Regulations

• SSI, developed in 1972, operates under the Social Security Administration. Funding comes from the general revenue funds, not Social Security, and SSI does not require payment into the Social Security system or work credits. An SSI recipient must reside in the United States and must not be absent from the country for more than 30 days at a time. Citizens and nationals may qualify; non-citizens must be qualified aliens to receive SSI benefits.
  
  

Qualification

• To qualify for SSI, you may own a home and property, a car and life insurance. As of April 2011, you may have burial plots, and burial and life insurance up to $1,500 limits. These items are exempt. Other assets may total $2,000, including bank accounts, cash, stock, bonds and dividends. You must sell other items for fair market value to qualify for SSI. Fugitives, prisoners and persons in government-operated public institutions cannot qualify for SSI.
  
  

Income

• SSI benefits at the time of publication are $674 a month for the federal contribution. Some states supplement SSI benefits. Social Security offsets SSI benefits by income. Earned income has $65 exempt each month and other earned income offsets at 50 percent. For each $100 you earn after the exempt $65, Social Security reduces your SSI benefit by $50. Unearned income has a $20 exemption each month. Unearned income includes veteran's benefits and Social Security payments and counts at 100 percent. For each $100 in unearned income you receive above the $20 exempt, Social Security subtracts $100 from your SSI payment. Your living arrangements may affect SSI benefits if you do not pay your share of the expenses. SSI calculations can reduce your monthly payment by as much as one-third for living arrangements.
  
  

Reporting and Other Benefits

• SSI recipients must report changes in income and living arrangements within 10 days after the month in which the changes occur. This report affects SSI payments two months forward. June reporting affects September payments. In addition to the monthly income, SSI recipients qualify for Medicaid and can qualify for food stamps or supplemental nutrition assistance in all states except California. This group may receive Extra Help Medicare assistance for paying premiums.