How SSI benefits can help the elderly and disabled

Dear wise elder!

What can you tell me about the SSI program and what are the requirements for seniors? I am trying to help my elderly aunt who is very poor.

Looking for a niece

Dear Search!

The SSI program you’re asking about, which stands for Supplemental Security Income, is a program administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that provides monthly cash assistance to people with disabilities or people over age 65 based on financial need.

About 7.5 million people currently receive SSI benefits, but many more are now eligible because the SSA recently expanded access to benefits by changing some rules. Here’s what you should know.

Eligibility requirements

To qualify for SSI, your aunt must be age 65 or older, be blind or disabled, and be a US citizen or legal resident. She must also have limited income and assets.

Her income as an individual must normally be less than $1,971 per month or $2,915 for couples. Countable income includes wages or any other money your aunt earned from work, as well as money she receives from other sources, such as unemployment, Social Security benefits or gifts from friends, and free shelter.

And her assets must also be less than $2,000 or $3,000 for couples. This includes cash, bank accounts, other personal property, and anything else that can potentially be converted into cash. Her home, household items and one car, as well as life insurance policies and funeral funds worth less than $1,500, are not counted assets.

In 2024, the maximum SSI payment is $943 per month for an individual or $1,415 per month for a couple. But if she is eligible, the amount your aunt would receive may be lower depending on her income, living situation and some other factors.

To help you determine if your aunt is eligible for SSI, help her take the Social Security Administration screening test at SSAbest.benefits.gov. This online form takes about five minutes to complete and checks for a variety of benefits, not just SSI.

You should also know that most states—with the exception of Arizona, Arkansas, Mississippi, North Dakota, Tennessee, and West Virginia—supplement the federal SSI payment with their own payments. In some states where the supplement is paid, your aunt may qualify for state benefits even if she does not meet the federal eligibility criteria for SSI.

How to apply

If you believe your aunt is eligible for SSI, she (or you) can begin the application process and complete much of the application process online at SSA.gov/apply/ssi. If she is unable to work, she can apply for both SSI and Social Security Disability SSA.gov/disability. Or, if she can’t apply online, call 800-772-1213 and make an appointment at your local Social Security office.

To make the application process easier, your aunt will need her social security number; birth certificate or other proof of age; information about the house where she lives, such as her mortgage or lease and the name of the landlord; information about wages, bank books, insurance policies, information about the funeral fund and other information about her income and things that belong to her; her confirmation of US citizenship or corresponding non-citizen status; and if she is applying for SSI because she is disabled or blind, the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of doctors, hospitals, and clinics that have information related to her condition.

For more information visit SSA.gov/ssi or view the Social Security SSI online publication at SSA.gov/pubs/EN-05-11000.pdf.

Other assistance programs

Depending on your aunt’s income, there are other financial assistance programs that can help her, such as Medicare savings programs, prescription drug assistance, food stamps, and energy assistance. To find these programs and learn how to apply, go to Advantages of CheckUp.org.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, PO Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a co-anchor of the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior.