Editing Supplemental Security Income (section)

===Residency===
SSI benefits are not paid solely to US citizens, but may also be paid to aliens legally residing in the United States.<ref name="SSA POMS SI 00501.001"/> Conversely, citizens may find themselves ineligible because they do not currently reside within the United States;<ref>(''SSA'' POMS SI 00501.410)</ref> exceptions apply for children of military parents who were born overseas, were disabled or became blind overseas, or first applied for benefits overseas<ref>(''SSA'' POMS SI 00501.415)</ref> and for students studying abroad who were eligible for SSI in the month prior to leaving the US, whose absence will be for less than one year, and who are studying to enhance their ability to perform substantial gainful activity, sponsored by an educational institution in the US, and would not be available to the individual in the US.<ref>(''SSA'' POMS SI 00501.411)</ref> Several restrictions apply to the eligibility of aliens however. These include being in a "qualified alien" category and meeting an exception condition.<ref>(''SSA'' POMS SI 00502.100)</ref>

There are seven categories of qualified aliens based on [[Department of Homeland Security]] (DHS) immigration statuses. This includes:<ref>(''SSA'' POMS SI 00502.100A.2)</ref>
* those admitted as Lawfully admitted for permanent residence (LAPR)
* those granted conditional entry pursuant to section 203(a)(7) of the [[Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965|Immigration and Nationality Act]] (INA)
* those paroled into the US under section 212(d)(5) of the INA for a period of at least one year
* those who are [[refugee]]s admitted to the US under section 207 of the INA
* those granted asylum under section 208 of the INA
* those whose deportation is being withheld under sections 243(h) or 241(b)(3) of the INA
* [[Cuba]]n/[[Haiti]]an entrants under section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980.

There are five exception conditions. These include:<ref>(''SSA'' POMS SI 00502.100A.3)</ref>
* having already been receiving SSI on August 22, 1996
* having 40 qualifying credits (using SSI as a supplement to Retirement or Disability Insurance Benefits) when in LAPR status
* being a veteran, active-duty member of the U. S. military service, or being the spouse or dependant child of an individual who is
* having been lawfully residing in the US on August 22, 1996, and being blind and disabled (excluding aged individuals)
In order to qualify for SSI, an immigrant must have been a legal resident of the United States before the Welfare Reform Act of 1996 took effect (August 22, 1996). Those who arrived after that date may be denied SSI benefits. However, the regulations governing alien eligibility for SSI are complex and contain many exceptions; for instance, asylees, refugees, spouses of a member of the U.S. military, and some LAPR may be ''qualified aliens.'' A person who has been in LAPR status for at least five years, has a valid Form I-551 ([[Green card|Green card status]]''')''' issued by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration, and has been employed in the United States, may qualify.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ORDP/OISP/OEEP |title=Social Security Numbers and Immigrant Visas |url=https://www.ssa.gov/ssnvisa/Handout_11_1.html |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=www.ssa.gov |language=en}}</ref> People wishing to learn whether they might qualify for SSI should contact the Social Security Administration to schedule an appointment for an interview.

A person who is incarcerated for a calendar month is ineligible for benefits.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Benefits after Incarceration |url=https://www.ssa.gov/reentry/benefits.htm#:~:text=How%20a%20conviction%20affects%20your,more%20than%2030%20consecutive%20days. |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=www.ssa.gov |language=en}}</ref> If the person is in a medical facility where at least 50% of their costs are paid by Medicaid, their benefit may be reduced to $30.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SSA - POMS: SI 00520.011 - Determination of Applicability of $30 Payment Limit - 04/16/2013 |url=https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0500520011 |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=secure.ssa.gov}}</ref>