If one has excess resources, can they still get SSI benefits?

On Behalf of | Sep 27, 2018 | Supplemental Security Income

Not every case in which a person is seeking Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits in New Jersey is easy to navigate. Everyone has a different situation and the circumstances can make it difficult and confusing as to whether they can get benefits under this program or not. The basic requirements are that SSI is for individuals over the age of 65, who are blind, disabled and meet the income and resource limits. For some, however, they might meet all the criteria except for having excess resources. Fortunately, the Social Security Administration (SSA) understands this and can give a person conditional payments if they have excess resources.

When the SSA calculates the applicant’s resources as part of the decision-making process for SSI-related benefits, they must be below a certain level. If they go beyond the limit, the person might have the chance to get conditional payments. These payments will be made when there are non-liquid resources. Since it can take time to turn non-liquid resources into cash, the SSA is flexible on this issue. When a person is getting conditional payments, they should remember that they are not eligible to get customary SSI. The payments must be refunded when the conditional payment period concludes.

The conditional SSI can be paid if the applicant’s liquid resources do not go beyond $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple; and if the applicant agrees to dispose of any non-liquid resources that go beyond the limit within nine months if it is real property and three months if it is other forms of property and the SSI payments that were paid during the conditional period are repaid. If there is good cause, personal property that is to be sold can have an extended time limit for up to three months.

Simply because a person has excess resources does not mean they cannot get SSI benefits. When applying and meeting all the other requirements, it is important to understand how to go about getting conditional payments as the issue is resolved. A law firm that specializes in Social Security disability and Supplemental Security Income can help with the application process regardless of circumstances.

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