West Virginians who are suffering from an injury, illness or condition that leaves them unable to work should consider applying for Social Security disability benefits. For some, other circumstances can combine to make them eligible for Supplemental Security Income. SSI benefits have additional criteria that should be understood before filing an application. Those who meet the threshold could receive SSI.
SSI is availablefor individuals over the age of 65 who are blind or disabled and have a limited amount of income and resources. The amount of income people can have changes periodically. For 2019, it is a ceiling of $771 per month for individuals and $1,157 per month for couples. The Social Security Administration assesses countable income and resources in various ways. There are lists that should be examined prior to applying.
Examples of countable resources are cash and assets – property, investments – that can be sold for cash. However, a residence, a vehicle the individual or couple needs to get back and forth, and household items will not be categorized as resources. Still, it is important to note that an individual is limited to a maximum of $2,000 in resources. For a couple, the maximum is $3,000. Most states offer supplemental payments in addition to what they receive through SSI, but West Virginia does not. It is wise to keep this in mind when applying for benefits.
Making ends meet can be difficult for people who are suffering from a disability or blindness while being past a certain age. When that is combined with financial limitations, their situation will inevitably be worse. Applying for SSI benefits may be a viable alternative. To move forward with a claim, discussing the case with a law firm experienced in SSI Supplemental Security Income might be beneficial.