Supplemental Security
Income Claims

Should you apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?

If you’re disabled and no longer able to work, filing a disability claim may be the means to getting the financial support you need. You may qualify for cash assistance through the Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB) program – also known as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) — but if not, you may be eligible for SSI benefits.

How Do You Qualify for Supplemental Security Income?

Unlike the DIB program, eligibility for SSI benefits isn’t based on work history. To qualify for monthly SSI payments, you must fall into one of these categories:

  • You’re age 65 or older
  • You’re partially or totally blind
  • You have a disability

The Social Security Administration (SSA) may consider you disabled – and, therefore, eligible for SSI benefits – if you have a physical or mental impairment that prevents you from working and is expected to last for at least 12 months. This is no different from the definition of disability for DIB cases, but the SSI program is designed to help people with limited resources. To that end, you’ll need to meet these requirements in order to qualify for SSI benefits:

You must have a limited income.

As SSI is a needs-based program, your monthly earnings need to be under a certain amount to be eligible. The maximum you can bring home each month changes every year based on increases in the cost of living, and not all income counts toward the limit.

You must have limited assets.

In determining eligibility for SSI benefits, the SSA will look at your bank accounts, property, land, vehicles and anything else you own. To qualify, the value of your assets must be below the limit, but some resources won’t be included in the total.  

Applying for Supplemental Security Income Benefits

You can start the disability application process online or, if you prefer, you could make a telephone or in-person appointment at your local SSA office. But, you also have the right to appoint someone to assist with your SSI claim – and doing so is in your best interests.

Statistics show that those who have a disability attorney or disability advocate represent them during the application process are more likely to get approved for benefits. Let Mountain West Disability handle your SSI claim, and you’ll improve your chances because:

  • We have the skill to clearly present your case and make your disability obvious.
  • We can help you obtain the medical evidence you need to apply for SSI benefits.
  • We know how to avoid mistakes that can cause your application to be denied.

In addition, if your SSI claim is denied, the Mountain West team can represent you at any stage of the appeals process. With our guidance, the odds of getting awarded disability benefits goes up – we’ll do whatever we can to ensure that outcome.

Get Assistance with Your Supplemental Security Income Claim

The professional team at Mountain West Disability has been helping people obtain disability benefits since 2013, and we’d love to take on your SSI claim. Our services come with no upfront costs – and since we only collect a fee if we win, you can rely on us to make every effort to get you approved for SSI benefits.

For a free disability case evaluation and answers to your questions about Supplemental Security Income, contact Mountain West Disability today.