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SSI – Supplemental Security Income

What is SSI?

The Supplemental Security Program is a Social Security Administration initiative that pays benefits to adults and disabled children who have low income and limited resources. SSI benefits are also paid to people over 65 years of age if they have certain economic constraints.

Who is eligible?

Any blind, disabled, or 65-year-old or older person with limited income or resources is eligible; must be a U.S. citizen or national resident; residing in one of the 50 states, Washington DC or the Northern Mariana Islands; is not absent from the country for a full calendar month or for 30 consecutive days or more; is not confined to an institution (such as a hospital or prison) at the expense of the government; apply for any other cash benefits or payments for which he or she may be eligible (e.g. pensions or Social Security benefits); submits an application and meets other requirements.

It should be noted that the residency requirement does not include those living in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, but does include the Northern Mariana Islands, since all three jurisdictions are territories and not U.S. states. Instead, there are certain exceptions under which foreign individuals may qualify for the SSI, including refugees admitted to the United States under Section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and Iraqi and Afghan special immigrants, who may qualify for the SSI for a period of seven years.

What is the benefit?

The program provides cash to meet the basic food, clothing and housing needs of the aforementioned populations. The average monthly payment of the SSI in the United States was $574.72 in March 2020, John Shallman, director of Communications for the Social Security Administration for the New York region, which covers Puerto Rico, reported. While regular Social Security is financed by contributions made by workers, the money for the SSI comes from the federal taxes that taxpayers pay.

How many people receive this benefit?

“In March 2020, about 8 million people (in the United States) received monthly payments from the federal SSI.”

How do I apply?

Those residing in one of the 50 states, Washington DC or the Northern Mariana Islands and meeting the other requirements, can fill out the application online (more details on https://www.ssa.gov/espanol/beneficios/ssi/), as well as call 1-800-772-1213 or TTY 1-800-325-0778.

So what’s available for Puerto Rico?

Puerto Rico, like the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam territories, has access to the Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (AABD) Assistance Program. According to Benefits.gov, the program provides monthly cash payments for the elderly and under-resourced, as well as the blind and disabled. These payments help with food, housing, clothing, and other daily life needs. To qualify, the person must be 64 years of age or older, disabled and over 17 years of age, or blind. The average benefit received on the island under this program is about $77 a month, according to economist José Alameda.

For more information, regarding on Benefits.gov, you can call 212-264-2890.

El Nuevo Día- Monday, April 13, 2020 By: Ruth N. Tellado Domenech

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