To
ensure a minimum level of income to persons who have attained age
65 or are blind or disabled, and whose income and resources are
below specified levels.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Direct Payments for Specified Use. Place Cursor Here for Definition
Direct Payments with Unrestricted Use. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Supplemental
security income payments are made to persons who have attained age
65 or who are blind or disabled and meet the means-tested and other
requirements of the program. Generally, there are no restrictions
on the use of benefits received by beneficiaries, although the right
to future benefits is not transferable or assignable. The Federal
government gives the States funds, in advance or by way of reimbursement,
for necessary costs in making disability determinations under 20
CFR 404 subparts P and Q and part 416 subparts I and J. Necessary
costs are direct as well as indirect costs as defined in 41 CFR
1-15, subpart 1-15.7 of the Federal Procurement Regulations System
for costs incurred before April 1, 1984; and 48 CFR 31, Subpart
31.6 of the Federal Acquisition Regulations System and Federal Management
Circular No. A-74-4 as amended or superseded for costs incurred
after March 31, 1984.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: The eligibility of an individual
who has attained age 65 or who is blind or disabled is determined
on the basis of an assessment of the individual's monthly income
and resources, citizenship or alien status, U.S. residency, and
certain other eligibility requirements. In determining a month's
income, the first $20 of Social Security or other unearned income
is not counted. An additional $65 of earned income ($85 if the person
had no unearned income) received in a month plus one-half of the
remainder above $65 (or $85) also is not counted. If, after these
(and other) exclusions, an individual's countable income, effective
January 2002, is less than $545 per month ($817 for a couple, both
of whom are aged, blind or disabled) and countable resources are
less than $2,000 ($3,000 for a couple), the individual may be eligible
for payments. The values of household goods, personal effects, an
automobile, life insurance, and property needed for self support
are, if within limits set out in regulations, excluded in determining
value of resources. Burial spaces for an individual and immediate
family and burial funds, up to $1,500 each for an individual and
spouse, are excluded from resources. The value of a home which serves
as the principal place of residence is also excluded in resource
valuation.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: Individuals who have attained
age 65 or are blind or disabled, who continue to meet the income
and resources tests, citizenship/qualified alien status, U.S.
residence, and certain other requirements. Eligibility may continue
for beneficiaries who engage in substantial gainful activity despite
disabling physical or mental impairments.
Credentials/Documentation:
Proof of age, marital status, income and resources, establishment
of blindness or disability, proof of residence in the U.S. and
citizenship, or alien status is required.
Pre-application
Coordination: None. This program is excluded
from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application
Procedure: Call toll free at 1-800-772-1213
or telephone or visit the local Social Security Office.
Award
Procedure: The individual (and representative
payee, if any,) will be notified by mail of award or denial.
Deadlines:
None. Benefits are not paid prior to the month following the month
of application. However, an emergency advance payment may be available
in the month of filing the application.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: Not applicable.
Appeals:
Call toll free at 1-800-772-1213 or telephone or visit the local
Social Security Office. The appeal process ranges from a case
review or field office conference to a review by the Federal Courts.
An appeal must be requested within 60 days of the date on which
a written notice of SSA's initial determination is received by
the applicant. The 60 days start the day after you receive the
notice.
Renewals:
A redetermination of a person's benefit amount and continuing
eligibility will be made on a scheduled basis at periodic intervals.
Unscheduled redeterminations are made when changes in circumstances
are reported. The length of time between scheduled redetermination
varies depending on the likelihood that the beneficiary's situation
may change in a way that affects payment amount or eligibility.
ASSISTANCE
CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula
and Matching Requirements: This program has
no statutory formula. Some mandatory State supplements are required
by supplemental security income law to maintain former State recipients'
December 1973 payment levels at pre-supplemental security income
levels, increased by cost-of-living adjustments, where such payments
were higher than the initial supplemental security income standards.
States also have the option of paying supplements. The Social Security
Administration will administer for a fee under agreements with States
both mandatory and optional State supplements. States paying supplements
are required by supplemental security income law to maintain either
their State supplement expenditures or their payment levels when
Federal standards are increased.
Length
and Time Phasing of Assistance: Benefits are
paid monthly. Accrued benefits are paid in a lump sum unless they
exceed a specified amount in which case they are paid in up to
three installments at 6 month intervals. In the case of a disabled
child, accrued payments over a certain amount must be retained
in a dedicated account and used only for certain approved expenditures.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Any change of address or any event affecting eligibility or benefit
amount (such as an increase in resources or income or improvement
of disabling condition) must be reported to the Social Security
Administration when the event occurs.
Audits:
None.
Records:
None.
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 75-0406-0-1-609.
Obligations:
(Benefit Payments) These figures represent benefits actually paid,
or expected to be paid. FY 01 $27,430,000,000; FY 02 est $31,252,000,000;
and FY 03 est $32,384,000,000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance:
Monthly Federal cash payments range from $1 to $545 for an aged,
blind, or disabled individual who does not have an eligible spouse,
and from $1 to $817 for an aged, blind, or disabled individual
and an eligible spouse. These rates became effective January 2002.
The average Federal monthly benefit for January 2002 is $374.
In fiscal year 2001, an average of 6,385,000 persons per month were
Federal Supplemental Security Income recipients. It is estimated
that in fiscal year 2002, an average of 6,436,000 recipients will
receive monthly cash benefits. During fiscal year 2003, the average
number receiving payments is estimated to be 6,501,000 per month.
Not included are those persons who receive only State supplementary
payments, some of which are administered by the Social Security
Administration for the States as part of the SSI program.
REGULATIONS,
GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
Code of Federal Regulations, Title 20, Parts 401, 416, and 422.
"SSI for Aged, Blind, and Disabled People" and other publications
are available from any Social Security Office without charge. The
Social Security internet address is www.ssa.gov and it includes
copies of all disability-related laws, regulations, rulings, and
free publications, as well as other information about Social Security
programs.
INFORMATION
CONTACTS:
Regional
or Local Office: Consult Appendix IV of the
Catalog.
Headquarters
Office: Office of Public Inquiries, Room 4100,
Annex, Social Security Administration, Baltimore, MD 21235. Telephone:
(410) 965-2736. Use the same number for FTS.
