Guidebook: Setting Up the First Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Visit
Yesterday I called the Social Security office to set up our appointment to get evaluated for Supplemental Security Income, and we’ll be heading over to the office in two weeks. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can help people with disabilities over 18 by giving them cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and housing (and children with disabilities under 18 whose parents have a qualifying income). In most states, qualifying for SSI also means an individual can receive Medicaid health coverage, which is very important for people with disabilities who often have extra health needs.
I’ve been fortunate to have two other wonderful friends of kids with disabilities who have given me great tips along the way, and I work for a great organization that creates resources to help families like mine. Here’s what I learned from them so far:
- I learned from the free KentuckyWorks Benefits Module that my son’s part-time high school job at a grocery story wouldn’t have a negative impact on his benefits. It’s really better for him to work! I loved this training module because it helped me figure out the math. That’s especially helpful for a former English major with limited math skills!
- I also learned that the individual with the disability must be 18 to be evaluated for benefits based on their own income (not the parents’ income), so don’t go in for the appointment before then. The only thing I needed to do was call the local office to set up the appointment.
- Some parents have said they are made to feel guilty about applying for benefits–hearing things like, “Would you really charge your child rent?” And, yes, it is both acceptable and practical for parents to charge their adult children with disabilities rent and other household expenses. Fundamentally, society is much better when we all agree that making it financially feasible for people with disabilities to remain in their communities, among their family and friends, benefits everyone.
- Any other adult child living with a parent would be expected to contribute to the household, and there are often more expenses when providing food and lodging for an adult family member with a disability.
- When parents historically did not providing that food, lodging, and care, the state provided those services in much more costly institutions that were rampant with abuse.
- Someday families may not be around, so people with disabilities need the services in place to pay for their care.
- Ideally, Andy will be as independent as possible and hopefully will need those funds in place to pay rent for a home where he lives on his own or with roommates.
- My friends recommended filling out the application ahead of time and bringing all the documentation. They said don’t forget the list of the doctors and specialists (a LONG list for some of us) and the proof of the individual’s income (not the family’s income).
- The social security representative said the individual with a disability needs to have a bank account set up with an account number and routing number available for direct deposit.
Note: You can also apply for SSI online. It seemed better to me for both of us to show up in person, but has anyone tried the online method? Outcomes?
What have been your experiences setting up the first appointment and applying for SSI?
We did a phone interview instead of an in-person interview and that went well too. Our contact at the SSA office is great and is super helpful. One thing to know is that Elizabeth has to turn in her work pay stubs once a month even with the student exclusion. I try to involve her in all of the “upkeep” so that she can do it herself at some point. This time she was printing and saving pay stubs.
I don’t know how I got so lucky, but I did it all by phone! No kidding. They set up a phone interview with me. They called about 4 hours earlier than I’d expected, which was a bit of an inconvenience since I didn’t have my info with me. But it all worked out great. As we interviewed, I put Mitch (who was at school) on a three way call so they could get his permission to speak to me (as he is 18 and I do not have guardianship). All went amazingly well. Got the first check February 1!! Now to figure out what to do with it!!!
Well, I’m afraid to write it or say it outloud but our SSI experience was easy, fast and fairly painless. I made the appt a couple of months in advance and scheduled it for a few days after her 18th birthday. I talked to several different people and read the information on the website and took everything I could think of from IEP to a typed list of every doctor ever and contact information. I eevn took a copy of my prenatal diagnosis paperwork and I gave it all to them! I had pre-filled the application but that didn’t matter. They did a new one and it didn’t take too long. Our intake person was lovely but she had not heard of ABLE. Her supervisor had heard of ABLE so that was helpful. The only things they requested were her ABLE statement (it had fallen out of the packet) and her transcript. I thought that was odd because they had her IEP but no biggie. Also, if you do not have guardianship it throws them a bit. The lady who worked with us was really good though and was quite good with Rachel. It was cute that when she ask Rachel if anyone besides her mom and dad lived with her, she mentioned her dog and dolls. The lady was very kind. So I sent them the extra items and Rachel was approved in less than a month. Record time. We took a rental agreement because we were told they might asked for one but they didn’t. I know others who have had to bring one. We had also opened an checking account for her. On the subject of ABLE, SSA offices across the country do not know about these. Many families are being told that this will count against them and this is absolutely wrong. If you have an ABLE account, be sure that you don’t let the SSA office mislead you on this. That’s all