How to qualify for SSI: a monthly payment for people 65 and older, blind or disabled

Many SSI claims stall over income and resources

SSI stands for Supplemental Security Income. It is a monthly payment from the Social Security Administration. It is meant for adults and children who have little or no income and few things they own. They must also be 65 or older, be blind or have a disability. A person who is 65 or older does not need a disability to get SSI. Many states also add a payment of their own to the federal amount.

Social Security looks at three things before it decides. It checks the income a person gets and the resources a person owns. It also checks age, blindness or disability. Claims often slow down for simple reasons. A paper is missing. A call or an appointment is missed. Or the person waits too long, and Social Security cannot pay for months before the application date. The next page shows how the steps work and what to prepare.

Questions most people have before they apply

• Why does Social Security leave some income out?Open →
• How do the documents and the decision work?Open →
• Where do you apply? Only with Social SecurityOnly with Social Security, online, by phone or through a local office. No other office can decide.Open →

How the SSI process works from start to finish

The road to SSI starts with Social Security. You can start online, call the national phone line to set up an appointment, or call your local Social Security office. Someone else can also call for you or help with the form. Anyone may apply, and there is no charge to apply. If you call to set up an appointment and then keep it, Social Security may use the date of your call as the date you applied.

After you apply, Social Security asks for proof, such as proof of age, income and the things you own. It can help you get papers that are hard to find. If the claim is based on a disability or blindness and medical records are missing, it may pay for an exam. Then it mails a letter with its decision. Each letter explains how to appeal. The next page explains the steps and the papers to have ready.