Supplemental
Security Income (SSI)
eligibility
To qualify for SSI,
an individual must
meet the disability
guidelines,
primarily the
inability to work at
a substantial level
(which means the
inability to earn
Substantial Gainful
Activity (SGA).
In 2012, SGA is $1010
per month.
Additionally, the
disability must have
lasted or be
expected to last for
at least a year (12
months) or result in
death.
The Social Security
Administration also
has a process to
determine the
disability. This
process includes
five basic
questions:
1. Is the individual
working?
2. Is the
individual’s
condition severe?
3. Is the
individual’s
condition severe
enough to meet
Social Security’s “listing
of impairments”?
4. Can the
individual do the
work s/he did
previously?
5. Can the
individual do any
other type of work?
Once the above
questions are
answered, the Social
Security
Administration will
forward the claim to
Indiana’s
Disability
Determination
Service Bureau
to review medical
information and
other information
submitted. SSI
payments usually
will begin the month
following the date
of the application.
Indiana Family and
Social Services
Administration-
Disability
Determination Bureau
SSI is for
individuals with
little or no
income.
Income is cash,
in-kind services and
other support that
can help to obtain
food, clothing or
shelter. Social
Security will
consider earned and
unearned income
when considering a
person’s eligibility
for SSI. Social
Security will also
evaluate an
individual’s living
arrangement and
apply
deeming
if an individual
lives with a spouse
or someone else who
has income.
Individuals eligible
for SSI must have
countable
resources
of less than $2,000
per month for a
single individual
and $3,000 per month
for a couple. SSI
checks are paid
through the Federal
Treasury.
Resources
that SSA includes
are:
Resources do not
include the
following:
-
one house, if
s/he lives in it
-
one vehicle
worth less than
$4,500, or one
vehicle of any
value if it is
used for getting
to/from work or
medical services
-
combined life
insurance (face
value) and funds
set aside for
burial of up to
$1,500
-
a burial plot
Once an individual
is determined
eligible for SSI,
Social Security will
determine the amount
of the SSI check
based on the
Federal Benefit Rate
(FBR).
Each year, Congress
establishes a
Federal Benefit Rate
(FBR). The dollar
amount of this
benefit rate is the
maximum federal
benefit amount that
an SSI recipient can
receive on a monthly
basis. An individual
may receive less
than FBR if they
live in another’s
household, have an
overpayment of
benefits, have
earned income or
have Social Security
Disability Insurance
(SSDI) or other
unearned income.
In 2012, the FBR is
$698 per month for
an individual and
$1048 per month for a
couple.
