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Category: SSI

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February 21, 2014

Illinois same-sex couples subject to new SSI application rules

The last year has proved to be monumental in expanding same-sex marriage rights across the country. During this time, Illinois was among the states that adopted this policy. This, of course, has had an impact on many families throughout the state. While states were handling changes in marriage laws, the federal government was also active. In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a major component of the Defense of Marriage Act. As a result, federal agencies, including the Social...

November 22, 2013

How a house fire cost a person their Supplemental Security Income

While the possibility of a person losing their home to an explosion, fire, natural disaster or other accident is rather remote, people understandably don't want to take any chances and will therefore go to great lengths to ensure that they have a sound homeowners' insurance policy to protect them. However, what if the unimaginable happens and a person loses their home? Can the insurance proceeds secured for the loss of the home potentially comprise their ability to secure much-needed Supplemental...

November 5, 2013

Are SSI requirements denying benefits to deserving families?

Started during Nixon’s presidency, the Supplemental Security Income program was designed to provide disability benefits to low-income families to help cover the cost of living and medical expenses. But when approximately six out of every ten applications for children are denied, it’s hard not to notice that deserving families might not be receiving the benefits that they need and deserve. Families just like one low-income family out of West Philadelphia who are once again going in front of a federal...

October 16, 2013

SSA suggests program to wean children off SSI benefits

A recent article published by Disability Scoop this month may receive mixed emotions from our readers who value the fact that they have access to government assistance and rely on disability benefits to help supplement their incomes to maintain a healthy standard of living. But the aim of a recent program may ruffle a few feathers, especially when it comes to the topic of losing access to these benefits. We’re talking about the Promoting Readiness of Minors in Supplemental Security...

August 29, 2013

What is Supplemental Security Income?

If you're like a lot of our readers, then you've probably wondered what Supplemental Security Income is and who can apply for such benefits. Whether your questions about SSI came up because you heard it mentioned by someone else or are currently applying for disability benefits yourself, knowing what SSI is and how it can help you may be the best way of determining whether you should apply for it down the road. First, let's look at what SSI is....

August 9, 2013

Some call on Congress to ‘scrap the cap’ on Social Security taxes

As many of our Illinois readers know, some of the benefits programs offered by the Social Security Administration are funded by payroll taxes from across the nation. But while the system is working, in theory, it’s hard not to notice that the programs are running short on money and relatively quickly. Some politicians feel that this is because of the seemingly arbitrary payroll tax cap that only taxes the first $113,700 of a person's income. Some politicians, as well as...

July 19, 2013

Will the DOMA decision affect SSI benefits for same-sex couples?

Whether you're receiving Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income, you probably already know that the amount of money you receive in benefits can change drastically depending on your marital status. Many know this because of a December 2003 study released by the Social Security Administration which determined that couples receiving SSI benefits who were cohabitating but were not married received 25 percent more in benefits than their married counterparts. But with the U.S. Supreme Courts recent ruling against...

July 12, 2013

How your estate plan could affect your child’s SSI benefits

Let's say you're a parent of a special needs child. Like most parents, you want the best for your child and would do anything for them to make sure that this happens. Although they may be collecting Supplemental Security Income benefits at this time, they are probably still financially dependant on you to provide them stability. But what happens when you pass away? Will their SSI benefits be enough to provide them with the same stability they once had when...

July 5, 2013

Accusations of fraud make SSI collection hard for honest people

Readers of our blog know that there are certain social stigmas that are carried by people who take government assistance. Whether it's Food Stamps or Social Security Disability, whether you need it mean little to the general population who often view these people as being leeches on the system or even faking it altogether. While there is no doubt that fraudulent claims exist, to assume that a majority of the people on programs such as SSD and SSI are cheating...