Raleigh Disability Benefits Guide For SSI and SSDI

SSI is a type of need's based programs where a monthly check is provided to individuals who have a disability, are elderly, or blind. For disabled individuals who have either never works or haven't worked enough recently to qualify to receive Social Security disability insurance (SSDI), SSI might be the only program that they are eligible for. However, it is hard to financially qualify for the SSI program, since it has meager asset limits and income limits. As you read this article, if you need any additional information, please head over the the Disability Advocates Group website where they have a LOT more information for people that might be looking for a disability lawyer in Raleigh NC.

How Much Are SSI Payments?

The amount paid monthly by SSI is based on what the "federal benefit rate" (FBR) is. The FBR in 2019 is $1157 for couples and $771 for individuals per month (the FBR increases yearly, and there is a cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security).

The FBR represent that maximum monthly federal SSI payment. Any income that you receive through the month, less certain exclusions, might be subtracted from your monthly federal SSI payment. State money might also be added onto the monthly federal payment as well.

North Carolina State Supplements

A state supplement is also available in a majority of states. This gets added onto the federal benefit payment. All states except for West Virginia, Texas, Tennessee, Oregon, Mississippi, Georgia, Arkansas, and Arizona add money onto the federal SSI payment. The state supplement amount will vary between states, ranging from $10 up to $400. It will also depend on whether you are married or single, and whether you are living on your own, in assisted living, or in a nursing home.

Earned Income Exclusion

For those who earn income, a certain amount can be deducted from the income before it is subtracted from the SSI payment. A total of $65 can be subtracted from earned income, along with another $20 for unearned or earned income, then half of the remainder is subtracted - which is the total amount that can be deducted from income. The rest of this income is then subtracted from the SSI payment.

Maintenance and In-Kind Support

If you get SSI benefits and somebody provides you with food and/or shelter that you aren't paying for, then this will be counted as income by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and it will be subtracted from your SSI payments. So it results in reducing your monthly SSI payment to account for in=kind support and maintenance (ISM). That is because the SSI consider you don't need to have the total SSI payment when you are receiving some free shelter or food. For additional information, read our article on how your SSI payment is affected by in-kind support and income.

Concurrent SSDI and SSI Benefits

For applicants receiving low SSDI payments, there is Supplemental Security Income that does precisely what is implied by its name. For example, if an SSDI monthly benefit is received by an approved disability claimant of $400, then an SSI award may be sued for guaranteeing the total monthly benefits of the claimant equal to what the minimum SSI amount is, which currently is $771 a month. This SSDI recipient could get an addition $371 from SSI so that the total monthly benefit was $771, which is the equivalent of the full amount of SSI monthly benefits.

For additional information, read this article on SSDI and SSI benefits.

This scenario, of course, will not occur in every single case. Since SSI has asset (resource) limits (an individual currently cannot have over $2,000 worth of disposable assets), numerous SSDI claimants won't be eligible for Supplement Security Income, despite having low SSDI benefits.

Disability Advocates Group
4030 Wake Forest Road #300
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 815-4889
https://www.disabilityadvocate...