Thursday, March 11, 2010
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Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

SSI Claim Denied? We Can Help

Florida Supplemental Security Income Lawyer

Contact the Social Security Disability Law Firm, P.A. for a free consultation if you have been turned down for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or to find out if you may qualify for benefits. Attorney Chris R. Borgia will personally handle your case and use his extensive knowledge to submit or appeal your claim. We represent clients in Miami-Dade, Broward, and West Palm Beach counties, and throughout Florida. Call toll-free at 1-866-693-4742.

About Supplemental Security Income

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program is a federal welfare program for the disabled, blind, and those over 65. In contrast to social security disability, benefits are paid out of general revenues, not out of the social security trust fund. Many states supplement the federal SSI benefit. Thus, the SSI benefit amount varies from state to state.

To meet all the requirements to receive SSI a claimant must:

  • Be “disabled” using the same definition as is used for the social security disability program,

  • Meet the income and asset requirements of the SSI program,

  • Be a U.S. citizen or fall into the group of limited exceptions to the citizenship rule, and

  • File an application.

There are both income and asset limitations for eligibility. The income limit is based upon the SSI benefit amount after several different kinds and amounts of unearned income are “disregarded”; and part of earned income is disregarded under a formula designed to encourage SSI recipients to work. There is also a formula for counting part of the income of parents of minors or spouses who live with the claimant. Application of this formula is called “deeming.”

Claimants may receive both social security disability and SSI benefits if the social security disability benefits are low enough. When both kinds of benefits are received, the recipient’s total income from the two programs equals the SSI benefit amount plus $20. However, even where high social security disability benefits disqualify a claimant from receiving SSI, he or she still may get SSI during the five-month waiting period when no social security disability benefits are paid, assuming assets and any other income are small enough.

The asset limitation beginning in 1989 is $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple. Several assets are excluded, the most significant of which are: the home of any value; and one car of any value, if it is used for work or to obtain medical care.

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