are being treated fairly. The following changes effect SSI benefits:
Marriage/Cohabitation
The idea of combining household expenses and making them the responsibility of two people may seem like a financially savvy idea. However, marriage, cohabitation with a partner, or increasing or decreasing the size of your household can impact eligibility for SSI benefits. Knowing in advance how a change in living arrangements can impact your SSI allows you to make an informed decision concerning the change.
Income
Income, both earned (such as wages) and unearned (such as lottery winnings, an inheritance, a lawsuit settlement, and retirement income, among other things), can impact eligibility for SSI payments. If you are considering a part-time job to increase your income, it may result in a decrease or elimination of your benefits. For instance, if you are having a difficult time making ends meet and you believe you can work part-time from home, your income may not ultimately increase. The Social Security Administration will take this earned income into account and decrease your benefits accordingly. SSI benefits are based on the amount of money the government determines you need to survive; if you supplement your income, then the government can determine that you need less in SSI benefits to survive.
Location
SSI benefits can include money from both the state and federal government. Moving from one state to another can impact the amount of your SSI benefits since state contributions vary. Some states allow the federal government to include the state supplement directly in the monthly SSI payment. Other states require citizens to apply to the state for the supplement and, if granted, the individual receives a separate check. Living for more than 30 days outside one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, or the Northern Mariana Islands (located in the western part of the Pacific Ocean), will disqualify you for SSI payments. Living in or extended visits to a U.S. territory, such as Puerto Rico, or to another country will be reason to stop your SSI benefits.
Resources
A resource is something you own. SSI recipients are allowed to own a limited number of resources and owning over the limit disqualifies you for eligibility for SSI payments. Resources such as cash in excess of $2,000 for an individual, or $3,000 for a couple, will disqualify you for eligibility for SSI payments. Owning a resource with another person, such as a joint bank account that exceeds the resource limits, will also disqualify you. Keep resource limits in mind if you are considering acquiring an ownership interest in something, even if it is just part ownership. This way, you can determine if acquiring a new resource will jeopardize your eligibility for SSI benefits.
When you are awarded SSI benefits, you are given a pamphlet entitled What You Need to Know When You Get SSI, which is also available online. The pamphlet outlines your basic obligation to notify the Social Security Administration of changes in your life circumstances and changes in your income and resources. If you are receiving SSI benefits, you should be familiar with the information in this pamphlet. If you have specific questions concerning how your life changes will affect your eligibility for SSI benefits, contact an experienced, knowledgeable lawyer like Elizabeth Patterson.
This article is for informational purposes only. You should not rely on this article as a legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances, and you should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel. Publication of this article and your receipt of this article does not create an attorney-client relationship.
