Getting older can be difficult in certain ways. You may gain wisdom and have a lifetime of wonderful experiences to look back on, but as you age, you may require more medical care and attention. Being disabled can also certainly be difficult in any number of ways, even if you are young. Sometimes, advancing age and increasing disability can make it difficult to enjoy life and engage in activities that you once loved. These conditions can make it difficult to work and earn an income, to continue to provide for yourself and your family, and can prevent you from feeling financially secure. Finding yourself in the situation can be stressful, and sometimes even overwhelming. The good news, though, is that depending upon your circumstances you may qualify for Supplemental Security Income benefits.

What Is Supplemental Security Income?

Often, people confuse Supplemental Security Income benefits with Social Security Disability benefits. While this is understandable, it is important to recognize the distinctions between the two. Generally, Social Security Disability payments are available to those who worked at a qualifying job for a certain amount of time and paid money into the Social Security system as part of that employment. The amount of benefits paid will depend upon the time worked, and the amount of money that was paid into the system while doing so.

By contrast, Supplemental Security Income benefits are typically available to those who meet certain qualifying conditions even if they did not have a job and pay into the system for a specific amount of time. Another important distinction is that Supplemental Security Income benefits are only available for the disabled individual, while Social Security Disability benefits may be available to their children as well depending upon the circumstances.

Knowing the difference between the types of benefits that might be available is important, but it’s also helpful and necessary to understand what conditions might make you eligible to receive those benefits. At London Eligibility, our advocates can help you to determine what types of benefits you might qualify for and can help you through the application process.

Who Can Receive Benefits?

Generally, to qualify for Supplemental Security Income you must meet the following conditions:

1). Limited Income: To qualify for SSI benefits, you must generally, have a limited amount of income and few assets. Determining the income limit can be somewhat complicated. Often, Social Security counts income in a different way that is typical for most people. Often, many people think of income as wages earned from employment, but Social Security counts other income as well including sources of payment like unemployment benefits, Social Security retirement benefits, gifts, free food and shelter, and any number of other sources of funding. Your attorney or advocate will be able to advise you in more detail concerning your particular circumstances, and what may or may not count as income for purposes of calculating potential Social Security Income benefits.

2). Age, Disability, or Blindness: You must be at least 65 years old, or be blind or disabled to qualify for SSI benefits.

3). Citizenship: You must be a United States citizen or a United States national to qualify for benefits. If you are an alien, you may qualify for benefits under certain conditions and requirements set forth by the Social Security Administration, and which can be explained by your attorney.

4). Residency: To qualify for receipt of SSI benefits, you must reside in one of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, or the Northern Mariana Islands, unless you are a child of military parents assigned to permanent duty somewhere outside the United States, or unless you are a student temporarily studying abroad.

Other factors might also affect your eligibility, including your marital status, certain assets you may have, and various other conditions depending upon your circumstances. The wisest first step is to consult an advocate who can help you determine whether you might qualify – and that’s exactly what the team at London Eligibility is here to do.

Call Your London Eligibility Advocates Today

If you find yourself in a situation where you need Supplemental Security Income and believe you qualify but are unsure what steps to take next, we are here for you. We specialize in helping our valued clients apply for the benefits they need and deserve, and we will walk with you as you navigate the complexities of filing an application and moving forward with the process.

You may be disabled – but that doesn’t mean you have to despair. Our talented team is ready and waiting to help and we would love to get started on your case today. Call us at (877)978-3405 or visit us on our website at www.londoneligibility.com at any time. We look forward to the opportunity to help you soon.