WHAT IS SSI?
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a program that gives
money and services to people who are blind or disabled.
Children who are disabled under age 18 may be eligible
for SSI if their family’s income is low, if they have high medical
bills, and if they have few assets. When and application is
made for a child under 18 years of age, considerations of need
are based on the income and assets of the parents. If a person
with a disability is over 18, his or her income and assets are
considered rather that those of the parents.
WHAT CONDITIONS ARE CONSIDERED A
DISABILITY UNDER SSI?
For the purposes of SSI eligibility, a disability is a severe
handicap which must:
a) continue for an unkown period of time–generally a lifetime;
b) prevent a person from performing everyday activities;
c) prevent a person from earning above an income referred to
by the Social Security Administration as Substantial Gainful
Activity (S.G.A.)
WHERE DO I GO TO GET SSI MONEY?
Go to the nearest Social Security Office. You can find this
office by looking in the telephone book under “Social Security
Administration” or “US Government–Social Security
Administration.” There are different documents needed for
applicants who are under age 18 and applicants who are 18 or
older.
FOR APPLICANTS UNDER AGE 18, TAKE ALONG:
- Social Security card or number of the applicant and his/her
parents; - Birth Certificate or applicant;
- Bank books, insurance policies that are the property of the
applicant and/or his/her parents; - Motor vehicle registration if the applicant or the parent owns
a car; - If the applicant works, pay slips that show income;
- Medical records or most recent educational evaluations
that tell what the child can and cannot do. If reports are
not available, the names and addresses of doctors, clinics or
schools that have provided treatment and/or education to the
child who is disabled; - Information about the parents’ income and resources and the
income of the other children at home; - The latest tax bill or assessment of real estate owned by the
parents.
IF THE APPLICANT IS 18 YEARS OR OVER,
TAKE ALONG: - The Social Secutiry card or number of the applicant;
- Birth Certificate of the applicant;
- Bank books, insurance policies of the applicant;
- Motor vehicle registration of applicant owns a car;
- Pay slips if the applicant is employed;
- Medical records or most recent educations or psychological
evaluation about the applicant’s disability. If reports are not
available, the names and addresses of schools, physicians, or
clinics that could provide information about the applicant’s
disability; - If the applicant is married, information about the spouse’s
income and resources.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
After the Social Secutiry Office has all the information needed
about your child’s disability, the information will be sent to
their medical agency in order to make a determination of
whether or not the applicant is eligible to receive SSI. It may
take up to three months to make that decision.
If the Social Security Office determines that the applicant
cannot get SSI, and applicant has the right to appeal that
decision. There are four steps in the appeal process –
reconsideration, Administrative Law Judge Hearing, Appeals
Council review and Federal court action. There is a time limit
for requesting each one of these steps. Social Security Offices
will assist applicants in requesting an appeal at any of the four
levels.
