Many of our Los Angeles readers may know that not all disabled individuals in America will qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. SSD benefits are reserved for those individuals who have the requisite number of work credits, so disabled children, for instance, may not qualify. But, the good news is that the families who are raising a child with a disability are not without hope. They may be eligible to apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI.)
Supplemental Security Income is not funded by payroll taxes like Social Security Disability benefits. SSI benefits are paid out from the general federal budget. However, that doesn’t mean that Los Angeles residents won’t need to meet certain requirements when applying for SSI benefits. One of the most crucial aspects of SSI benefits is an individual’s income.
For a family caring for a disabled child, a certain income threshold cannot be exceeded in order to receive SSI benefits. That is not to say that an income can’t be earned at all — simply that an individual cannot earn too much. And, all means of income will be considered. So if, for instance, a friend is helping the family financially, those funds will need to be taken into account when determining whether or not a person is eligible to receive SSI benefits.
When it comes down to it, income may be the most crucial aspect of applying for Supplemental Security Income. SSI benefits are reserved for those individuals who are in a significantly challenging position from a financial aspect.
Source: newsobserver.com, “Social Security Q&A: Support from friend could effect SSI eligibility, amount,” Jan. 11, 2016
