Supplemental Security Income

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Many Americans with disabilities do not have the work history required by some of the programs administered by the Social Security Administration. The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program provides benefits to disabled adults and children who meet certain income and resource restrictions.

The SSI provides monthly cash payments for blindness or disability for low income individuals and couples. Navigating the confusing, complex initial claims process to get the assistance you need is often difficult without the professional guidance of an SSI lawyer.

James Mitchell Brown has been practicing disability law for more than 50 years. His unparalleled knowledge of the SSA disability process and procedures allows him to provide outstanding representation to people with disabilities who require his services.

What is SSI?

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal program managed by the Social Security Administration. It provides financial assistance to blind or disabled adults and children. It also pays benefits to individuals without disabilities who are at least age 65 or older.

Although SSI and the Social Security Disability Insurance program both pay disability benefits, their requirements for approval differ significantly. For instance, SSI does not have a work-history requirement as does the SSDI program. Instead, SSI has income and resource limits.

SSI is a needs-based program providing monthly payments to individuals or couples needing money for food, housing, and clothing. Applicants cannot exceed income and resource limits to be approved for the program.

Applicants in most states receive benefits through Medicaid with they are approved for SSI. Some states require a separate application and approval process for Medicaid benefits. As a nationwide Supplemental Security Income lawyer, James Mitchell Brown guides you through the application and approval process required in your state for both programs.

Who Can Be Approved? Adults, Children, And The Elderly

The SSI approval process focuses on two primary requirements: Medical and financial. Adults and children applying for SSI disability benefits must meet the following criteria:

• Adults, ages 18 through 64, must meet the SSA disability definition that requires documentation of an inability to do substantial gainful employment activities because of a medically provable physical or mental impairment expected to result in death or expected to last for at least 12 consecutive months.
• Children younger than 17 must have a medically provable physical or mental impairment causing marked and severe functional limitations lasting or expected to last for at least 12 months or expected to result in death.
• Adults aged 65 and older can be approved for benefits without a disabling medical condition provided they meet the financial conditions of the SSI program.

Adults and children with impaired vision may be approved for SSI benefits. A specific standard for blindness must be met for approval of benefits. Visual impairment that does not meet the definition of blindness could meet the disability standard. An SSI attorney reviews medical documentation to advise an applicant about the best way to apply for benefits.

Income and Resource Limits

Applicants must meet income and resource limits of the SSI program. Income includes:

• Earnings from working.
• Benefits through other programs, including workers’ compensation, Department of Veterans Affairs, unemployment insurance, and the Social Security Administration, such as SSDI or retirement.
• Money given by relatives and friends.
• Food and housing provided without charge by family members and friends.

Resources cannot exceed $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples. Resources include cash, bank deposits, real property, vehicles, and personal items.

Some sources of income and resources do not count when the SSA reviews an application to determine whether a person meets the requirements for the SSI program. For example, the value of a car you own counts as a resource, but it does not count when used for transportation by you or a member of your household.

Understanding federal regulations and the SSA’s evaluation methods is what makes representation by a disability attorney so important. James Mitchell Brown has more than five decades of experience with the SSA disability system and uses it to help you achieve the best possible outcome.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Application Process

Before filling out an application for SSI, let James Mitchell Brown review the program’s requirements with you to determine whether or not you meet them. Applications on behalf of adults may now be prepared and submitted online. If filing a claim for a child, the application can be completed in person at a local Social Security office or by scheduling an appointment to do it over the phone.

The submitted application goes through a review at a local SSA field office to determine whether it meets the financial requirements. If it does, the field office sends the application to a Disability

Determination Service office. DDS offices exist in each state and operate as state agencies funded by the SSA.

A disability examiner in a DDS office reviews the application and medical documentation to decide whether the applicant has a disability that meets the SSA standard. Disability examiners may request that an additional medical examination of the applicant be conducted by the applicant’s treating healthcare provider or an independent medical practitioner.

The disability examiner at DDS completes the evaluation and returns the file to the SSA field office. The field office sends written notification of the determination to the applicant. Claims approved for SSI benefits receive notice of the amount and start date of monthly benefit payments. Denied claims receive notification of the determination and information about the applicant’s right to appeal.

An appeals process consists of four levels providing opportunities to challenge the denial of an SSI claim. The appeals process consists of the following:

• Reconsideration, where a new examiner reviews the claim.
• Disability hearing presided over by an administrative law judge who makes a decision after evaluating witness testimony and other evidence.
• Appeals Council review of the claim, including new evidence submitted by the claimant’s disability attorney.
• Federal court civil action where a federal judge evaluates evidence and makes a decision about the claim.

Representation by SSI lawyer James Mitchell Brown relieves a person of the burden of what can be an overwhelming application and appeals process. Instead of struggling to learn about disability hearing procedures, claimants can rely on the experience and skills of an accomplished disability attorney.

Common Mistakes Applicants Make

Taking on an unfamiliar and complex process is bound to result in mistakes that can cause delays and claim denials. Some of the common mistakes applicants for SSI make include:

• Submitting applications with missing information, inconsistencies, and errors.
• Not having adequate medical documentation to support the claim.
• Failing to respond to requests from the SSA for information or records.
• Missing deadlines, such as the 60-day time limit to appeal a decision.
• Attempting to handle the application or appeal process without advice and representation from an experienced SSI lawyer.

Avoid mistakes that could prove costly in terms of application processing delays or a denial of benefits with representation by a disability benefits attorney.

Benefits of Hiring an SSI Lawyer

When you have James Mitchell Brown as your SSI lawyer, you have someone with more than 50 years of experience devoted to helping people with disabilities obtain the benefits they need to overcome financial challenges. Relying on James Mitchell Brown’s experience and expertise gives you peace of mind, so you can focus on your health and well-being. Contact us today for a free consultation.