Supplemental Security Income

SSI Benefits for Economically Disadvantaged North Carolinians

If you have limited income and financial resources – and also meet the other requirements for eligibility – you may be able to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. SSI is a means-tested public assistance program that is available to people who are elderly (aged 65 or older), blind, or disabled. More than half of the 8.3 million Americans who currently receive Supplemental Security Income benefits in North Carolina and nationwide are eligible on the basis of disability rather than old age.

The definition of disability that the Social Security Administration uses to determine eligibility for SSI is the same as that used for Social Security Disability Insurance. Specifically, you must have been diagnosed with an illness or injury that has prevented or will prevent you from working for at least a full year or that will result in death. Provided that you can prove that you are disabled and that your income and resources are below a certain threshold, you should qualify receive this type of public benefit.

Determining the Amount of SSI Benefits

The amount that you can receive through SSI depends on how much you have to report as countable income. Countable income consists of any type of money that you receive from working and other sources such as Social Security Disability benefits, workers’ compensation, unemployment and veterans disability benefits, as well as the value of any contributions you receive from friends and family and any free food and shelter from which you benefit.

The total amount of countable income is subtracted from the maximum available SSI benefit, which for 2013 is $710 for an individual and $1,066 for a couple. The average monthly payment for SSI is currently $527.43. North Carolina is one of 36 states in the country that provides its own contribution to augment the federal SSI benefits received by residents in this state.

How Our North Carolina SSD Representatives Can Help

When you come to Golson, McCracken Inc. for help in claiming disability benefits, we can help you to maximize the value of your claim in many ways. For example, we know how to take advantage of the various exemptions that are available for reducing the amount that you have to include in your countable income, thereby increasing the amount that you can receive. Furthermore, we can assist you in applying for Medicaid along with your claim for SSI, since those who are eligible for Supplemental Security Income are typically also qualified for coverage through Medicaid.

No case is a “small” case for us. We assist clients from all walks of life, from SSI claims for disabled children to cases involving SSI, SSDI and veterans disability benefits for individuals on the cusp of retirement. Learn more about our services and get started on your case now by contacting us through our client intake form.