Supplemental Security Income

Are you eligible for SSI?

Supplemental Security Income is a means-tested program which provides financial assistance to certain categories of people who are in need of help in covering their living expenses. To be eligible, you must either be older than the age of 65 years old, blind (central visual acuity of 20/200 or less even with a correcting lens), or disabled. The qualification for a disability for SSI is the same as for Social Security Disability Insurance, namely that you are either unable to work for at least a year or are suffering from a terminal condition. In addition to these requirements, you must have a limited income and limited financial resources.

Information About Supplemental Security Income

There are currently nearly 5.5 million people receiving SSI alone, in addition to 2.8 million who receive both SSI and SSD benefits. There were 68,725 recipients in Colorado in 2011. Of these, 25.2% are over the age of 65, 15.8% are younger than 18 and 59% are between the ages of 18 and 64. The average monthly payment is $516.40 nationwide and $471.80 in Colorado. Total payments for 2011 exceeded $49 billion. Mental disabilities are the most common condition among people receiving SSI in Colorado, as 53.9% of beneficiaries younger than 65 years old have an impairment of this type.

Maximizing Your Benefits

In many cases, it is possible for someone who is receiving Supplemental Security Income to claim SSD benefits as well. If your SSD benefit amount is above a certain level, it could actually make you ineligible for SSI, but we can advise you of whether this would be true in your case. Another aspect of the situation is that if you qualify for SSI, you should automatically be eligible to receive Medicaid to pay for your medical expenses.