Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a welfare program administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and funded by the U.S. Treasury. The SSA provides monthly benefits to SSI’s beneficiaries who have limited funds. The recipients get medical assistance, food, and supplemental payment coming from the government, and where possible, they’re encouraged to take advantage of other provided services such as the SSI Ticket to Work program that helps them with gainful employment.
If you’re wondering how you can apply, read on to learn more about the rules, eligibility requirements, and application process.
Rules and Eligibility
Before qualifying for SSI, you need to understand that you have to adhere to the rules that come along with it. If you’re already entitled to get SSA’s Ticket to Work, SSI can be applied.Apart from that, your eligibilitycan also depend on:
- Your income or the amount of money you receive every month. Examples of this are your wages, pensions, and benefits coming from the SSA. If you’re a married individual, the SSA will include your spouse’s income. If you’re under 18, your parents’ earnings will be counted.
- Your resources or your assets. It includes your bank accounts, cash, real estate, and stocks. You can get SSI if the resources you have are less than or equal to $2,000. Married couples should have assets that equate to $3,000 or less.
- Your citizenship. You should be a U.S. citizen living in the United States or the Northern Mariana Islands.
- Your criminal record. You shouldn’t have any history of a felony, warrant of arrests, or confinement.
How to Apply
If you want to apply, you have to remember that SSI has eligibility requirements. If you think you’re qualified, you have the following options: file the application onlineor have someone do it for you.
When you apply, you’re going to need a few documents. You should have your social security card, birth certificate, papers that prove your income and resources, proof of citizenship, and the contact information of the hospitals you’ve been to.
If you need support, SSI can be a great help. You can get a lot of benefitsonce approved for SSI Ticket to Work is an additional program you’ll gain access to. You’ll be entitled to medical care, nutrition, local assistance, and monthly payments.