SSI, or Supplemental Security Income, is a federal program that provides monthly cash payments to people in need. SSI is for people who are 65 or older, as well as for blind or disabled people of any age, including children.
To qualify you also must have little or no income and few resources. This means that the value of the things you own must be less than $2,000 if you are single or less than $3,000 if you are married. The value of your home does not count if you live in it. Usually, the value of your car does not count. And the value of certain other resources, such as a burial plot, may not count either.
To receive SSI, you also must apply for any other cash benefits you may be able to get.
You must live in the United States or Northern Mariana Islands to receive SSI. If you are not a U.S. citizen, but you are lawfully residing in the United States, you still may be able to receive SSI. For more information, ask for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) For Noncitizens (Publication No. 05-11051).
The state of New York adds money to the federal payment. The state of New York may also consider the county or borough where you reside when determining how much to supplement your SSI payments. Additionally, the state of New York considers whether you reside in congregate care, also known as group home or adult foster care, when determining how much to supplement your SSI payments. The single payment you get in the beginning of each month includes both the federal SSI payment and your supplement from New York.
If you receive SSI, you can get medical assistance (Medicaid) automatically. You will receive a separate letter of acceptance and Medicaid ID card from the state of New York. If you have questions about Medicaid, contact your local department of social services.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
If you receive SSI, you may be able to get help through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. SNAP can help you buy more food without spending more money. However, Social Security does not decide if you qualify for SNAP. If you live in a household where everyone is applying for or receiving SSI, you can apply for SNAP at a Social Security office. If not, you must apply at your local department of social services.
Other services you may be able to get through your local department of social services:
- Homemaker and housekeeper services;
- Personal care;
- Money management; and
- Assistance in making living arrangements in group residences or family-type homes.
For more information, contact your local department of social services.
The amounts include both federal and state payments combined. Not all SSI recipients receive the maximum amount. Your payment may be lower if you have other income.
| Category | 2012 Total Monthly Payment |
|---|---|
| Person living alone | $785.00 |
| Person living with others, but paying his or her own expenses | $721.00 |
| Person living in someone else’s household and receiving support and maintenance | $488.34 |
| Person living in public general hospital or Medicaid-approved long-term health facility | $55.00 or $35.00* |
| Couple living alone | $1,152.00 |
| Couple living with others, but paying their own expenses | $1,094.00 |
| Couple living in someone else’s household and receiving support and maintenance | $744.67 |
*Â Â Social Security sends recipients a $30 federal SSI benefit and New York state sends recipients an additional $25 State Supplemental Personal Needs Allowance (SSPNA) when they reside in a nursing home or a $5 SSPNA when they reside in any other kind of medical facility. |
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Our website is a valuable resource for information about all of Social Security’s programs. There are a number of things you can do online.
In addition to using our website, you can call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213. We treat all calls confidentially. We can answer specific questions from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Generally, you’ll have a shorter wait time if you call during the week after Tuesday. We can provide information by automated phone service 24 hours a day. (You can use our automated response system to tell us a new address or request a replacement Medicare card.) If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call our TTY number, 1-800-325-0778.
We also want to make sure you receive accurate and courteous service. That is why we have a second Social Security representative monitor some telephone calls.
