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Effective: October 1, 2012 |
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04.15ar9 - Supplemental Security Income (SSI) (Archive) |
Archived: December 1, 2012 |
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal supplemental income program operated by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and funded by general tax revenues (not Social Security taxes). It provides monthly cash payments to certain people, who have little or no income, to help them meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter. For complete information about SSI go to www.ssa.gov.
This section provides general information about SSI and discusses how SSI relates to eligibility for Minnesota Health Care Programs.
1619(a) and 1619(b) Social Security Status.
General Requirements for 1619(a).
General Requirements for 1619(b).
SSI and MN Health Care Programs.
Generally, to be eligible for SSI, a person must be:
l Age 65 or older or certified disabled or blind by SSA.
l Within SSI income and asset limits.
Note: The income and assets of certain responsible household members are counted when determining SSI eligibility.
l Residing in the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Northern Mariana Islands, or be a child of military parent(s) assigned to permanent duty anywhere outside the United States.
Note: Certain students who are temporarily abroad may also qualify for SSI.
l A U.S. citizen or national or a noncitizen who meets certain requirements.
People who are eligible for Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (RSDI) may also be eligible for SSI if their RSDI payment is less than the SSI income standard.
The SSI payment amount is based on the income of the client and certain responsible household members.
Responsible household members do not receive payment unless they are also elderly, disabled, or blind and meet SSI income and asset requirements.
Payments for people who are expected to reside in a medical institution for a full calendar month or more may be reduced to $30 a month. Refer to LTC SSI Deduction for more information.
The following chart lists the maximum SSI payment amounts.
|
Effective Month/Year |
Eligible Individual Maximum Payment Amount |
Eligible Couple Maximum Payment Amount |
|
January 2012 |
$698 |
$1,048 |
|
January 2011 |
$674 |
$1,011 |
|
January 2010 |
$674 |
$1,011 |
|
January 2009 |
$674 |
$1,011 |
|
January 2008 |
$637 |
$956 |
|
January 2007 |
$623 |
$934 |
1619(a) and 1619(b) Social Security Status
A person receiving SSI who has earnings from work that make them ineligible for a regular SSI payment may continue to receive payments under a 1619(a) status or retain a basis of eligibility for MA under 1619(b) status as determined by SSA.
General eligibility requirements for 1619(a)
People receiving SSI based on disability may qualify for payments under 1619(a) when gross earnings are at or above the SSI income standard and the person:
n Continues to have a disability status.
n Meets all other SSI eligibility criteria.
n Was eligible for and received a regular SSI payment based on disability for a previous month within the current SSI eligibility period.
General eligibility requirements for 1619(b):
People receiving SSI based on disability or blindness may continue to retain a basis of eligibility for MA under 1619(b) when their earnings (alone or in combination with other income) make them ineligible for regular SSI or 1619(a) payments and the person:
n Continues to have a disability or blind status.
n Meets all other SSI eligibility criteria.
n Was eligible for and received a regular SSI payment based on disability for a previous month within the current SSI eligibility period.
n Needs MA coverage to continue working.
n Does not have sufficient earnings to replace SSI cash benefits, MA benefits, and publicly-funded personal or attendant care that would be lost due to the person’s earnings.
Clients with either of these statuses are eligible for ongoing MA without an asset or income limit if they received MA in the month prior to the initial month of the 1619 status.
Refer to LTC SSI Deduction for information about how 1619(a) or 1619(b) affects LTC budgeting.
SSI and Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP)
Refer SSI recipients who apply for MinnesotaCare to apply for MA. MinnesotaCare enrollees remain eligible while their MA eligibility is being determined.
Even though all SSI recipients have a basis of eligibility for MA, they are not automatically eligible for MA. A separate MA eligibility determination is required. Most SSI recipients are eligible for MA without a spenddown.
See the following sections for information on how SSI is treated as income: