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Art: Robin Mead.

SSI Regulations tin can exist confusing and difficult to observe and sympathize.

Sometimes people suspension the rules because they don't know what the rules are!

Sometimes people get their check lowered and have no idea why or what happened!

Sometimes people are told they owe Social Security money back, even though they reported everything they were supposed to!

Luckily, none of these things volition happen to y'all. This page contains the most of import rules you need to know then SSI tin experience less disruptive and easier to navigate.

Who Should Read This Page?

  • People on SSI – Yeah! Read this page.
  • People on SSI plus SSDI – Yes! Read this page.
  • People on SSI plus Disabled Adult Kid Benefits – Yeah! Read this page.
  • People on SSDI only – No! Don't read this page.
  • People on Disabled Adult Child Benefits but – Maybe! Y'all don't need to follow these rules for Disabled Developed Kid Benefits, merely in some cases, you may demand to stay within the SSI limits to keep Medicaid.

What's What?

  • What Am I On Correct Now? SSI or SSDI?
  • Are Yous SURE You Are Actually Applying For Both SSI and SSDI?
  • What'south the Departure Betwixt SSI and SSDI?
  • What's Disabled Adult Child Benefits?

Eligibility

  • How Poor Do I Have to Be? (Simple Answer)
  • How Poor Do I Have to Exist? (Excruciating Answer)
  • Tin I Get Both SSI and SSDI?
  • What if I'k Married to Someone With Income?
  • If My Life Changes, Will I Get Eligible?

Applying

  • How to Utilize for SSI Without Falling into Quicksand

Surviving

  • How to Survive on SSI
  • "How I Get By On SSI"

SSI Interviews

You volition be contacted for this when you first apply and/or right after you are approved and/or every year or so while you are on SSI. What happens and what will they ask? How to Handle an SSI Interview (PERC)

SSI Resource Rules

Special rules well-nigh stuff yous ain and money in the bank:

  • What is the Resources Limit?
  • What Counts every bit a Resources?
  • When Do Resources Count?
  • How to Handle If You Are Over the Resource Limit
  • How to Ain Two Cars
  • I Live with Other People. Practice Their Resources Count?

SSI Income Rules

Special rules virtually stuff yous get or money yous are given:

  • How Does Income Affect My SSI Bank check?
  • How You Tin can (and can't) Make Money While on SSI
  • I Live with Other People. Does Their Income Count?
  • How Tin can I Keep Child Support and Alimony from Lowering SSI?
  • SSA Policy: What is Not Income?

Feeling Confused?

  • What'southward Income? What's a Resources? What rules apply when?

What To Do Nearly Nice People Who Desire to Requite Y'all Stuff

  • I'm On SSI. Can a Person or Program Pay My Bills?
  • I'm on SSI. Can someone give me a gift or inheritance?
  • I'g on SSI. Can I Start an Online Fundraiser?
  • I'g on SSI. What happens if someone gives me a free place to alive?

What To Do With Money

  • Prophylactic Means to Save or Spend Coin
  • How Am I Allowed to Spend Money While on SSI?
  • How Am I Allowed to Salvage Coin While on SSI?

Living Arrangements

How you live and who y'all alive with can affect your SSI cheque.

  • SSI Living Organization Regs
  • SSI Nutrient Regs
  • Living With a Boyfriend or Girlfriend
  • Marraige, Divorce, Separation, Children, Widows
  • Homeless Regulations

How Much Rent or Mortgage to Pay

How much rent or mortgage yous pay tin can bear upon your SSI check

  • SSI Hire & Mortgage Regs
  • Figuring Out Your Household Expenses
  • Figuring Out Your Share
  • Special Rules if You lot Alive with the Homeowner
  • Making Certain Your SSI Check is Correct
  • How To Pay Hire While Waiting
  • Rental Loan Agreements
  • Special Exceptions
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Four SSI Rent Examples

SSI Ups & Downs

Things that tin can make your bank check stop or starting time or get upwards or become downwards.

  • How Much is Maximum SSI?
  • Ten Common Reasons SSI Might Exist Low
  • Ten Mutual Reasons SSI Might be Denied or Stopped
  • How to Make SSI Become Upward or Downwardly
  • How to Report and Change an SSI Check

Deeming

Your SSI may be affected past your parent'south finances (if you are under age 18) or by your spouses finances (if you alive with your spouse). This is called deeming. There are a few exceptions:How to Avoid Deeming

Adult Child Benefits

If y'all first became disabled before the age of 22 (no matter what age y'all are now) you lot may be able to go off SSI and instead becomeAdult Disabled Child Benefits. This is adept! Yous want this.

Debt

Debt collectors cannot garnish your SSI cheque for any reason nether any circumstances. But they tin annoy you and they tin can endeavor to freeze your bank account. Luckily, at that place are some laws that protect you:Debt & Inability

Working and SSI

  • How Does Working Touch My SSI Check?
  • How to Work Without (Too Much) Trouble

Reporting

  • What Changes Exercise I Need to Report to Social Security?
  • How to Report and How to Go Your Check to Change

Overpayments

  • How To Respond When Social Security Tells You That You Owe Money Back
  • How Sandra Got Her Overpayments Waived

Inheritance

  • Special Needs Trust

If You Have Questions

SSI financial regs are circuitous, and the people who answer the phones at Social Security often give out incorrect data in this area. We take heard from many readers who wound upward in a wide variety of bad situations this way.

If y'all would similar to research the policies yourself, they are all available here: Program Functioning Manual. The search feature does not work, but yous can search this manual hither:Working Search Feature. Much easier to read and understand, but non as detailed and leaves some things out: Spotlights on SSI.

If you are currently on SSI, you lot can also call the local Social Security role and inquire for the name and contact info of the worker assigned to your SSI example. This person will be trained in SSI policy and is more likely to know the correct answer. If you lot feel a specific rule is not being followed correctly, you can asking to speak to a "Technical Practiced." If yous call the principal number, any you practice,never inquire questions to the person who answers the phone.

Here's a list of people and places you lot may be able to contact for help if yous are having a problem with Social Security or if you lot cannot get your questions answered. Contacting your Congressperson'southward office tin can exist especially helpful.

Children on SSI

Nigh of the above links also utilise to children. In add-on:

  • Overview of SSI and Family Income Nautical chart
  • Formula for How Parent'due south Income Affect Kid's Bank check – Alert: Incredibly complicated. Exercise not read this link unless yous are really hardcore.
  • SSI Hire & Mortgage Regs – Many parents do non know these regs, and it oft causes problems.
  • How Much is the SSI Resource Limit? – Same link as in a higher place. We are repeating this considering everyone gets it incorrect when it comes to kids.
  • Protecting SSI from Kid Support
  • Kid Back up and SSI