SSI: Lending a Helping Hand

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by: Mesriani
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Word Count: 485

Many people barely survive with very limited income, one reason is their disabilities, and another is old age. These reasons prevent individuals from working or prevent them from earning enough to live through everyday.

To help these individuals in their hardships, the Social Security Administration (SSA) made a program called Supplemental Security Income or SSI

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

The Supplemental Security Income or SSI program provides benefits to those who are in need. It is intended to help disabled, aged, and blind people who have no or very little income. It gives money to meet basic needs for food, shelter, and clothing. It is funded by general tax revenues and not Social Security Taxes.

Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool

The Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool or BEST is used to help determine if one is eligible to receive benefits from the Social Security Administration. To know if one is eligible for SSI benefits, this test must be taken.

Benefits BEST screens:

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
• Medicare
• Social Security Retirement
• Special Veterans
• Social Security Survivors

How is disability defined?

SSI is designed for people with disability, blind, or aged people. Disability is defined as the failure to engage in any substantial gainful activity or SGA due to medically determinable mental or physical impairment/s that:

• lasted or expected to last for a continuous period of 12 months or more, or

• can be expected to result in death.

For children (people below the age of 18) applying for the SSI program, there is a separate definition of disability.

What is "substantial gainful activity"?

Substantial gainful activity or SGA is a term used to describe a level of earnings and work activity.

• Work is considered "substantial" if it includes doing significant mental and/or physical activities. Work activity performed on full-time and part-time basis are both considered substantial.

• Work activity is said to be "gainful" if:

• it is intended for profit, whether profit is realized or not; or

• it has been done for profit or pay; or

• the nature of work is normally performed for profit or pay

Uses of SGA or Substantial Gainful Activity:

• For people receiving SSDI benefits based on disability, it is used as a factor in deciding if disability continues returning to work and completing the trial work period or TWP.

• For those who are receiving SSI benefits based on disability, it is used as a factor in determining initial eligibility for SSI benefits. Once SSI benefits are being received, different standards are applied.

SGA does not apply to blind individuals in the Supplemental Security Income program. His/her eligibility lasts until he/she recovers medically or eligibility stops due to a non-disability related reason.

SSI Disability Lawyers

For people who are experiencing financial distress, one should contact SSI disability lawyers to help you in the case. These compassionate lawyers will assist you in every legal aspect one needs in this kind of issue.

Further, the procedures in pursuing a disability claim can cause more burdens for a disabled person. A competent lawyer therefore, can help ease these worries and lessen the difficulties.

About the Author

Our Los Angeles lawyers have the skills in providing reliable assistance in filing SSI Disability claims. For more inquiries, log on to our website and dial our toll-free number.