Social Security Administration Announces New Efforts to Simplify SSI Applications
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: August 27, 2024
Today, the Social Security Administration announced a large step in a multi-year effort to simplify processes for people who are applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) by starting to offer an online, streamlined application for some applicants starting in December. SSI provides monthly payments to people with disabilities and older adults who have little or no income and resources.
The initial step – known as iClaim expansion – aims to establish a fully online, simplified iClaim application that leverages user-tested, plain-language questions, prepopulated answers where possible, seamless step-by-step transitions, and more. The online application aims to reduce the time spent applying as well as the processing time for initial claim decisions.
“Over the past year, we have asked many applicants and advocates – as well as our workforce – how we could make the SSI application process easier and simpler. Now, we are taking an important first step to do just that,” said Martin O’Malley, Commissioner of Social Security.
“People in our communities who need this crucial safety net deserve the dignity of an application process that is less burdensome and more accessible than what we now have, and we’re committed to achieving that vision over the next few years.”
The rollout of the iClaim expansion will generally be available to first-time applicants between 18 and almost 65 who never married and are concurrently applying for Social Security benefits and SSI. A goal of the second phase – currently targeted for late 2025 – is to expand this to all applicants.
The Federal Register Notice that supports this effort was published today and reflects changes based on what Social Security previously received. To read it, please visit Federal Register: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Request.
Subsequent SSI simplification steps will incorporate lessons learned from the iClaim expansion into in-person, phone, mobile, and paper-based processes for SSI applications. As part of that, the agency plans to develop a separate simplified child SSI application.
All of these efforts will support and streamline the way Social Security’s staff technicians and applicants work together, providing an applicant journey that reflects continuous feedback gathered from the agency’s Customer Experience team, particularly from underserved communities.
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Tags: online services, SSI, supplemental security income
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SAR
My husband who has lived in the USA for 14 years and is a permanent resident, applied for SSI after having a dissected aortic aneurysm and 5 strokes. We applied and were approved immediately, within 4 months. We felt very lucky we talked with the SSA representative in Richmond. I don’t even think she knew what she was doing, but she told us he would get backpay from the time he came disabled. She was calculating the amount and would get back with us. We went back to SSA.gov and we saw where his SSI was suspended. I contacted Social Security office and was told I made too much my husband to receive $300 a month, which is absolutely ridiculous.
I think there needs to be additional guidelines implemented for others who have imminent health issues.
It’s not a lot of money, but it certainly would help us at this point because he cannot work at all and will never be able to work again and he still has a AAA.
Mercedes A.
How do I share this on Facebook? I don’t see the link for forward to my Facebook page. Thank you for this most helpful information.
Concern C.
How are you going to prevent fraud?
Sonia
My name is Sonia. I do hope that SSI is taking in consideration our seniors who have absolutely NO
dea as to how to use online services.
tapan n.
SIR IAM 62 YEARS OLD,BUT NOW I HAVE NO SOURCE OF INCOME ENGAGED IN NGO WORKING HOW I CAN APPLY FOR SSI, KINDLY GIVE ME INFORMATION HIFHLY OBLIGED TO YOU,I AM INDIA
S.S.
Hi, Tapan. Thanks for reading our blog and for your questions. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs-based program that makes payments to people 65 or older, and people with disabilities, who have limited resources and little or no income. The SSI resource limit is $2,000 for an individual, $3,000 for a couple. Some resources are excluded, including their home and vehicle. Income includes wages, Social Security benefits, unemployment, and pensions. We don’t count all income.
If a person lives alone, and has resources worth less than $2,000, and their only income is your monthly Social Security benefit, they may be eligible for both SSI and Social Security – commonly referred to as “concurrent” benefits. To be eligible for both, their 2024 monthly Social Security benefit should be less than $963. That’s the SSI monthly Federal payment rate for an individual plus $20. Generally, the more income they have, the less your SSI payment will be. You’ll find more details in our publication, What You Need to Know When You Get Supplemental Security Income. If you have questions or want to schedule an appointment to apply for SSI, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. We hope this helps.
Denied
I have applied for disability 3 times. I was denied the first time because Crohn’s disease wasn’t a qualified disability, but it should’ve been (especially if IBS was a qualified disability). The next time I filed, I was denied because my working credits expired. This time I went through a law firm that specializes in disability benefits, but again denied. I’m waiting for my info to come in the mail to find out why I was denied and this decision is being appealed. It’s a shame it takes as long as it does for the first decision to be made! If it’s denied, even more time! Why aren’t claimants reached for additional information if needed? It shouldn’t take 1 or 2 years to be approved for disability benefits, because waiting can cause financial hardship on the person waiting for approval/denial when they have a qualified disability, all 40 working credits, and just a little more info was required. We cannot work due to the disability/ disabilities we have been diagnosed with. We’re not filing for disability benefits for fun. It should be up to the individual reviewing for determination to reach out to the disabled person to obtain any info. This would lessen appeals, time reviewing the same info and hardship for the disabled person. If they spend so much time on each applicant, they have the time to reach out and ask for the info they need. This is absurd and causes a lot of stress, especially when stress can trigger any type of disability. You all make this impossible for a person to do this on their own.
Johnny
Unfortunately, the Social Security Administration is known for its rigorous and lengthy process. This is partly due to the large volume of applications they receive on the website combined with limited resources and a detailed review process. The reviewers rely heavily on the medical records and documentation submitted with the application, and they often don’t reach out for additional information due to time constraints and the high caseload.
Sanh S.
Can a person collect disability and SSI (from retirement) at the same time?
S.S.
Hi, Sanh. Thanks for reading our blog and for your questions. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs-based program that makes payments to adults and children with disabilities, and people 65 and older, who have limited income and resources. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are based on a worker’s earnings. Both SSI and SSDI are federal programs, and eligibility rules are the same in every state. To learn more about the differences between the two programs, visit our Frequently Asked Questions. For more information, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. If you still have questions, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. We hope this helps.
JERRY M.
Please do not make it easier for SSI applicants or recipients to steal more of our money we tax paying citizens are paying into our crooked Federal Government. We need to be eliminating the SSI and SSI-DI recipients we already have getting benefits when they are as capable of working for their own living as anyone else is. SSI was crooked when it started and still is full of liars and cheaters who cheat to get on SSI. Eliminate SSI and all forms of welfare type programs, then USA will not be headed further down the road to Marxist-Communism! Our USA should be an honest, honorable nation with individuals and families all supporting themselves rather than living off a few citizens who are actually paying some income taxes. Thanks for chance to input.
Elaine I.
Jerry the social security isn’t giving anything to the people the money we work for is the social security they take out of our pay check that’s why I don’t understand why people has so much problems getting their own money if they are disabled especially if the doctor says they are disabled and can’t work anymore
Hilda
I have been patient with my case. Although they have token over 11 months to have my attorney complete my case. It does need improvement.
MajJohn
When you remove the human contact or diminish it, then you run the risk of poorer service all to cut overhead. Face to face contact is an important tool, if for nothing else, observations which reveals medical conditions and truthfulness about income and resources.