Supplemental Security Income
While SSDI requires an applicant to have a certain amount of work leading up to their alleged disability date, Supplemental Security Income (“SSI)” has no such requirement and is a need-based program. Instead, to be eligible for the SSI program, one must meet SSI’s financial requirements. SSI’s financial requirements are limited – SSA considers any income, including that from pensions, gifts, and assets. While there are exceptions to the countable assets, for an individual, the SSI asset limit is $2,000.00; for a couple, the SSI asset limit is $3,000.00. If approved for SSI, the individual receives a monthly rate set by federal statute, although that rate may be lowered based on the individual’s living situation, i.e., living with family. Past-due benefits are only payable from the date of application.Disabled Adult Child Benefits
The program, often referred to as the program for “adults with disabilities since childhood,” is part of the SSDI program but has elements from both the SSDI and SSI programs. The young adult must be found disabled prior to the age of twenty-two. The young adult does not need to be under the age of twenty-two when they apply, but SSA must find them disabled as of any date prior to the individual’s twenty-second birthday. Like SSI, the adult “disabled child” does not need work history to qualify for this program. To qualify for this program, the young adult need not meet SSI’s financial requirements (although the adult child might also qualify for SSI based on financial need). Instead, SSA uses the young adult’s parents’ earnings records. However, the young adult is not able to begin collecting these unique benefits until and unless either parent is receiving SSDI, SSA’s retirement benefits, or is deceased. It can take years for the individual to begin collecting their adult child benefits, but the individual’s eligibility for this program requires SSA to have found them disabled prior to the age of twenty-two. There are other variants and features of these programs, but understanding the key distinctions between SSA’s largest disability programs is helpful when working with someone who is interested in applying for or is already receiving disability benefits. The application process is lengthy and often requires appeals and a hearing. Applicants will benefit from consulting with an attorney who has experience with the SSA’s disability process.]]>