Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits are available to all qualifying U.S. citizens. Some residents who aren't citizens are eligible for benefits, including the following:
This article will discuss which non-citizen groups are eligible for SSI, including any special requirements or benefit limitations you might face.
Regardless of immigration status, to qualify for SSI benefits, you must still meet Social Security's medical and financial requirements for the needs-based program. To qualify for SSI, you must prove both of the following:
(If someone "sponsored" your entrance into the United States, Social Security will usually count your sponsor's income and assets when determining your SSI eligibility.) Learn more about the medical and financial requirements for SSI.
A person who meets the U.S. definition of a "qualified alien" is eligible for SSI benefits. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defines a qualified alien as the following:
As a general rule, an otherwise qualified immigrant who's facing deportation or removal isn't eligible for disability, except under the above circumstances.
Sometimes a person can become a "deemed qualified alien" if the person, the person's child, or the person's parent suffered from domestic violence or extreme cruelty by a relative while the person was in the United States.
If you're an eligible immigrant and otherwise meet the disability requirements, to qualify for SSI, you must also meet at least one of the following conditions:
If you came to the U.S. on or after August 22, 1996, and have LAPR status, you might not be eligible for SSI for your first five years as an LAPR. And Social Security can't count some quarters of work earned after December 31, 1996.
There might be limitations to your benefits based on your immigration status. If you were granted one of the following immigration statuses within seven years of filing for SSI, you might only be eligible for SSI for a maximum of seven years from the date DHS granted you one of the following qualified alien statuses:
You might be able to remain eligible beyond the seven-year limit if you meet one of the conditions listed above under "Additional Conditions for SSI Eligibility" or you become a U.S. citizen (or make a good faith effort to become a citizen) within the seven-year period.
If you're a non-citizen Native American, you're eligible for SSI if:
SSI benefits might also be available to non-citizens who are victims of human trafficking. If you were a victim of human trafficking, visit the Office of Refugee Resettlement website to see what services might be available to you.
You might also qualify for SSI if you're Iraqi or Afghani and present in the United States under special immigrant status. You could get up to seven years of SSI benefits if you:
Certain humanitarian parolees (non-special immigrant parolees) can qualify for SSI through the end of their parole periods, including the following:
You must give proof to Social Security of your immigration status when you apply for SSI. Here are some documents you might need to provide:
Your local Social Security field office can explain which documents you'll need to apply for SSI benefits.
U.S. nationals are eligible for SSI benefits if they meet the medical and financial requirements for SSI. All U.S. citizens are nationals, and although rare, you can receive U.S. national status without being a U.S. citizen. Under Section 308 of the INA, a person is a U.S. national but not a citizen if:
For more information on how to obtain a certificate for non-citizen U.S. nationality, visit the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs website.
Filing for disability can be a complicated process, and when immigration status is an additional issue, it's a good idea to contact an experienced disability attorney. Having an attorney can be more affordable than you might think. You don't generally have to pay a disability attorney unless your SSI application is approved. And your attorney will be paid a percentage of the SSI back payments you're entitled to receive when you're approved for benefits.
Learn more about hiring and working with a disability attorney.
Need a lawyer? Start here.