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(203) 853-4999Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, from the federal Social Security Administration (SSA) is an essential source of monthly financial resources for millions of Americans nationwide and tens of thousands in Connecticut alone. However, access to these disability welfare benefits is restricted based on numerous qualifying criteria, and not everyone who qualifies for coverage under this program will receive the exact same benefit amount.
A Norwalk SSI benefits lawyer could help identify what benefits you may be eligible for and provide advice for pursuing them in an effective manner. If you have any questions about what assistance SSI could provide and whether it might be available to you, speaking with a seasoned SSI attorney should be a top priority.
The SSI program is meant to aid U.S. citizens and certain lawful aliens who are disabled in a way which prevents them from holding gainful employment. In addition to these basic requirements, applicants must have both limited income and limited personal resources/assets—in other words, they must be struggling significantly before applying for SSI and other applicable payments or benefits.
Individuals who meet all of the eligibility criteria and file a complete and accurate application may, if accepted into the program, receive a maximum monthly SSI benefit of $841. Notably, this is just the figure for 2022, as every calendar year the SSA makes a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to account for inflation and data indicating living costs in the United States. The COLA between 2021 and 2022 was 5.9 percent, equating to a yearly increase of $47.
Furthermore, couples filing for SSI benefits together may be eligible to receive up to $1,261, which is $70 more than the amount made available to eligible SSI recipients in 2021. A Norwalk SSI benefits attorney could provide custom-tailored guidance about how SSI assistance works and what steps may be necessary to successfully apply for, and ultimately receive, much-needed monthly income.
There are two key factors that play into the calculation for SSI benefits in Connecticut: countable earned and unearned income. Countable earned income includes wages drawn from part-time or full-time employment, as well as self-employment net earnings, royalties and property income, and certain other payment sources. Alternatively, countable unearned income consists of other Social Security benefits, state-level disability payments, unemployment benefits, pensions, and passive sources of income like interest on investments.
The maximum allowable SSI payment minus all countable earned and unearned income is the amount a qualifying applicant may be eligible to receive each month. Seeking counsel from a SSI benefits lawyer in Norwalk could prove to be invaluable when identifying what income is and is not countable, helping a person obtain the highest monthly payment amount possible.
While SSI benefits generally take the form of a single monthly payment, determining the value of that payment and ensuring you receive the amount you are entitled to is not always easy. Support from skilled legal professionals can be vital in this regard, as well as with every other part of the SSI application process.
Contacting a Norwalk SSI benefits lawyer could go a long way towards boosting your prospects of obtaining the maximum amount of money available through this unique program. Call today to schedule a meeting.