RAISE THE SSI ASSET LIMITS
SSI ASSET LIMITS NEED TO BE RAISED
For years, the SSI savings and asset limits have kept people with severe medical conditions in poverty. SSI or Supplemental Security Income is a benefit for those who have a disability that keeps them from working. However, in order to receive it you must have a severe medical condition that keeps you from working. And, you must meet the SSA’s income and asset limits.
Currently, individuals getting paid SSI cannot have more than $2,000 in a bank account. The figure is currently $3,000 for couples who are married. These amounts have been the same since 1989. The attorneys at our law firm believe these figures must change.
Imagine how difficult it is to save any money for an emergency or for your future. Especially, if all you could have in the bank was $2000. If you do manage to save more money, then you cannot get SSI benefits and Medicaid. This kind of financial limit is unfair those who receive SSI. Especially since the SSI limits on savings has been the same for almost 40 years.
THE SSI SAVINGS PENALTY ELIMINATION ACT
THE SSI SAVINGS PENALTY ELIMINATION ACTCongressman Brian Higgins along with Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick introduced a bill to reform the SSI program. The SSI program has not been updated in 40 years. The SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act would update SSI’s asset limits for the first time since the 1980s. Allowing more savings will help those on benefits to prepare for a financial emergency without putting the benefits they rely on to live at risk.
The current SSI program punishes disabled and elderly Americans for working, saving for the future, and getting married. Right now, a single person getting SSI benefits can only have $2,000 in assets. For married couples it is $3,000.
The average current monthly benefit is $585 for individuals. For almost 60 percent of people who get benefits, SSI is their only source of income. The SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act would raise those caps, which have not been changed since 1984. It would raise savings to $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for married couples. Even better, the act would index savings to inflation moving forward. What a great idea! SSI asset limits and savings need to change.
PEOPLE CANNOT LIVE ON SSI BENEFITS
Over the last 30 years, the attorneys at our law firm, get questions every day from people on SSI who are afraid to marry for fear of losing their SSI benefits and Medicaid. In fact, most of our clients worry far more about losing their health insurance, through Medicaid, than their small monthly benefit amount. Learn more about Medicaid benefits.
Currently, the monthly SSI benefit in Utah is $941. According to rentjungle.com, the average rent for a one bedroom apartment in SLC, UT is $1278. That is a 5.4% increase from last year. Two bedroom apartments average $1427 per month, which is a 8.69% increase from last year. Salt Lake City rents are one of the fastest growing in the nation.
If you factor in the cost of food, gas for a car, car payments, heat, electricity, water and clothing, then the cost of living for a single person in SLC, UT is $800 a month, without rent. For a family of four, two parents and two children, the cost of living is $2,829, without rent.
The average monthly rent for a one bedroom apartment in Las Vegas, NV is $1156. This is a 13.49% increase from last year when the average rent was $1000. A two bedroom apartment rents for around $1189 per month.
SSI benefits do not begin to cover the costs of a family and with rent. Likewise, they do not cover the cost of living for a single person. How does one even get an apartment without first and last months rent for a deposit? Saving for the cleaning deposit and first and last months rent would put you over the $2000 limit. Therefore, you would not be able to get SSI benefits. This must change.
CALL CONGRESS AND ASK THEM TO ADOPT THE BILL TO RAISE THE SSI ASSET LIMITS
Call Congress and tell them to adopt the bill that raises the limits on savings for SSI. People who have a disability do not deserve to live in poverty. They also deserve a place to live and the ability to pay for their needs. Finally, like everyone, they need health insurance. Our law firm supports this bill.
It is time to raise the SSI asset limits for those on SSI benefits. If you have questions or concerns about your benefits, contact our law firm. For the past 30 years, we have been the best SSD law firm to help you win your SSD and SSI benefits. We have won benefits in over 20,000 cases. We want to be your legal team. It is free to ask us questions. Contact us today.
RESOURCES THE SSA DOES NOT COUNT AGAINST SSI LIMITS
The SSA does not count many of the things you own when they look at your ability to get SSI benefits. For example, your home and the land that it is on do not count if it is the primary place that you live. Depending on how you use them, home goods, personal property, and a car may not count as resources.
Life insurance with a face value of $1,500 or less per person usually does not count. Up to $1,500 in burial funds for you and up to $1,500 in burial funds for your spouse don’t count. Burial plots for you and your immediate family also don’t count against the savings limit for SSI. SSA counts almost everything else. So, though it isn’t much. At least they don’t count the above savings against the SSI limits.
WHAT ARE THE MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SSI BENEFITS?
In addition to SSI asset limits, there are also medical rules to get SSI benefits. The medical rules to win SSI benefits are the same as those for SSD benefits. In order for the SSA to pay you SSI benefits, then your medical condition must meet or equal their rules. If your condition does not meet or equal a listing, then there is another way to win benefits. For example, your RFC can prevent you from working full time hours at any job. To learn more information about how to win benefits with your RFC.
To understand the physical conditions that meet or equal a listing, you can read the list of medical conditions on SSA’s website. Or, you can read our list of physical conditions.
Additionally, you can win SSI benefits if you have one or more mental conditions. On this website, there is also a list of mental conditions that qualify you for SSI benefits. Our website also has another article, where you can learn even more about SSI benefits.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LAWYERS AT OUR FIRM
As SSD attorneys, we have over 30 years of experience helping our clients win their SSD and SSI cases. Contact Cannon Disability Law to put our experience to work for you. Our attorneys and our staff work hard to give every client the benefit of our legal experience.
As your legal team, our goal is to ease the process of filing for and winning SSDI and SSI benefits. We will help you at each level of appeal. Also, we will work with you to find the medical evidence you need to prove you deserve benefits to the SSA.
Our clients come from every walk of life. In other words, we represent coal miners, pilots, attorneys, teachers, and doctors. No matter what your job was or what physical or mental condition you have, we can help you at every appeal level.
We will also help you file your application for SSD and SSI benefits. We also help you appeal any denial from the SSA. Sometimes, it isn’t easy to answer all of Social Security’s questions. That is where we come in. Our attorneys and staff can help you understand what the SSA is really asking you about your mental and physical condition.
We can help you explain your medical condition and how to effects your ability to work a full time job. You need to replace your income to support your family. If you can no longer work due to illness, we are your legal team. We will work hard for you and work hard to raise the SSI asset limits.
