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Supplemental security income, or SSI, is one of two disability programs provided for by the Social Security Act. SSI falls under title II (2) of the act, and covers disabled individuals who have either never worked, or have not worked enough hours to qualify for social security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits. If you are filing for SSI disability benefits, you must demonstrate not only that you are medically disabled, but that you are also in financial need, and without assets exceeding a total value of $2,000 (with the exception of one car). The determination of medical disability is made at a state disability agency, most often called disability determination services (DDS), but also known by other names such as the bureau of disability determination, or the division of disability determination, etc. DDS assigns a disability examiner to each case, who will then evaluate the medical records, work history, etc., and follow up with the claimant if necessary for additional information or clarification. When the examiner has reached a medical decision in an SSI case, he or she forwards the application to the federal social security office, where it will be determined if the claimant meets financial qualifications necessary to collect monthly SSI payments. Social security looks at all sources of a claimant’s income before deciding if he or she is eligible for SSI, including current salary or wages, property, superfluous vehicles, checking or savings accounts, and monies received by way of other programs such as unemployment or workers’ compensation. A claimant will be approved for SSI only if he or she has been found medically disabled and without significant financial resources. For this reason SSI may be defined as a needs-based disability program, in that a claimant’s entitlement is determined by both a lack of income and a lack of any significant financial assets. 
Social Security Disability and SSI Disability Information
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