If you have not worked due to a disability and are wondering how you can get supplemental income without having Social Security, you are in luck! As well as, if you are blind or 65 years or older and needing a little extra income because your current situation does not cut it, then once again, you are in luck. If you live in the United States, D.C., or the Northern Mariana Islands, you may be eligible for supplemental security income. This could give you the extra boost you need when those bills start piling up at the end of the month.
Want all the details? Read on.
1. Understand Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
The funds for SSI are administered by the Social Security Administration and provide a safety-net for people in need of that money. As an individual or a couple, you get a monthly check at the beginning of the month to help aid your finances. SSI is an alternative to social security. The attorneys at Pisegna & Zimmerman, LLC stated that one in four people in their 20’s will become disabled before the age of 67, so it is important if you need supplemental income to try to apply.
2. Who is Eligible for SSI?
People who are 65 years or older, blind, or disabled are eligible for SSI. Those who meet these requirements must also have a limited income or resources. There is also a requirement to be a U.S. citizen or national or are Lawfully Admitted for Permanent Residence (LARS) or Amerasian immigrant, paroled, granted conditional entry, a refugee, granted asylum, or a Cuban and Haitian entrant. Residency in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, or the Northern Mariana Islands is also required.
There are a few other eligibility requirements you will have to make when applying for SSI. Remember, you must meet all requirements in order to receive aid.
- Individual or couple must not be absent for 30 consecutive days from the U.S.
- No confinement by an institution by the government.
- Applies for any cash benefits that may be eligible to you.
- The person or people give SSA permission to access records.
- Whoever is eligible files an application.
For more information, check the web.
3. SSI vs Social Security Benefits
Social Security is given to those who are have worked long enough and paid into it through taxes. SSI is not dependent on prior employment, but Social Security is. Those who meet all the requirements can apply and most likely receive SSI, so in a way, it is a safety-net if you did not pay into Social Security. SSI is also paid out by general funds of the U.S. Treasury, unlike Social Security where there is a certain amount taken from each worker’s paycheck each month to pay into it. As an added benefit, through SSI you can get medical assistance and supplemental payments if needed.
4. What is the Pay-Out for SSI?
The monthly amount given to individuals or couples for SSI is based on a federal benefit rate (FBR). The current monthly rate for the year 2021 is $794 for an individual and $1,191 for couples. These numbers can increase or decrease depending on circumstances and the annual federal benefit rate (FBR). If there is a Social Security cost-of-living adjustment the amount may increase.
If you think you may be eligible, there is no harm in trying to apply and then finding out if your application was accepted or rejected. Especially, if you have been on disability during your working years and did not pay anything into social security and/or have limited funds and resources. Like with anything having to do with the government, just be patient. I mean, after all, free money is usually worth the wait, right?
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