Who Qualifies for SSI Benefits?
Supplemental Security Income or SSI is a Federal program designed to help blind, disabled or elderly individuals financially. Unlike Social Security benefits, disabled individuals eligible for SSI need not have worked and "paid into" the Social Security system in order to receive benefits. A person's income also determines whether she is eligible for SSI and how much aid she will receive.
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Nationality
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To qualify for SSI, applicants must either be U.S. citizens or resident aliens. Under certain circumstances, other non-citizens may be eligible to receive benefits as well. Refugees, individuals granted asylum, current or discharged alien U.S. Military personnel and disabled alien individuals lawfully living in the U.S. before August of 1996 may all be granted special privileges to qualify for SSI. Qualified applicants must also live within the U.S., with the exception of military personnel, study abroad students and residents of the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth.
Age
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Individuals 65 years of age or older are eligible to apply for and may receive SSI. Adult non-students between 18 and 65 must have a qualifying disability to be eligible for SSI benefits. Minors up to the age of 18 can receive SSI if their parents or caregivers meet the income requirements for aid. Students under the age of 22 may still receive SSI benefits as a minor.
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Blindness
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In order to qualify for SSI an individual must be diagnosed as legally blind, without the possibility of vision correction. Persons who have vision problems but are not legally blind may qualify if they have other underlying disabilities that prohibit them from working.
Qualifying Disabilities
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According to the Social Security Administration, qualifying disabilities must be mental or physical impairments that hinder gainful activity and will last for at least a year or may result in death. After applying for SSI, the information will be reviewed by the Disability Determination Service. The service is comprised of medical professionals who will determine SSI eligibility status.
Income Eligibility
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Income requirements for SSI benefits depend upon the area or state where a person lives. When calculating income eligibility, the Social Security Administration factors in earned income and deemed income that includes other household member's earned income. SSI does not count the first part of monthly income, tax refunds, state aid, grants or loans and in the case of minors, one-third of child support payments as part of the equation.
Ineligible Individuals
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Individuals who have warrants for felony crimes are not eligible for SSI. Violating probation or parole is also grounds for denial or withdrawal of SSI benefits. Incarcerated or institutionalized individuals will be denied SSI while serving their sentence or while institutionalized.
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