If you qualify for the Supplemental Security Income program, you may also be eligible for an Obama Phone. Let’s briefly review how the program works, who qualifies for it, and how to enroll.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federally funded program that is designed to provide income assistance to disabled individuals, disabled children and low-income elderly. It is separate from the social security retirement program and is funded by tax revenues not by the social security fund. It provides enough assistance to meet basic needs for food, clothing and shelter. Additionally, qualifying for Supplemental Security Income, or any other government program described on this site, also qualifies you for the Lifeline Assistance Obama Phone program.
Do you qualify for Supplemental Security Income?
Supplemental Security Income is comprised of multiple parts that are available to different segments of individuals. Individuals must fall into one of the following three categories in order to qualify for SSI.
- Be a disabled adult with limited income and resources
- Be a disabled child with limited income and resources
- Be age 65 and older without disabilities and have limited income and resources
In order to qualify for SSI as a disabled adult you must be age 18 or older, not currently receiving any Social Security benefits under your own name, be unable to work because of a medical condition that is expected to last 12 months or result in death and not have been denied disability benefits in the last 60 days.
How to Enroll in Supplemental Security Income
If you wish to enroll in the Supplemental Security Income program, you will be required to complete an application as well as an in-person interview at a local Social Security office.
Applying for child SSI benefits requires that you complete both an SSI application and a Child Disability Report. You will need the following information to complete these documents:
- Contact information for medical providers who have treated the child for the past 12 months
- Medical records and a list of medications that the child is currently taking
- Contact information for schools the child attended in the past 12 months
- The child’s Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) or Individualized Education Program (IEP) for special education services and school records
- Contact information for any social service programs the child has been enrolled in
- Contact information for any employers the child has had, if applicable
- The child’s birth certificate or proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency
- Names and Social Security Numbers for all family members living in the household
- Proof of current income for all family members living in the household
When applying for SSI Disability benefits you will need to provide the following information:
- Names, Social Security numbers and date of births for your current spouse and children
- Contact information for medical professionals who are knowledgeable of your medical condition
- Detailed information about your medical illnesses, injuries or conditions
- Employment information including earnings for the past two years, employer contact information, a copy of your Social Security Statement, dates of U.S. military service before 1968, jobs held in the 15 years before becoming disabled, information on workers’ compensation, or similar benefits you have obtained
To applying as an aged individual you will need the following information:
- Proof that income is less than $2,000 in assets for an individual or $3,000 for a couple
- Information about employment including earnings for the past two years, employer contact information, a copy of your Social Security Statement, dates of U.S. military service before 1968
- Names and Social Security Numbers for all the children and adults who are living in the household.
- Proof of current income and income resource for all family members living in the household
- A birth certificate or proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency