Am I eligible for SSI?

To be able to get SSI, you must:

    Be at least age 65, or blind, or disabled;
    For SSI purposes, a disability is a severe medical condition that prevents you from being able to work.[1727] This is the same definition used for SSDI, and the same process is used to decide whether you have a qualifying disability.[1728]
    Have very little or no income;
    The income limit varies by where you live and may change from year to year.[1729]
    Own limited resources;[1730]
    The resource limit means that the value of things you own (besides your home and your car) must be below a certain amount, which is set by law and differs for singled and married people.[1731]
    You must be living in the U.S. as a citizen or a lawfully present noncitizen (LPR);[1732]
    If you are ineligible for SSI due to residency status, but you are legally present, you may be eligible for the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI).[1733] For information about this program, see the Helpful Hint box below.
    You must apply for any other cash benefits you might be eligible for; AND[1734]
    You must not be currently incarcerated (details below).[1735]
  1. 1727

    The law defines “disability” as the inability to do any “substantial gainful activity” due to a “medically determinable physical or mental impairment” that can be expected to result in death or that has lasted (or can be expected to last) for at least 12 months in a row. 20 C.F.R. § 416.905(a); Benefits Available to Paroling & Discharging Inmates, Prison Law Office (2011), http://www.prisonlaw.com/pdfs/BenefitsLetter,Aug2011.pdf. ↑

  2. 1728

    Disability Benefits, Soc. Sec. Admin., http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10029.pdf ↑

  3. 1729

    You can call Social Security to find out what current income limits apply to you. See Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Soc. Sec. Admin., http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/EN-05-11000.pdf ↑

  4. 1730

    Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Soc. Sec. Admin., http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/EN-05-11000.pdf ↑

  5. 1731

    42 U.S.C. § 1382b; Benefits Available to Paroling & Discharging Inmates, Prison Law Office (2011), http://www.prisonlaw.com/pdfs/BenefitsLetter,Aug2011.pdf. ↑

  6. 1732

    If you’re a noncitizen, you may be able to get SSI if you meet specific requirements; the rules on this are complex. Resources are available from California Immigrant Policy Center (www.caimmigrant.org) and National Immigration Law Center (www.nilc.org). You should also ask your county social services office for information about benefits programs for noncitizens, such as CAPI (See Helpful Hint box above). Benefits Available to Paroling & Discharging Inmates, Prison Law Office (2011), http://www.prisonlaw.com/pdfs/BenefitsLetter,Aug2011.pdf. ↑

  7. 1733

    For more information on how to apply, visit http://www.cdss.ca.gov/cdssweb/entres/getinfo/pdf/eas16.PDF. ↑

  8. 1734

    7 C.F.R. § 273.20(a); Benefits Available to Paroling & Discharging Inmates, Prison Law Office (2011), http://www.prisonlaw.com/pdfs/BenefitsLetter,Aug2011.pdf. ↑

  9. 1735

    Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Soc. Sec. Admin., http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/EN-05-11000.pdf ↑