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Supplemental Security Income Regulations – An Overview

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program of the United States Social Security Administration (SSA) was established nationally and enacted in January 1974 to offer supplemental income to individuals who are blind, disabled, or 65 years and older. The regulations for this program fall under title XVI of the Social Security Act.

The SSI program provides a minimum income source for these individuals who don’t have adequate financial resources to sustain a standard of living at the current federal minimum income level. SSI replaces state and District of Columbia assistance programs for the blind, aged and disabled, and payments are financed through the US Treasury’s general funds.

To understand SSI, here are a few of the regulations covering administration of the program:

• Payments are made to qualifying individuals who have income and other financial resources below specified limits.
• The amount of SSI payments available are clearly defined, so discretion is limited. If an applicant disagrees with the denial of his claim, there are specific steps he can take to obtain additional review or pursue legal action.
• To protect the recipient’s dignity, restrictions aren’t placed on how SSI benefit payments can be used.
• Eligibility requirements and guidelines for SSI are the same across all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
• Benefit recipients are given incentives to rehabilitate and return to work and still receive some disability benefits over a set period of time.
• States with Medicaid eligibility requirements for blind, disabled and elderly benefits recipients may request that the SSA determine Medicaid eligibility under the state’s program for SSI recipients. The state then pays half of the SSA’s administrative expenses to carry out this agreement.

Supplemental Security Income benefits are not available to disabled individuals under certain circumstances:

• If you’re trying to avoid prosecution for a crime or an attempt to commit a felony under the laws of the place you have fled.
• If you’re fleeing to avoid being taken into custody or confined after conviction of a crime or attempt to commit a felony crime.
• If you’re violating a condition of your probation or parole under state or federal law.

When drug addiction or alcoholism are involved and are contributing to your disability, you can apply for SSI benefits if you haven’t previously received 36 months of Social Security benefit payments when treatment was available or 36 months of SSI benefits for disability where drug addiction or alcoholism was a contributing factor in the disability.

For a complete description of the Social Security Administration’s SSI law and regulations, visit this link on the SSA web site:

This information is presented by Clements, Mahin & Cohen, L.P.A., Co., Cincinnati Social Security disability attorneys, 888-314-3989, www.cmclawyers.com.