Georgia Supplemental Security Income Attorneys

The purpose of the SSI program is to provide qualifying individuals with supplemental income for food, shelter, clothing, and other basic needs. Some people qualify for SSI benefits even when they are already receiving another form of assistance, such as SSDI or VA benefits, in addition to retirement benefits.

Various factors influence the amount an individual can receive in SSI benefits. For example, some states supplement the federal SSI payment, meaning people in those states may be eligible to receive more. Additionally, an individual may receive less in SSI if they have other forms of income, including wages earned from work or substantial gainful activity (SGA), retirement or pension funds, or other Social Security benefits.

When determining whether an individual qualifies for SSI benefits, as well as how much to award in benefits, the Social Security Administration (SSA) looks at household income. Married couples may receive less in SSI if they both earn wages, or if one spouse earns wages and the other has a pension. If someone else, including a spouse or another family member, pays for an individual’s household expenses, such as rent, that individual may also receive less in SSI.

The SSA recently announced an increase of 5.9% to both SSI and SSDI for 2022 to keep up with the increase in inflation. This unprecedented cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) affects about 70 million people in the United States. For people receiving SSI benefits, changes to payments began in December 2021. For more information, contact our team at Affleck & Gordon.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has several eligibility requirements when it comes to qualifying for SSI.

To be eligible for SSI, you must first be one of the following:

• 65 years old or older
• Blind
• Disabled

In addition to being one of the above, you must also be one of the following:

• A U.S. citizen
• A U.S. national
• A qualifying non-citizen

Lastly, to qualify for SSI, you must also:

• Live in one of the 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., or the Northern Mariana Islands (with some exceptions)
• Have limited income and resources (as defined by the SSA)

The SSA defines “limited income and resources” according to certain income and resource value thresholds. These thresholds change annually. In 2022, you cannot receive SSI benefits if the value of your individual “countable resources” exceeds $2,000. If you are married, you and your spouse’s combined resources cannot exceed $3,000 in value to remain eligible.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) looks at certain resources to determine whether an individual has limited income and resources for the purpose of awarding SSI benefits. Not all personal property and belongings are considered “countable,” however.

The following resources are not considered “countable” by the SSA and, therefore, do not count toward the SSI “limited resources” threshold: 

• A primary home or the land on which the residence is built
• A single vehicle used primarily for transportation
• Personal items and various household goods
• Life insurance policies that do not exceed $1,500 in combined value
• Burial plots, including family burial plots, and burial expenses up to $1,500
• Property used for a trade, job, or business purposes
• Funds set aside in specific programs for certain individuals

Meanwhile, some examples of resources that generally do count toward the SSA’s limited resources threshold include:

• Cash and bank accounts
• Land other than the land on which a primary residence is built
• Stocks
• Mutual funds
• U.S. savings bonds
• Second and subsequent vehicles
• Vehicles that are not used by the household for transportation
• Life insurance over $1,500 in combined face value
• Some personal property
• Items that could be sold or otherwise changed to funds for basic needs

The SSA also recognizes “deemed resources,” which are certain percentages of a spouse’s, parent’s, parent’s spouse’s, alien’s sponsor’s, or alien’s sponsor’s spouse’s resources.

After confirming that you are eligible for SSI benefits, you can apply in one of several ways:

• Online: You can apply for SSI benefits online by visiting the Social Security Administration’s website, here.
• By Phone: You can call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to begin the application process. The SSA also offers telecommunications relay services; call 1-800-772-1213 for assistance.
• In Person: You can contact the local SSA office in your area and make an appointment to apply for SSI benefits in person. You can also have someone else, such as an attorney, make an in-person or telephone appointment on your behalf.

If you believe you are eligible for SSI benefits, you should apply right away. The SSA does not offer back payments; you can only begin receiving SSI benefits from the effective date of your application.

When applying for SSI, you will need to have several documents handy, as well as additional supplemental information that may be required with your application.

Some of the documents and information you will need include:

• Your Social Security number or card
• Proof of your age, such as a birth certificate
• Proof of citizenship or alien status, such as a passport or green card
• Proof of your income, such as payroll stubs, tax returns, or unearned income records
• Proof of your resources, such as bank account statements, real estate deeds, and life insurance policy information
• Proof of your living arrangement, such as a rental agreement or lease, property tax bills, deeds, and information regarding household costs/members
• Information regarding your work history, including past job titles, employers, work dates, and descriptions of job duties (if applicable)
• Medical reports, doctors’ information, medication information, and other medical sources (if filing as disabled or blind)

This is not a complete list; you may be required to provide additional documents and information when applying for SSI. Affleck & Gordon can help you prepare your application and ensure that you have everything you need before you submit your claim. Call (404) 990-3945 today.