Lighthouse Social Security ServicesLighthouse Social Security Services
WHAT IS SSI?
SSI stands for Supplemental Security Income.
It's a program run by Social Security. It pays monthly checks to the elderly, the blind and people with disabilities who dont own many things or have much income.
If you get SSI, you usually get food stamps and medicaid too. Medicaid helps pay doctor and hospital bills.
To get SSI, you must be elderly or blind or have a disability.
Elderly means you are 65 years or older.
Blind means you are either totally blind or have very poor eyesight. Children as well as adults can get benefits because of blindness.
A disability means you have have a physical or mental problem that is expected to last at least a year or result in death. Children, as well as adults, can get benefits because of disability.
HOW MUCH CAN YOU GET FROM SSI?
The basic monthly SSI check is the same in all states. It is:
$500.00 for one person; or
$751.00 for a couple.
Not everyone gets this exact amount, however. You may get more if you live in a state that adds to the SSI check. Or you may get less if you or your family have other money coming in each month.
THINGS YOU OWN AND YOUR INCOME
To get SSI, the things you own and your income must be below certain amounts.
THINGS YOU OWN
We dont count everything you own when deciding if you can get SSI.
For example, we do not count your home and some of your personal belongings. Usually, we do not count your car. We do count cash, bank accounts, stocks and bonds.
You may be able to get SSI if the things we count are no more then:
$2000.00 for one person or:
$3000.00 for a couple.
YOUR INCOME
Your imcome is the money you have coming in, such as earning, Social Security Checks and pension. Non-cash items you recieve such as food, clothing or shelter also count as income.
The amount of income you can have each month and still get SSI depends on where you live. In some states you can hve more income than in others.
If you dont work, you may be able to get SSI if your monthly income is less than:
$520.00 for one person: or
$771.00 for a couple
if you work, you can have more income each month. If all of your income is from working, you may be able to get SSI if you make less than:
$1,085 a month for one person;or
$1587 a month for a couple
However, if you are applying for SSi disability benifits and are earning more than $500 a month, you probaly won't be eligible for benefits.
NOTE: SSA will not count all of your income, so you may be able to get SSI even if you have more income, especially if you live in a state that adds money to the SSI checks.
