Supplemental Security Income Questions

1. I am 53 with no insurance. Where do I go for help?

   If you were covered by your employer's group plan while you were working (and your employer has at least 20 employees,) you're entitled to continue your coverage under COBRA. However, you will need to pay the premiums. Since you didn’t mention it, I will assume that COBRA is not an option.
   1 Expert Answer

2. Will my income, as a live-in caregiver, be counted towards my parents' income with regard to SSI?

   As a live-in caregiver, your income would not count toward your parents' SSI eligibility except to the extent that you use the money to support them. When deciding on someone's Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI) eligibility, SSI looks not just at the individual applicant's income but at "household" income...
   1 Expert Answer

3. Where can I get financial assistance for monthly expenses?

   Depending on where you and your parent live and your financial situation, there are federal and state programs that can help. The best place to start is with your county's Office of Senior Services. They can give you advice on how to find services that provide:
   1 Expert Answer

4. How can Mom's supplemental security income (SSI) be increased?

   Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI) is available only to people with very low income and almost no assets. In deciding whether someone is eligible for SSI, and if eligible how much in monthly benefits the person receives, the SSI program looks at all sources of income...
   1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

5. Does retirement affect SSI?

   Eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and the amount of benefits someone receives from the program, depends on two different things. First, you have to qualify as blind, disabled or over 65. Second, you must have very low income and assets.
   1 Expert Answer

6. Do I have to pay income tax on my supplemental security income and pensions?

   You do not have to pay income tax on Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This is different from Social Security which may be partially taxable depending on your income. On the other hand, your pension is taxable. Since you are on SSI, the income from your pension should be low enough that you do not pay any taxes...
   1 Expert Answer

7. Will a surviving spouse draw from the deceased spouse's social secutity?

   I do not know the answer to your question regarding a surviving spouse drawing all of a deceased spouse's social security. It would seem that the sensible place to start looking for an answer is to contact a social security office and ask them your question. I've found social security employees to be quite helpful and considerate...
   1 Expert Answer

8. If I accept a property, will I lose my supplemental security income and my social security?

   There is no resource requirement for Social Security, so receiving the house will not impact this benefit.
   1 Expert Answer

9. Can a senior lose their SSI Benefits if they have a supplemental trust?

   Whether a trust affects someone's eligibility for SSI (Supplemental Security Income) depends on the terms of the trust. SSI eligibility is based on a person (of qualifying age or disability) having very low income and assets. So, whether a trust affects that eligibility depends specifically on whether...
   1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

10. If I am able to accept Supplemental Security income, does that mean I can also receive Social Security disability insurance?

    Since you have applied for both SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and SSD (Social Security Disability) at the same time, you will not have to undergo another medical disability determination. The decision will be purely financial depending on your income and resources.
    1 Expert Answer

11. What kind of financial help for caregivers is available?

    Unfortunately, there are no government programs that pay family members directly for caring for their elderly relatives. But it is legal for your grandmother to pay you a reasonable amount from her own funds, even if some or all of those funds come entirely from government benefit programs...
    1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

12. How can I find a new doctor and can my wife qualify for SSI?

    The Medicare web site has a tool that can help you find doctors in your area who accept Medicare patients. You might also be able to get regular in-home care for your wife through Medicare Part B coverage for home health care. For Medicare to cover it, your wife must be referred to home health care by her doctor...
    1 Expert Answer

13. How can I get affordable legal help with a guardianship?

    By getting the doctor's report that will be required to get a legal guardianship, sometimes called a conservatorship, for your son, you have already done a part of the legwork for the proceeding -- and that should help keep down any legal costs. There may be a few places you can turn to for help instead of paying the high fees the lawyers are quoting you...
    1 Expert Answer

14. How can I find agencies that will offer me financial help?

    There are several places you can go to seek financial help. First, you can apply for Social Security Disability benefits. If you are physically unable to work now but you've worked in the past and your employers or you have paid Social Security taxes, you can be eligible for monthly Social Security Disability benefits...
    1 Expert Answer

15. What specifications can I make in my will to be sure my disabled son is cared for?

    Your legal instincts are good. A special needs trust may be the best way to accomplish what you wish: providing for your son’s care and comfort while assuring that he does not lose eligibility for long-term assistance from government programs.
    1 Expert Answer

16. Does SSI help with funeral expenses?

    If she's on SSI now, that office already has a record of her and her eligibility for those benefits so they will probably pay some amount for funeral expenses. Call her local SSI office and ask about eligibility criteria and amounts for funeral expenses...
    2 Expert Answers

17. If my mother lives overseeas for a year and comes back to the states, can she reapply for Medicare?

    Since your mother-in-law worked less than 10 years (40 quarters in government parlance), she is not elibible for Social Security retirement benefits on her own. If her husband worked more than 10 years and paid into Social Security, she may be eligible to collect his Social Security...
    1 Expert Answer

18. im on ssi and medicaid im also on 24/7 care given to me bymy...

    The Indiana Health Coverage Program (IHCP) operates Medicaid and related programs in Indiana which provide assistance with medical and long-term care for people with low incomes and few assets. Part of the IHCP is Home and Community Based Waiver Programs that pay reimbursement for reasonable and necessary...
    1 Expert Answer

19. Is there any financial assistance for me to be a caregiver for my father?

    Yes, it's possible. Since your father is receiving SSI benefits, that means he has very low income and few assets and probably qualifies for the state's Medicaid program. It means he might also qualify for a state-run program -- if your state has one -- that can provide some payment directly to your father for care at home...
    1 Expert Answer

20. Can I recoup caregiving costs?

    Let's take your questions one at a time. There is probably good news for you about both.
    1 Expert Answer, 3 Community Answers