• Financial assistance for the elderly comes in the form of SSI benefits.elderly woman image by Anna Chelnokova from Fotolia.com
  
  Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal program that offers a monthly financial payment for qualified individuals who are age 65 or older and disabled individuals of any age. It was created to allow people with little or no income to meet basic monthly needs such as food and shelter. Except for some additional supplemental help, Pennsylvania SSI benefits are the same as for those anywhere else in the U.S.
  
  

Qualifications for Citizens

• Pennsylvania applicants who are approved for SSI have little income, or none at all, and very limited resources. The value of almost everything they possess, aside from a home and, usually, a car, must have a combined value of $3,000 or less for married couples and $2,000 or less for a single individual. Applicants are required to live in Pennsylvania to qualify for SSI and other state-offered benefits.
  
  

Qualifications for Noncitizens

• Noncitizen Pennsylvania residents may qualify for SSI if they are blind or disabled and resided in the United States on Aug. 22, 1996, received SSI while lawfully living in the U.S. on Aug. 22, 1996 or have 40 work credits and were granted permanent residency under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
  
  Work credits are calculated by the amount of earnings the applicant has earned and is added to each year. For example, in 2010, for every $1,120 earned, one work credit is issued. There is a maximum amount of four credits per year. 40 work credits represents 10 years of earnings. Proof of residency status is required to process the application.
  
  

Applying for SSI

• To file for SSI, the Pennsylvania applicant must visit her local social security office and bring the necessary documents to prove eligibility. These documents include items that must prove proof of age, work history, proof of income and resources, social security number and medical records.
  
  

Pennsylvania State Supplement

• Since federal SSI amounts don’t distinguish between the cost-of-living for applicants in different states, Pennsylvania offers a supplement, in the form of a separate monthly benefit, to better reflect the needs of recipients in that state. The amount of the supplement, when combined with the social security disability (SSD) payment, can not exceed the monthly maximum for SSD benefits.
  
  

Personal Needs Supplement

• Pennsylvania recipients of SSI that reside in a long-term care facility are limited to a monthly personal needs benefit of $30. If the recipient in a long term care facility counts SSI as her only source of income, she may be eligible for an additional $15 per month.