There are a few different types of disability payments managed by the Social Security Administration. Many times, people refer to all these types of disability as SSI. However, SSI refers to a specific program called Supplemental Security Income or Title XVI benefits.
The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program is a Federal income supplement program funded by general tax revenues, not Social Security taxes. It is designed to help individuals who have little or no income, few resources, and are aged, blind, or disabled. Those who are potentially eligible for SSI include those of retirement age who do not have sufficient quarters to qualify for regular Social Security retirement, children with severe disabilities, and disabled adults who have low income and resources and don’t qualify for disability insurance.
SSI has specific provisions for children who are under the age of 18, or under the age of 22 and still regularly attending primary or secondary school. To be eligible the child must be either blind or disabled. There is no minimum age requirement, but childhood disability benefits and when the child turns 18 or 22 if the child is still in school. Social Security has a specific set of regulations for determining whether a child is blind or disabled. These requirements are not the same as they are for an adult. The test for disability for adults under the Supplemental Security Income program is the same as it is under the Disability Insurance Benefits program.
The maximum Federal SSI benefit changes yearly based on the Consumer Price Index. For 2018, the maximum individual benefit is $750 and the maximum couple benefit is $1,125. Some states, including Utah, have supplement programs that provide additional payments to the Federal SSI. These amounts vary by state. You can find out if your state offers such a supplement program here. At last report, the supplement for Utahns on SSI was minimal.
The maximum Federal SSI benefit is reduced by countable income. Countable income includes things like cash, bank accounts, stocks, land, personal property, vehicles, and anything else you own that can be changed to cash and used for food and shelter. It also includes deemed resources, which refers to resources earned or received by someone else in your household.
It is possible for an individual to receive both SSI and disability benefits as long as the individual’s insurance disability benefit does not exceed the maximum Federal SSI benefit. For example, if an individual receives $500 per month in disability insurance benefits, that individual in 2018 may be eligible for up to $250 in SSI benefits.
Although SSI benefits are minimal, individuals who qualify for SSI also often qualify for other types of government assistance such as housing assistance, food stamps, and Medicaid. The Supplemental Security Income program provides essential benefits for individuals, including children, who are in severe need of assistance. Although it can be difficult to qualify for these benefits, they provide sufficient relief to allow people to support themselves when they otherwise wouldn’t be able to.