Editing Supplemental Security Income (section)

==Benefit details==

=== Amounts ===
The SSI program (or Title XVI of the Social Security Act 1611) provides monthly federal cash assistance of up to $914 for an individual and $1,371 for a couple (as of 2020)<ref name="ssa.gov">{{cite web|title=SSI Federal Payment Amounts for 2018|url=http://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/SSI.html|last=SueKunkel|website=www.ssa.gov}}</ref> to help meet the costs of basic needs of food, shelter, and clothing.

In most states, SSI eligibility usually assures concurrent access to important medical coverage under the various state [[Medicaid]] programs and sometimes access to [[Section 8 (housing)|Section 8]] housing benefits. In some states, supplemental payments are made by the state, increasing the cash assistance available through SSI. For example, the state of California (through its State Supplementation Program or SSP) increases the cash assistance, making the total 2020 SSI benefit for an individual $943.72 per month.<ref>{{Cite web|title=DB101 California - Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Frequently Asked Questions|url=https://ca.db101.org/ca/programs/income_support/ssi/faqs.htm|website=ca.db101.org|language=en|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref>

'''Amount calculation'''

SSI takes the income and resources of the applicant or recipient into consideration when calculating their benefit amount. Resources are determined at the first of the month. If an individual reduces their countable resources below the limit through investing in excluded resources, they will remain eligible.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Understanding SSI - SSI Resources|url=https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-resources-ussi.htm|last=ORDP|first=OISP|website=www.ssa.gov|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref> Excluded resources are resources such as: household goods, personal effects, up to one vehicle, and the home the applicant lives in.<ref name=":0" />

An individual's monthly benefit will be calculated by subtracting their "countable income" from the maximum benefit amount.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SSI Federal Payment Amounts for 2020|url=https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/SSI.html|website=www.ssa.gov|language=en|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref> "Countable income" is an individual's income after applying any appropriate exclusions.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Countable Income for SSI Program|url=https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/countableincome.html|last=SueKunkel|website=www.ssa.gov|language=en|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref> It includes earned, unearned, in-kind, and deemed income.
*'''Earned Income''': This is a worker's gross income. It includes amounts that have been withheld by employers to pay taxes, health insurance or other payments.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SSA - POMS: HI 03020.025 - How to Count Earned Income - 06/09/2011|url=https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0603020025|website=secure.ssa.gov|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref> Therefore, this may be larger than the amount the individual actually takes home as pay.
*'''Unearned Income''': All income that is not earned income.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SSA - POMS: HI 03020.035 - What is Unearned Income - 08/07/2009|url=https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0603020035|website=secure.ssa.gov|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=SSA - POMS: SI 00830.001 - General Information on Unearned Income - 05/25/2000|url=https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0500830001|website=secure.ssa.gov|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref> However, some types of [[unearned income]] (e.g., SSI retroactive payments, [[Earned income tax credit|EITC]] payments, and state relocation assistance) can be excluded.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SSA - POMS: SI 00830.050 - Overview of Unearned Income Exclusions - 09/27/2010|url=https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0500830050|website=secure.ssa.gov|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref>
**'''Lump Sums & Court Awards''': A lump sum award or a court award, such as from a settlement, are considered unearned income for SSI purposes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SSA - POMS: SI 00830.515 - Awards - 04/14/1999|url=https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0500830515|website=secure.ssa.gov|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref><ref>Frerks v. Shalala, 52 F.3d 412 (2d Cir. 1995)(holding that settlement proceeds from medical malpractice suit were resources rendering recipient no longer eligible for SSI)</ref> Individuals on SSI must report receiving a lump sum or court award to the [[Social Security Administration]] by at least 10 days after the month in which the award was received.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SSA - POMS: SI 02301.005 - SSI Posteligibility - Recipient Reporting - 09/30/2016|url=https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0502301005|website=secure.ssa.gov|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref> Any lump sum or court award will reduce the individual's benefit award amount correspondingly in the month received. If the award remains unspent, it will count as resources in the following month, impacting eligibility.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Types of unearned income.|url=https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/416/416-1121.htm|last=SSA|first=ORDP|website=www.ssa.gov|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref><ref>20 CFR §416.1121(f)</ref>
*'''In-Kind Income''': Non-cash items such as: real property (including shelter), food, or non-cash wages (e.g., room and board as compensation for employment).<ref>{{Cite web|title=SSA - POMS: SI 00810.020 - Forms and Amounts of Income - 10/27/2011|url=https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0500810020|website=secure.ssa.gov|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref>
*'''Deemed Income''': When an eligible individual resides in the same household as his/her ineligible spouse or, if a child, with ineligible parent(s), the income of such spouse or parent is considered in determining the individual's eligibility and payment amount.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SSA - POMS: SI 01320.001 - Deeming of Income - Background - 01/07/1999|url=https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0501320001|website=secure.ssa.gov|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref>

=== Payments ===
Payments for SSI are made on the first day of the month unless that day is on a weekend or legal holiday, in which case the payment is made on the first day prior that is not a weekend or legal holiday.<ref>{{Cite web|title=What Day of the Month Do I Get my Social Security Payment? {{!}} Social Security Matters|date=6 June 2019 |url=https://blog.ssa.gov/what-day-of-the-month-do-i-get-my-social-security-payment/|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref> The minimum benefit is one dollar.<ref>(''SSA'' POMS SI 02001.005)</ref>

'''When benefits start'''

Social Security determines the first month of potential eligibility for SSI by the date of the intent to file an application for benefits as expressed to the [[Social Security Administration]], and an application is filed within 60 days of the date of that expressed intention. To begin the process, people wishing to be considered must contact Social Security (there is a [[toll-free telephone number]]) to set up a ''disability interview.'' No online application for SSI is currently available; however, one may apply for Social Security Disability or Retirement benefits online and add the application for SSI via a telephone-scheduled interview. Calls placed on the last day of the month, where the interview is scheduled for the second week of the following month, will result in SSI eligibility being retroactive to the month in which the call was made to set up the appointment, although the first check will not be received until the next month. For example, a person calls on 31 January to set up an appointment for February. January will be the month-of-application for determination purposes, but the first benefit check will be issued in February. Medicaid benefits usually begin the first month in which medical and financial requirements are met.

'''Eligibility during waiting period'''

People who have qualified for Social Security disability benefits may receive SSI during the five-month waiting period if they meet the income and resource requirements specified above in the eligibility section.

=== Overpayments, underpayments, and missed benefits ===
The Social Security Administration (SSA) indicates that their "greatest payment accuracy challenges occur within the SSI program." Further, the agency notes administering "the SSI program is complicated by the statutory requirement for us to determine SSI eligibility and calculate SSI payments on a monthly basis." Because payment accuracy is sometimes the result of "program requirements themselves", the agency is seeking ways to simplify the program.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Payment Integrity|url=https://www.ssa.gov/finance/2020/Payment%20Integrity.pdf|website=www.ssa.gov}}</ref>

An overpayment occurs when the Social Security Administration pays an individual benefits that they are not eligible for. This may occur if an individual exceeds the income or resource limit for a given month. The overpayment amount is calculated as the difference between the amount that was paid and the amount for which the individual was eligible.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SSA - POMS: GN 02201.003 - Determining a Title II Overpayment Amount - 10/18/2017|url=https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0202201003|website=secure.ssa.gov|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref> To avoid overpayments, individuals should make sure to comply with their reporting responsibilities (e.g., report any new income). Additionally, individuals should be aware of the resource and income thresholds (see above) that determine eligibility. To avoid overpayment, when an individual knows they will surpass a resource or income threshold for a given month, they should proactively report this to the Social Security Administration.

If a beneficiary is not at fault for an overpayment and cannot afford to pay the money back, they can submit a waiver form (SSA-63BK) to prevent overpayment recovery.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Form SSA-632 {{!}} Request For Waiver Of Overpayment Recovery Or Change In Repayment Rate|url=https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-632.html|publisher=Social Security Administration|language=en|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref> "Fault" can be the failure to furnish information which the individual knew or should have known was incorrect, making an incorrect statement they knew to be incorrect, or not returning a payment they knew or could have been expected to know was incorrect.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Waiver of adjustment or recovery—without fault.|url=https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/416/416-0552.htm|publisher=Social Security Administration|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref>

An underpayment occurs when the Social Security Administration pays an individual benefits below the amount they are due. Underpayments in SSI often occur if the agency is unaware of changes in a beneficiary's earnings or living arrangements.

Missed benefits occur when an individual is unaware of eligibility for SSI and does not apply. A randomized control trial by SSA found mailing notices to individuals informing them about the SSI program sharply increased applications and benefit awards.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Increasing SSI Uptake Among a Potentially Eligible Population|url=https://oes.gsa.gov/projects/increasing-ssi-uptake/|website=oes.gsa.gov}}</ref> Studies have found that "just over 50 percent" of individuals eligible for SSI receive benefits from the program, which can be attributed to lack of awareness, a complex application process, or a desire not to participate in the program.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Understanding Participation in SSI|url=https://mrdrc.isr.umich.edu/pubs/understanding-participation-in-ssi-3/|website=mrdrc.isr.umich.edu}}</ref>