Disability, SSI

Qualifying for Supplemental Security Income with Social Security

September 17, 2020 • By

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Last Updated: August 19, 2021

We pay monthly Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to people with disabilities who have low income and few resources, and people who are age 65 or older without disabilities who meet the financial limits.

Income is money you receive, such as wages, Social Security benefits, and pensions. Income also includes things like food and shelter. The amount of income you can receive each month and still get SSI depends partly on where you live.

Resources are things you own, including real estate, bank accounts, cash, stocks, and bonds, which we count in deciding if you qualify for SSI. You may be able to get SSI if your resources are worth $2,000 or less. A couple may be able to get SSI if they have resources worth $3,000 or less. If you own property that you are trying to sell, you may be able to get SSI while trying to sell it.

We will not count economic impact payments, also known as coronavirus stimulus payments or CARES Act payments, as income for SSI. These payments will also not count as resources for 12 months. You can learn more about qualifying for SSI by reading our publication, Supplemental Security Income.

If you’re an adult with a disability intending to file for both SSI and Social Security Disability Insurance, you can apply online for both benefits at the same time if you:

  • Are between the ages of 18 and 65.
  • Have never been married.
  • Are a U.S. citizen residing in one of the 50 states, District of Columbia, or the Northern Mariana Islands.
  • Haven’t applied for or received SSI benefits in the past.

We’re here for you. You can find more information on our website.

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About the Author

Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner

Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner

Comments

  1. Yvetta F.

    Am I or do I qualify for SSI I already receive disability income

    • Vonda V.

      Hi Yvette, thanks for using our blog. We pay disability benefits through two programs: the Social Security Disability Insurance program (SSDI) and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. The (SSI) program is a needs based program that gives cash assistance to disabled individuals with limited income and resources. Typically, when you file for SSDI benefits you also file for SSI.

      Check out or Understanding SSI web page for details on the income and resource limits.

  2. Michael L.

    Why it’s took 8 years to get approved for ssi .My date of injury 1/17/20 I was anouce by ame doctor 3 orthopedic said I’m disabled .my sdi was stolen from me 26 years of work social security wrong doing I need help me to get my sdi with two judges decision. Social security didn’t honer the two judges decision will give me my sdi please help I have the paperwork . That’s show approved

  3. Thresa H.

    As I lay here in my bed I applied in 2010 and was turned down even though an outside company came back with zero jobs that I could do. My case was filed a little differently it was only the second case filed in the state of Indiana the way the lady filed iit at the social security office. When I got the letter telling me that I had been turned down and hurt my feelings so bad because I’m actually disabled unlike a lot of these other people that I just gave up. No I don’t have long to live or worry about them telling me I can work zero jobs that turned me down because I did not use a lawyer. That’s the only absolute reason that I’ve got turned down and that is illegal because I am allowed to represent myself. I had a lawyer I fired him because he was having me to do all the work or trying to and I’m not able to do that. It’s just really sad when someone such as me sits here and watches other people who I knew are on SSI disability by the way that’s welfare disability for those of you who do not know. It is for people who do not or have not worked very much in their life. Actually they’re not supposed to own cars over a certain amount or have I think over $2500 or $2000 in the bank or something and they’re not supposed to drive I don’t believe 2017 cars that are worth I don’t know probably $16,000 but they do because no one checks nobody cares. I know one that has two houses in her name a car that’s worth probably $16,000 and is very spoiled by the man that she lives with that she tells them she rents a room from that’s the usual story. Well I could work zero jobs and I have no idea how to work less than zero jobs but they said I couldn’t work any jobs and that’s true that was in 2010 I called Them once I was told to reapply and it would go right through but by this time my feelings were so hurt that I did not because I was in titled the first time. Also Mikey’s went back to 1994 maybe that had something to do with the turning down of my case also I’m not sure because if you call they’ll tell you oh we don’t keep any records of Social Security cases isn’t that a joke? They want Trump’s tax returns but the Social Security does not keep track of people that apply for Social Security disability that’s pretty unbelievable. Well that’s what happened I’m a former police officer I have no lies to tell they came back with an outside company that said I could do zero jobs and I was turned down and I did not appeal the case. Also remember my case was only the second case in the state of Indiana that had been filed in this way going back to 1994. The lady that helped me at social Security found my case in this way because she really liked me and she knew I was really disabled and wanted to help me since then she has retired so she does not know that they turned me down. She told me it was a lot of extra work for her to file it this way but that she would like to help me. My disability stand for their self I don’t need to prove anything to any of Social Security in that’s right out of Social Security‘s mouth. They told me they had plenty of paperwork on my Social Security that they do not need any more and that I do not do need to see any of their doctors and still turned down. But I see other people and no other people who some of them walk you know five or 6 miles a day now they even work jobs and draw disability too I sure wish I was able to do all that but I’m not I think I just made the judge mad because all judges were lawyers before they were judges and I guess they thought I was being stingy by knocking a lawyer out of some money because I was representing myself. That was not the case my lawyer did not represent me in a way that was acceptable I could not do all the work that he asked me to do and he was charging me money But I see other people and no other people who some of them walk you know five or 6 miles a day now they even work jobs and draw disability too I sure wish I was able to do all that but I’m not I think I just made the judge mad because all judges were lawyers before they were judges and I guess they thought I was being stingy by knocking a lawyer out of some money because I was representing myself. That was not the case my lawyer did not represent me in a way that was acceptable I could not do all the work that he asked me to do and he was charging me money Even though it says you don’t pay any money unless you win. Being a former police officer this is very hard for me to take I go out and I risk my life for everybody then I get disabled and this is what I get from our government really hurt my feelings that’s why I just didn’t do anything else. If you happen to be a lawyer and you read this. Please feel free to call on my extra phone because I’m gonna put this number on the Internet And we already know how crazy people are today so anyway if you are an experienced lawyer that knows about the type of case that I am speaking about give me a call 317-467-9000 but only lawyers that are intelligent enough to know the type of case that I am talking about. and we already know hell crazy people are today so anyway if you are and experienced lawyer that knows about the type of case that I am speaking about give me a call 317-467-9000 but only lawyers that are intelligent enough to know the type of case that I am talking about. And of course there’s no problem paying you well above the $6000 limit I like people that do good work and I like to give them a tip or a donation for helping me I actually do that probably every day anyway if you think that that you’re that lawyer that I’m looking for give me a call my name is Thresa. I’m about as nice a person that you’ll ever meet if you’re on my good side LOL. I have been there done so very wrong that is very sad and it should also be sad to those of you that read this. Because it’s wrong. It is wrong in every sense of the word wrong. Maybe it’s because they don’t wanna pay out that I don’t know $400,000 backpay I’m sure that’s probably got Something to do with it also.

  4. Olga C.

    I will like to no if I can get the new s.s.s
    Income

  5. Gary L.

    I don’t know if their something I need to know,about my ssdi, or is it something I need to do, and why am I receivin text all the time,

  6. Madelon A.

    I am retired in Ireland but living on SSI, wondering if I am entitled to any additional benefits:
    – Any supplemental benefits for Covid. I’ve been quarantined at home since March 15;
    – benefits for disabilities. Left eye blindness, bone-on-bone arthritis both knees and post atrial fibrillation and Type 2 diabetes;
    – no other income except SSI;
    – recently ( June-July) lost my $26,000 retirement savings thru an int’l banking scam. My local bank has refunded €11,000 to my acct and Interpol and Irish Garda are still working on it , but doubt they’ll be able to recover anything more…
    The money was needed to do roof repair, but now I’m collecting rain water in a waste basket in my bathroom!

    Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated!

    I’d also like some information from SSI on changing my automatic deposit to my Bank of Ireland acct from my Chase acct in Indiana. If there’s paperwork, could it be sent to me here, please?
    Thank you for any help you can provide!
    Madelon N Albert
    — — 6202

  7. Thomas w.

    I m 65 age right now. I still get money from SSD. I want know about more money? Let me know. Thanks

    • Vonda V.

      Hi Thomas, thanks for using our blog. When you receive disability benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, we will automatically convert your disability benefits to retirement benefits when you attain your Full Retirement Age. The benefit amount will generally remain the same.

  8. Neil G.

    The Opportunity to earn Income that was past the 65 Retired Lifetime was perplexing at the least although the Resourses were all gone and the Years of Anti-Trust Cases for Public Corporations I have Created the should have Settled by now.

  9. Cyndi G.

    Did Social Security (not disabled) change from minimum age of 62 to 65?

    • Vonda V.

      Hi Cyndi, thanks for your question. If you’re asking about Social Security retirement benefits, you may start receiving benefits as early as age 62 or as late as age 70. Monthly benefits are reduced if you start them any time before your “full retirement age”. Your full retirement age depends on your date of birth. It may be between age 66 and 67.

      The Benefits Planner: Retirement provides detailed information about Social Security retirement benefits.

  10. Frederick M.

    I’m a little confused here I’m 70 years old and not disabled. Is there any extra funds that can go my way? It’s been a couple of tough years 2 years ago a stroke with my caraded arty 95% blocked, on 8/15//2018 a tripple by pass, and now prostrate cancer. Last year $6700 for roof repair, this year $5600 for a new A/C unit that’s with $500 off for being a veteran.

    • John J.

      You could be eligible depending upon income and resources. Also, your state of residence is important. Call your local SS office for details or call 1-800-772-1213.

    • Thresa H.

      Good luck. I applied in 2010 on my former female police officer in Indiana. I was turned down. Even though an outside company was hired by Social Security they came back with zero jobs that I could do yes zero. But I represented myself because my lawyer wanted me to do things I could not and was not able to do and was asking me for all of this money when it was supposed to be no money and less you win and all this noise. Also I think people who represent their self the judge looks at it like you’re a know it all that’s not how I look at it because I’m the one with a disability they need to talk with me not my lawyer he was not there and a lot of things happened so the lawyer knows nothing that I do but it makes them mad because they think you are cheating a lawyer out of money by not hiring them to take care your case. My case was only filed in 2010 only two times for anyone and mine was done that way in a special way that is harder to do and it was filed by the lady in the Social Security office who really saw that I was disabled and wanted to help me. She also went back to 1994 maybe that’s why they don’t wanna pay me and turned me down they don’t wanna be out all that money. All the while I watch people I know some of them friends some of them just drug addicts and worthless people Walking on the street five or more miles a day my God I wish I could walk 5 miles a day I wish I could walk 5 miles just once. Being a police officer I signed up to possibly lose my life to protect other people and my government is not even willing to pay me the disability that I’m entitled to this is very sad and it’s very morally wrong and I mean wrong in every sense of the word. It hurt my feelings so bad that I never even appealed that second time. Now I said here with no disability for all those years 10 years and I find myself I turn 62 on September 15 and they’re gonna want me to drawl the disability earlier whatever it is and I probably may not even do that. They should’ve given it to me then and done the right thing. If you know a good lawyer that knows how to do a case like mine there’s only been two cases like this done in the state of Indiana where they go way back to when you get first disabled please have them call me and leave a message because I’m putting a phone number on here that I don’t use but if they’re real I’ll give them my real cell phone number I’ve just got to screen the calls because of the all the lunatics that are out here in the world today on the Internet. Thank you very much for listening
      My name is Thresa and for now I’ll give you this phone number 317-467-9000 if you’re on longer than knows how to file or what’s the refile I guess a case like mine because I’m finding a lot of lawyers don’t even know what it is anyway give me a call I pay a lot more than the $6000 that they limit you to.

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