One type of government benefit meant to help those who cannot work includes Supplemental Security Income (SSI). A person may be eligible for SSI benefits if they are aged, blind or disabled and have limited resources and income, among other requirements. It is important to understand what these requirements mean, so you can apply for benefits if appropriate.
Per the Social Security Administration, a person is aged if they are age 65 or older. In addition, a person is blind if their vision is 20/200 or worse in their best eye with the use of glasses or contact lenses or if the widest diameter of their visual field is no greater than a 20-degree angle.
The SSA also has a specific definition of disability. A person is disabled if they have a physical or mental impairment that is medically determinable, prevents them from doing any substantial gainful activity and is either expected to be fatal or has lasted or will last at least one year.
The SSA also has a specific definition of what constitutes a limited income and limited resources. Income includes money earned through working, certain government benefits, money received from friends or family and any food or shelter obtained for no cost. Resources include money, financial accounts, stocks, U.S. savings bonds, land, personal assets including vehicles, life insurance and anything else that can be sold to pay for food or shelter. A person’s resources cannot be worth more than $2,000 for individuals or $3,000 for couples.
You may find the information in this post useful, but keep in mind that this is only a basic overview of some of the requirements necessary to qualify for SSI benefits and cannot guarantee any specific result for those applying for said benefits. Those who wish to apply for SSI benefits may want to work with an attorney who can assist with the application process.