For thousands of Americans unable to work due to a disability, Social Security benefits may not be enough to make ends meet. To address this issue, the Social Security Administration created a program called Supplemental Security Income to help fill specific financial gaps.
According to the Houston Chronicle, the program is offered to disabled, blind, or over 65. The individual must be a resident of the United States, and citizenship is required, except for specific categories of aliens.
A claimant can receive up to $710 per month in benefits. The total jumps to $1,066 for a married couple. Dependents of beneficiaries can also receive up to $356 per month.
On top of the monetary benefits a claimant will receive from Supplemental Security Income, approval for these benefits could also give a claimant access to other programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Once approved, the total benefits an individual will receive are determined by that person’s non-Social Security-related income.
As with any other Social Security application, most claims are initially denied by the agency; however, an individual has a right to appeal the decision.
The Social Security Disability Lawyers at Newlin Disability urge anyone preparing to file a claim for benefits or has a claim that has been denied to contact their team of qualified attorneys to discuss your legal rights.