What Does it Take to be Eligible for SSI?

Supplementary Security Income is intended for Americans who are disabled or over age 65 and have limited income and resources.. These benefit payments are intended to help those in the previous situations have access to basic human needs, such as clothing, shelter and food. An unsettling reality of old age, blindness or disability is the way these situations affect one’s ability to earn wages, or support themselves and their families.

SSI Medical Eligibility for a Disability

For the disabled in particular, it’s important to understand basic eligibility requirements for SSI. If you are not determined eligible for SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance), you may still be eligible for SSI if your monthly income falls below the nationally recognized standard, the federal benefit limit. If you do not qualify for SSDI, or the benefit amount you receive for SSDI puts you below the federal benefit limit, there’s a chance you may qualify for SSI and be entitled to additional income. To be medically eligible for SSI benefit payments (as well as SSDI), your medical requirements are as follows:

• Your condition must be officially determined and recognized by the SSA as a disability
• You must have received diagnosis from a licensed medical office or professional
• Your disability must have lasted, or be expected to last, one year minimum, or be expected to  lead to death

Legal Eligibility for SSI

The basic legal requirements for SSI are actually quite simple to understand. As stated on the SSA’s webpage on SSI eligibility, applicants must fall under the following requirements to receive monthly benefits for SSI:

• Applicant must be age 65 or older, legally blind or medically disabled
• Must have limited income or resources, putting them below the national benefit limit; this includes income from worker’s compensation, unemployment benefits and other forms of income as well as support from friends or relatives, including housing or food
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national
• Must be a current resident one the United States, District of Columbia or the Northern Mariana Islands
• Is not outside of the U.S. for more than a 30 consecutive day period
• Must not be confined to an institution at the government’s expense (prisons or government-funded hospitals)
• Must have granted the SSA full permission to contact any financial institution, and request any applicable financial records
• Must formally file an application with the SSA

What You Can Do to Ensure Benefits for SSI

If you believe you are eligible to receive benefit payments under the SSA’s Supplementary Security Income program, or even have recently been denied or discontinued benefits, one of the most beneficial things you can do is hire a compassionate, trained disability expert to oversee your application or appeal. These committed consultants can handle almost every aspect of your claim for you, and improve your chances of receiving a favorable decision from the SSA. To not only simplify you claim, but greatly improve the chances of getting the full benefits for SSI you deserve, consider hiring a trained, expert consultant to handle all of the following application tasks:

• Quick filing of your SSI application to meet deadlines
• Appeal or related document preparation
• Thorough review of your Social Security file
• Personal case review and testimony preparation before hearings
• Prepare memoranda to strengthen your benefit claim
• Contact doctors or necessary medical professionals for records needed in your claim
• Discuss your SSI claim and answer any questions you may have on the application or review or appeal process

Too often, we see otherwise strong SSI claims fail due to poor preparation and incomplete documentation. With something as important as benefits necessary to maintain a quality of life, don’t risk an unnecessary denial of your claim by filing alone. Contact a disability expert in your state to handle your claim and improve your chances of success in the application/appeal process.