The mission of SSI is to provide monthly payments to people with disabilities and older adults who have little or no income or resources. The rules about assets and income for SSA can be very confusing. SSA has been working to make applying for and keeping SSI benefits easier for individuals. The new SSA Rent Subsidy Rule is a major step in helping people with SSI keep their full benefits. There are too many acronyms
Category: Insurance tips
It is complicated and unnecessarily burdensome to apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). But, there are some recent changes that indicate the federal government is hearing the complaints and implementing changes that will make applying easier. SSI is a federal program run by the Social Security Administration (SSA). It provides assistance for people with disabilities (or people over 65) with little or no income. They assist by providing Medicaid health insurance (in most states) and
(originally published February 2024) Many parents ask about the work rules for someone receiving SSI. They are complicated. A key determinate in qualifying for and keeping SSI benefits is whether someone reaches the threshold of Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). Essentially, this is a way for SSI to know how much a person could earn even if they are disabled. So, someone could qualify for SSI due to a disability but not receive SSI because they
(originally published March 2024) I am often asked about Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) when I present on Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Most families I speak to will deal with SSI first, so I don’t discuss SSDI other than to tell them it exists. Lately, I have been receiving more questions from parents about SSDI qualification for their adult disabled child when they retire. The Social Security Administration (SSA) can be very complicated and confusing.
If your adult child is getting ready to apply for SSI, they may need a representative payee. A representative payee is a person who manages SSI payments on behalf of a beneficiary. This means they can receive cash benefits and have the authority to use the money on the beneficiary’s behalf. Unless SSA has specifically permitted it or you are a legal guardian appointed by the court, you may not collect a fee for services
(originally published April 2024) What is SSI Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a government program that provides monthly benefits (monetary payments and insurance) to people with disabilities or who are over 65 with limited or no income to help them meet their basic needs, like food and shelter. SSI is a federal program, but the states administer it. States have the option of providing additional funds and/or automatic health insurance through Medicaid. To qualify, the
Children’s Special Health Care Services now covers individuals up to age 26. Children’s Special Health Care Services (CSHCS) is part of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. It provides extended insurance coverage for children and adults (now up to age 26) who have special health care needs. It covers specialty services, durable medical equipment, and community-based services. They can also help with travel and lodging costs for medical care. Prior to October 2023,
The Medicaid renewal process is causing confusion for users and the federal government is monitoring how states are managing it. According to an AP article from August 17, 2023, Federal Medicaid officials have warned about long call center wait times in one-third of the states, which may cause people to give up on renewing their Medicaid coverage. We should not allow this to happen. The Renewal Process This review process is not new. Pre-pandemic, it
Advice for writing your plan of service Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) are services provided by Medicaid for people with disabilities so they can live in their own homes and communities. Gone are the days of forcing people with disabilities into nursing homes or institutions. The 1981 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (Section 1915c) created Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) that allows states to provide services as an alternative to institutional care. Through Medicaid, people with
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