You may be eligible to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) if you have a disabling condition that prevents you from working and have little to no income or resources, SSI can help you cover the costs of basic necessities like food and shelter.
If you believe you are eligible, discuss your situation with a Findlay SSI benefits lawyer. A knowledgeable SSI attorney from Schaffer & Associates can help you understand how much you may be able to receive, help you prepare your application, and provide support throughout the process.
SSI is a program administered by the federal Social Security Administration (SSA), the same agency that handles Social Security retirement and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Unlike retirement and SSDI, SSI is not a program tied to employment, so applicants do not need to have worked to be eligible. This allows some children with qualifying disabilities whose parents have limited income to receive SSI benefits even though they do not have a work history.
SSI provides monthly cash payments to cover the cost of:
The maximum monthly amount varies from year to year. However, this amount can be reduced based on several factors, including money received from other sources and income earned from working. The maximum monthly amount tends to increase slightly each year with cost of living adjustments.
The factors the SSA uses to calculate how much someone gets from SSI may include things that an applicant may not consider. Anyone in Findlay applying for SSI payments should talk to a local attorney first. An experienced lawyer from our firm can help potential applicants understand the SSA’s process and what they look for when reviewing an application so applicants can have an idea of what they could receive if approved.
Eligibility for SSI seems simple, but it is also very strict. Adults and children could be eligible if they:
A qualified disability for adults, according to the SSA, is a medical condition that is expected to last for at least one year and significantly affects the ability to perform the physical and mental tasks needed to work. For children, it means a physical or mental impairment that severely limits their ability to function. The SSA lists several conditions that it considers as a qualified disability, including but not limited to:
For SSI eligibility, income includes any money earned from working, money received from other benefits and also non-monetary benefits like free food and shelter. The limited resources requirement includes the things the applicant owns, such as:
Applicants can receive SSI payments if the total value of their resources is under $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples. The calculation is complex.
The eligibility criteria are very strict, and the SSA will scrutinize all applications. A qualified lawyer can help applicants in Findlay and the surrounding area determine if they qualify for SSI assistance and help prepare their applications.
If you have a disabling condition and have little to no income and resources, you may be eligible to apply for SSI benefits and a Findlay SSI benefits lawyer can help you. Our legal team at Schaffer & Associates has years of experience helping the community apply for SSI payments and can provide you with advice for a successful application.
It is possible to do this alone, but the application requires a lot of information and documents. Some applications are rejected simply because they are missing information. Contact us today to schedule a meeting with a well-practiced attorney and get your application in order.