This holiday season is the perfect time to reflect on our less fortunate and most vulnerable citizens.

Life is unpredictable, and everyone is susceptible to experiencing homelessness. It can happen to people in our community — like colleagues and military veterans. It can affect close friends and even family members. It can also happen to people who could be too proud to ask for help.

When homelessness happens, Social Security is there. We pay benefits to people with disabilities who are experiencing homelessness and have accumulated enough credits from work to qualify through our disability program. Social Security also pays benefits through the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. SSI is a means-tested program for people with disabilities who meet the financial guidelines, but haven’t worked enough to qualify for Social Security disability benefits.

People experiencing homelessness have the same rights and privileges when they apply for benefits as someone who has a permanent shelter. If a person is experiencing homelessness, their benefits can be deposited directly into a personal banking account or another electronic account. It can also be mailed to a third party. A relative or other third party can be assigned as their representative payee.

Our website offers vital information for people experiencing homelessness and their service providers. There, you can find information about housing and applications for Social Security benefits.

At Social Security, we are committed to be there with you throughout life’s journey. You can help us make a positive change in someone’s life. Please help us spread this message about our services. Share this information with your loved ones and anyone who could need it. Together, we can make a difference.

Happy Holidays.

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Tags: Disability, representative payee

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