Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits help many Americans afford the basic necessities of life. Unlike traditional Social Security disability benefits, you do not need a work history to qualify for SSI benefits. There are also other ways to qualify for these benefits without having a disability.
If you think you might be eligible for benefits, you should complete an SSI application. But you might be wondering how you can apply for these important benefits.
Keep reading as we will walk you through the process of applying for benefits. We will tell you how to qualify for benefits, how to complete your application, and what documentation you will need to provide.
Steps In The SSI Application Process
Depending on your situation, you might need to go through slightly different steps. For example, some people need to go through the appeals process to get approved, while others do not. Here are the steps in the application process:
Step 1: Review Qualifications
First, you will want to review the SSI requirements to determine if you might be eligible.
As a reminder, SSI is for people who have:
- Little or No Income, and
- Little or No Resources, and
- A disability, blindness or are age 65 or older.
To qualify individuals generally need to earn less than $1,971 from work each month and total resources (money in bank account, vehicles, etc) of less than $2,000.
The income and resource amount increase for couples and parents applying for children.
Learn more about the SSI requirements in our article “What is SSI?”
Step 2: Complete The Application
You will need to complete the application for benefits using one of the methods outlined in the next section.
The application will require you to provide identifying information, like your name, date of birth, Social Security number, mailing address, and citizenship status.
Since SSI benefits are reserved for those with limited income and resources, you will also be asked to provide financial details.
If you are applying for a disability claim as a qualifying event, you will be asked for specifics about your medical condition.
Step 3: Provide Required Documents
Since SSI benefits have strict qualification rules, to support your application you need to provide documentation.
While this list is not exhaustive, here are some examples of the types of documents you might be asked to provide:
- Verification of Identity and Marriage Status: Birth certificate, driver’s license, Spouse or former spouse’s social security number & birthday, where you got married.
- Current Income: W-2 forms, Retirement benefits/pensions, Alimony, State disability payments or Self-employment tax returns from the previous year
- Financial Resources: Bank statements, Car title/loan statements, Life Insurance policy or Trust fund statements
- Medical Info: Medical records or disability diagnosis, Admit/Discharge papers for hospitals
- Housing: Rental Contract, Landlord’s name & number, Name & Birthday of those living with you.
- Military Info: Military service records.
- Direct Deposit for Benefits: Routing and Account number for your bank
Remember that original documents are required in most cases, and photocopies of some of these documents will not be accepted.
Step 4: Get a Decision
After you have completed your application and provided all the required information, you will receive a decision.
The Disability Determination Office might be involved if your claim involves a disability.
If you get approved for benefits, you will receive an award letter in the mail. However, if your application is denied, you still have the right to appeal.
Step 5: Appeal The Decision If Necessary
If your application is denied, you might decide to start the appeals process. Many people choose to hire an attorney at this step of the process.
The appeals process for Social Security benefits can get complex, and an attorney can help walk you through the process and increase your odds of winning your SSI appeal.
Generally, you can ask for a reconsideration of your application to start the appeals process. If that fails, you will want to ask for a hearing with an administrative law judge.
The appeals process has strict timelines that must be followed, and failure to meet a deadline will result in your appeal being denied.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- SSI benefits are needs-based and you will need to meet certain income and resource limits to qualify.
- The SSI benefit payout will most likely only cover a portion of your expenses, you may also qualify for Medicaid, Food Stamps, Housing Assistance or other programs.
- If your SSI application is denied, you have the right to appeal.
SSI Disability Application Options: A Detailed View
We mentioned above that there are multiple ways to apply for SSI benefits, and you can choose the method that works best for you. Some people may have access to the internet and apply online, while others may not have that option.
The application is the same regardless of the method, but the process for each method is slightly different. Here are the three ways to complete an application:
- Online Application: The quickest way to apply for benefits is by completing the SSI application online. You just need to visit Social Security’s Apply for SSI page to begin the application.
- The application will start with some questions about the type of SSI benefits you wish to apply for.
- You will need to provide some basic information, like your name, address, Social Security number, and other identifying information.
- Once you have completed all the initial information, you will be asked to sign into your my Social Security account to finalize and sign the application.
- If you are unable to complete the application yourself, you can always have someone else assist you in completing the application on your behalf.
- After completing the initial application online, you will be asked to schedule an appointment to meet with a Social Security representative who will review your application.
- You should also receive a paper copy of the completed application in the mail for your records.
- In-Person Application: If you are unable to complete your request online, you can visit your local Social Security office to complete the application in person.
- A local Social Security representative can help you complete the application, and you can present all the required documents to this person.
- An in-person application can take a few hours, and making an appointment at the Social Security office is helpful.
- While Social Security offices are once again accepting walk-ins, you might find yourself waiting for a long time if you do not have a Social Security appointment.
- The benefit of applying in person is that the Social Security representative can easily look up your Social Security record during the application process.
- Remember you will need to provide original documents to support your application.
- Over The Phone: The final option for applying for benefits is over the phone. If you do not have access to a computer or it is too far to travel to an office, this may be your best option.
- You can call the Social Security Administration toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
- If representatives aren’t available when you initially call, you may be asked to schedule a telephone appointment for a later date.
- After verifying your identity, the representative can assist you with the application process.
- This method will usually take the longest, and you will likely still need to submit original documents to the SSA office to complete your application.
Must read articles related to Applying for SSI
- Helping a family member with a disability, learn “How to get paid to take care of a family member with a disability“.
- Get more details about “What is SSI?“.
- Find out how much money you can receive while on SSI.
- Learn more about how to win SSI appeal or how to win an SSI overpayment case.
- Understand the difference between SSI vs SSDI and if you qualify for either one.
Who Qualifies For Supplemental Security Income?
So, what is Supplemental Security Income (SSI)? SSI is a program that provides monthly payments to people who are blind, disabled, or older and have limited income and resources.
There are a few different ways you can qualify for SSI benefits. First, SSI benefits are available to those who are age 65 or older, have limited resources and are U.S. citizens or qualifying aliens, or are blind or disabled AND have limited income.
Unlike Social Security Disability benefits or retirement benefits, you do not need a work history or Social Security record to qualify for benefits. However, you must have a financial need.
An individual can generally have no more than $2,000 in resources and must have a limited income. The money you earn from work, workers’ compensation, unemployment benefits, and free food or shelter all count as income.
TIP
Qualifying for SSI will usually automatically qualify you for Medicaid and other needs based benefit programs. If you qualify for Medicaid, you may not be eligible for Medicare.
SSI Monthly Payment Amounts
So, how much will your SSI check be? Unfortunately, the answer is not that much. For 2024, the maximum SSI payment for a qualifying individual is $943 per month. An individual with a qualifying spouse can receive as much as $1,4151. These amounts may be reduced if your income is above a certain threshold.
Remember that qualifying for SSI benefits will automatically qualify you for other important benefits, like food stamps, housing assistance, Medicaid, and other programs.
In combination, these programs can help needy individuals make ends meet.
The Bottom Line
SSI benefits help provide financial assistance to people age 65 and older, those with a disability, or those who are blind.
The application process is fairly straightforward, and an application for SSI benefits can be completed online, over the phone, or in-person at your local Social Security office.
Upon completing the application, you will need to provide documentation that proves your identity, age, and financial status.
If your application is denied, you have the right to appeal that decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
SSI is generally a needs-based program. Benefits are available to those who are U.S. citizens or qualifying aliens age 65 or older, with limited resources & income.
Other adults and children may qualify if they are blind or disabled and have limited income.
Individuals generally need to have less than $2,000 in resources and must have limited income.
On average, it takes about three to five months to start receiving SSI payments after your application has been submitted.
However, there are a few conditions that will qualify you for expedited processing. If you have a medical condition that qualifies for presumptive disability or presumptive blindness, you can receive immediate payment from the Social Security Administration.
Keep in mind, that this immediate payment will be withheld from your first regular payment once your application has gone through the full process.
If you meet the eligibility criteria, it is not difficult to get SSI benefits. There is no requirement that you have a work history to qualify.
Those who are uncertain whether they meet the requirements should go ahead and apply for benefits.
If your application is denied, you should consider consulting an attorney to discuss the next steps.
Participation in the SSI program can automatically qualify you for many other important benefits.
These may include food stamps, Medicaid, housing assistance, free cell phones, utility assistance, and other programs.
Since SSI is a needs-based program, many people must participate in other assistance programs to afford their necessities.
We have additional resources about the SSI program and other benefit programs.
No, they are two very different programs. The main difference between SSI and SSDI is that SSDI benefits require a work history.
You must have paid Social Security taxes to qualify for SSDI. SSDI payments are typically higher than SSI payments, and there is no requirement that you have a financial need to qualify for SSDI payments.
Another difference is the fact that you can qualify for SSI benefits even if you don’t have a disability, as long as you are 65 or older and have limited income and resources.
You can find a Social Security Administration office near you by using our SSA office locator and searching for your closest location.
