Having a disability can make it impossible to work. Of course, this makes it extremely difficult to afford food, shelter, and life’s other necessities, resulting in many disabled people having a lower quality of life than their able-bodied counterparts.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) aims to address this. It is a federal program that provides monthly cash payments to people who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled and have very low income and financial resources. Unfortunately, as is true with many federal programs, the SSI application program can be complicated and confusing to your average person. This frequently results in mistakes occurring. Let’s take a look at some of the most common so that you can avoid them.
Failing to Understand SSI Eligibility Requirements
The first mistake people make is misunderstanding the eligibility requirements for SSI. Yes, you must be age 65 or older, blind, or have a qualifying physical or mental disability, but that is not all. In order to qualify for SSI, you must also have limited income and resources. You must have extremely or little income coming in each month. Additionally, what you have must be worth very little. In fact, your countable assets cannot be more than $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a married couple. Fortunately, important items like your primary home and one car usually do not count. Many people are not aware of these requirements, which leads them to believe they qualify for SSI when they actually do not.
Providing Incomplete or Inaccurate Information
The application can be time consuming to fill out. This leads many people to provide inaccurate or incomplete information. To save time, they leave things out or estimate certain figures. This is a mistake as it can easily result in a denial or, in some cases, accusations of fraud. It is important that you are complete and accurate when it comes to:
● Income
● Employment
● Household information
● Living arrangements
● Assets and resources
● Medical conditions
Even if your claim is not outright denied, incomplete or inaccurate information will at the very least result in your application being held up as the SSA requests additional information from you.
Not Providing Enough Medical Information
The next most common mistake is not providing enough medical information. People tend to think a simple diagnosis of a disabling condition is enough. It is not. In addition to a diagnosis, the SSA wants to see:
● Treatment history
● Medications you are using
● Test results
● Medical records
● Statements from treating providers asserting that your condition prevents you from working.
When it comes to medical information for your SSI application, more is always better. Remember, it is impossible to provide too much information, but it is very easy to provide too little. At best this will result in the SSA requesting more information from you, but at worst this will result in your claim being denied.
Failing to Report All Sources of Income
It is vital that you report any and all income. This can include a salary, part time work, or even money earned from side hustles. Every dollar you bring in must be reported. If the SSA discovers that you failed to report income, they will deny your application. Even worse, they may assume that you were purposefully hiding income in order to receive benefits that you did not actually qualify for, which would be fraud. For this reason, when filling out the application, review bank records, tax returns, and any other financial documents that can give you an accurate picture of your financial situation.
Failing to Report Resources and Assets
Just as important as accurately reporting your income is accurately reporting your resources and assets. This includes:
● All bank accounts and savings
● Investments
● Retirement accounts
● Real estate
● Vehicles
● Life insurance
Make sure to include all of these on your application if you do not want your claim denied.
Missing Deadlines or Requests From the SSA
During the application process, it is very likely that you will receive correspondence from the SSA. It is extremely important that you open and carefully read all correspondence from them. It may include important deadlines or requests for information. This could include:
● Requests for documentation
● Medical examinations
● Interviews
● Additional information
● Notices regarding the claim
If you miss a deadline or fail to provide requested information, your application will almost certainly be denied.
Assuming an Initial Denial Is the End of the Process
When most people receive a denial, they give up, thinking that’s the final decision. This is incorrect. In fact, many SSI claims are initially denied. Instead of giving up, you should begin the appeals process. This allows you to have your claim reevaluated and, if needed, even reviewed by an administrative law judge. Claims have a much higher success rate during appeals, so it is important that you go through with the entire process.
Waiting Too Long to Seek Help
The most consequential mistake people make is not seeking help until it is too late. You should engage the services of an SSI attorney as early as possible. They will help you with your application, including collecting all necessary medical documentation and other information. They will also help with appeals if needed. Having an attorney on your side will give your SSI claim the best chance of success.
