Raleigh Supplemental Security Income Lawyer
Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, is a program that makes payments to people with low income and resources if they are aged 65 years or old, are blind or are disabled.  It is funded by general tax revenues, opposed to Social Security taxes, and provides cash to meet the basic needs for food, clothing and shelter for many families in America.
For a person seeking Supplemental Security Income, the outcome of their application may significantly impact their ability to face a secure future. That is why the Raleigh Supplemental Security Income attorneys at The Whitley Law Firm are dedicated to helping clients facing the need to apply for benefits or appeal a decision regarding denied social security benefits. For a free consultation regarding your case, feel free to call a Raleigh Supplemental Security Income lawyer.
Qualifying for SSI Benefits
To qualify for SSI benefits, you must meet certain requirements regarding your income and resources. Resources may include:
- Cash
- Real estate
- Bank accounts
- Stocks
- Bonds
If your resources are no more than $2,000 (or no more than $3,000 for a married couple) you may qualify. Your income must also not exceed a certain level, but what counts as income may vary depending on the particular situation. This may include wages, any Social Security benefits, food, pensions and shelter.
Eligibility for Social Security Benefits
Although Social Security Disability Insurance benefits and Supplemental Security Income seem very similar, there are certain key differences. It is important to know the differences before going through the entire application process.
In a simple questionnaire provided by the Social Security Administration, several questions are asked to help a person determine if they are eligible for Supplemental Security Income. The questionnaire asks the following questions:
- Where do you live?
- What is your citizenship status?
- Are you currently married?
- Are you currently a student?
- What type of residence do you live in?
- How much do you earn each month from working?
The list of questions goes on, but these are just a few of the general questions that are used to gather information about your life and current financial standing to help the SSA determine if you are eligible to receive benefits.
Contact a Raleigh SSDI Lawyer Today
Supplemental Security Income is one of two types of programs that help people who are disabled and need additional income to survive. Social Security Disability is the other of these, concerning disabled people who have worked for a certain amount of time and therefore qualify for these benefits. SSI benefits may be available to a person who has not worked enough or at all.
