The Social Security Administration (SSA) is a government agency that provides financial support to people who can no longer work due to old age, illness, or disability.
In addition to helping adults, the SSA also offers support to children with serious disabilities through two key programs: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
These programs aim to provide financial aid to families in need, especially those with children who cannot care for themselves.
What Are the Requirements for Receiving SSI Benefits for Children?
SSI benefits are available to children who suffer from severe physical or mental disabilities, such as cancer, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, blindness, or deafness.
To qualify, a child’s condition must be expected to last at least one year or result in death. The SSA has a list of specific diseases and conditions to evaluate claims for children.
It’s important to note that children can still be considered eligible for SSI benefits if they attend school regularly. However, not all children qualify because the amount of financial help a family gets may depend on their income and resources.
What Is the Income and Resource Limit for SSI?
SSI benefits are meant for individuals with limited income. The income limit for SSI is $1,971 per month for individuals, but it can be higher for parents applying for benefits for their children.
Families applying for SSI also need to meet certain limits for “resources” (things like savings or property).
For individuals, the limit is $2,000, and for couples, it is $3,000. However, the SSA excludes certain resources from these limits, such as the family’s home and one vehicle.
In some cases, families may not receive the full amount of benefits due to the assets they own, but there are other financial aid programs available to help.
Additional Financial Assistance for Families
Aside from SSI, there are other ways families can receive support. These include:
- State SSI supplement payments: Extra payments provided by individual states.
- SNAP benefits (food stamps): Assistance for buying food.
- Section 8 housing vouchers: Help for affordable housing.
- Rent rebates and property tax refunds: Financial help for homeowners and renters.
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): A program for temporary financial support.
- Special expenses for people with blindness or disabilities: Certain costs related to these conditions are covered.
New Rules for SSI Benefits: A Broader Definition of Public Assistance Households
The SSA recently updated its rules to make it easier for more families to qualify for SSI benefits. Under the new rules, households that receive public assistance, like SNAP, will be considered “public assistance households.”
This change helps families who are already receiving other government support, as it will allow them to receive SSI benefits more easily.
These changes are important because they raise the amount of SSI payments for some families and simplify the process of filing taxes. The SSA believes that this update will make it easier for families to get the support they need.
The changes to SSI rules will help more families get the financial assistance they need to support their children with disabilities.
While there are strict eligibility requirements, there are also additional programs and resources that families can use to supplement their income.
This support is crucial for families who may be struggling to care for a child with serious health conditions or disabilities.
Who can receive Social Security SSI benefits?
SSI benefits are for children with serious disabilities, like cancer, Down syndrome, or blindness, that are expected to last at least a year or result in death.
What is the income limit for receiving SSI benefits?
To qualify for SSI, your income should not exceed $1,971 a month, though this amount can vary for families with children.
Are there other programs to help families with disabilities?
Yes, programs like SNAP (food stamps), Section 8 housing, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) offer additional financial support.
What are “resources” in the SSI application process?
Resources refer to things like savings, property, and assets. However, your home and one car are not counted toward your resource limit.
How have the rules for SSI changed?
The SSA now includes households receiving public assistance, like SNAP, in its definition of “public assistance households,” making it easier for families to qualify for SSI benefits.
