Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal program that makes monthly payments to people who have low income and very little money, and who are disabled. Although it is managed by the Social Security Administration (SSA), SSI is not paid for by Social Security taxes; rather, it is paid by the U.S. Treasury.
The basic SSI amount is the same nationwide. Many states, including Massachusetts, add money to the basic benefit. For 2020, the maximum federal SSI benefit for an individual is $783 a month, and the Massachusetts state supplement is between $30 to $293 a month, depending upon the recipient’s living situation.
Eligibility Rules for SSI
There are two things that the SSA looks at to determine if you are eligible for SSI: your finances, and whether you are “disabled” under the SSA definition.
(A) Finances: Financial eligibility for SSI depends on (i) your income; and (ii) how much money (assets) you have.
(i) Income: Income is money you receive on a regular basis such as wages and pensions. You have to earn or receive less than about $1220/month to qualify for SSI in Massachusetts.
(ii) Assets: You have to have less than $2,000 to qualify, in bank accounts, cash, stocks, real estate and savings bonds. If you are less than 18 years old, your parents’ assets count as your assets.
(B) Disability: To meet the SSA definition of disability, you must not be able to engage in any substantial gainful activity (SGA) because of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment. In other words, you must not be able to engage in competitive employment that allows you to earn $1,220 or more a month. Generally, people can work part-time at a minimum wage job and still qualify, but they don’t qualify if they can work full time.
If you think your child meets these criteria, you can apply online for SSI here. If you have questions, email me at Karen@Mariscallaw.com.