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File 05-11011.TXT Uploaded from F.L.I.C.net on 16-NOV-93 1-(607)-272-1549 (7 days-24 hours, 8-N-1) F.L.I.C.net operated by the: Finger Lakes Independence Center 607 W. Clinton Street Suite 112 Ithaca NY, 14850 Voice/TTY 1-(607) 272-2433 SYSOP: Jon W. Merritt Virus Scanned, McAfee Associates 9.12 V100 U.S. Department Of Health and Human Services Social Security Administration SSA Publication No. 05-11011 January 1992 ICN 480265 Social Security Booklet Title "When You Get SSI... What You Need To Know" -------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: Page 1 is front cover, Page 2 is blank. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 3 Why You Should Read This Booklet This booklet is for people who get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) checks. The first part, "Your SSI Checks," tells about your checks and what you can expect from Social Security. The second part, "What You Should Report To Us," tells what changes you must report. The third part tells how and when to report changes. The fourth part explains some special rules for people who get SSI disability. The last part of the booklet explains other things all SSI recipients should know. Please take a few minutes now to read the booklet. Then put it in a safe place and look at it now and then. This will help remind you to report any changes to us and remind you of things you should know. If you get Social Security retirement or survivors benefits, you also should read, When You Get Social Security Retirement Or Survivors Benefits--What You Need To Know. If you get Social Security disability benefits, you should read, When You Get Social Security Disability Benefits-- What You Need To Know. You can get these booklets from Social Security. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 4 What's Inside Page 6 Part 1--Your SSI Checks Amount Of Your Check When Does Your Check Come? If Your Check Is Lost Or Stolen Direct Deposit Of Checks Returning Payments Not Due Reviewing Your Case Page 10 Part 2--What You Should Report To Us If You Move Or Change Your Address If Someone Moves Into Or Out Of Your Household If There's A Change In Your Income If There's A Change In The Things You Own If You Get Help With Living Expenses If You Enter Or Leave An Institution If You Get Married, Separated, Or Divorced If You Leave The United States If You Are A Sponsored Immigrant If You Are Under Age 22 And Start Or Stop Attending School If A Person Addicted to Drugs or Alcohol Stops Treatment If A Person Getting SSI Can't Manage Money If A Person Getting SSI Dies Special Rules For People In Some States -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 5 Page 21 Part 3--How And When To Report Changes How To Report When To Report Page 22 Part 4--Other Things You Should Know If You Get SSI Disability If You Get Better Reviewing Your Disability Vocational Rehabilitation Services Special Rules To Help You Work And Keep Your SSI A Special Note For People Who Get SSI Because They're Blind Page 24 Part 5--Other Things All SSI Recipients Should Know If You Disagree With A Decision We Make Your Right To Be Represented If A Social Security Employee Visits You Free Social Security Services Social Services Food Stamps A Special Note For People With Medicare For More Information -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 6 Part 1 Your SSI Checks This section tells about your SSI checks and what you can expect from Social Security. Amount Of Your Check The letter you got with this booklet tells when your SSI checks will begin and in what amount. Your SSI check must be cashed within 12 months after the date of the check or it will be void. Your first month's SSI check may be for more or less than a full month. You will be paid for the days since you applied or became eligible for SSI. Starting with your second check, you will get your full month's payment. The amount of your SSI check may not be the same every month. The amount depends on your other income and living arrangements. We will tell you whenever we plan to change the amount of your check. Your first and second check will be based on your first month's income. After that, your SSI check is usually based on your income from 2 months before. Your Federal SSI check will go up each year to keep up with the cost of living. These increases usually will be in your January check, which you'll get at the end of December. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 7 When Does Your Check Come? Your SSI checks are U.S. Government checks. They usually come in the mail on the 1st of the month. If you have direct deposit, your money is usually in your account on the 1st. If the 1st falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, you'll get your check on the banking day before. If your check doesn't come on the usual day, look for it to come in the next few days. If it doesn't come by the 4th of the month, give us a call. We'll find out what happened and see that you get your check. If Your Check Is Lost Or Stolen If your check is lost or stolen, call us right away. Your check can be replaced but it takes time, so please be very careful with your checks. It's a good idea not to sign your check until you're at the bank or place where you'll cash it. If you sign a check and then lose it, anybody who finds it can cash it. Direct Deposit Of Checks You can have your checks sent directly to your checking or savings account in a bank, credit union, or other financial institution. Then, you won't have to worry about lost or stolen checks and you won't have to stand in line to cash your checks. If you want to sign up for direct deposit, give us a call. If you already have direct deposit of your checks and you don't want it any more, give us a call. We'll have -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 8 your check sent to your home or someplace else if you want. If you decide to change banks, don't close your old account until your check starts going to your new account. Returning Payments Not Due Most of the time your SSI check will be in the right amount. But if you ever get more money than usual, call or visit your Social Security office. If the check is more than you are supposed to get, you must return the extra money to Social Security. You must return it even if it's not your fault you got it. If you ever get a check you know you aren't supposed to get, you should take it to any Social Security office. Or, you can send the check back to the U.S. Treasury Department at the address shown on the envelope it came in. Write a note telling why you're returning the check and mail it back with the check. If you have direct deposit and get a payment you aren't supposed to get, call or visit your Social Security office. They'll tell you how you can return it. Reviewing Your Case We look at every SSI case from time to time to make sure that people getting checks should still get them and are getting the right amount. These reviews are required by law. We'll tell you when it's time for your review. The review will be done by mail, phone, or in person in the Social Security office. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 9 We'll ask you the same kind of questions you answered when you signed up for SSI. We'll need information about your income, the things you own, your living arrangements, and your bank accounts. You should keep savings or checking account statements you get from your bank because you may need them when we review your case. If you work, keep your pay slips because we may need them, too. NOTE: Don't wait for your review to tell us about any changes. You should report a change as soon as it happens. The section about reporting changes starts on page 10. If you get SSI because of a disability, see page 22 for information about reviewing your case. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 10 Part 2 What You Should Report To Us This section tells what you must report to us. Page 21 tells how and when to report. The kinds of things you must report to us are listed below. If any of these things affect you, turn to the page shown for more information. Page If you move or change your address 11 If someone moves into or out of your household 11 If there's a change in your income 11 If there's a change in the things you own 14 If you get help with living expenses 16 If you enter or leave an institution 16 If you get married, separated, or divorced 17 If you leave the United States 17 If you are a sponsored immigrant 17 If you are under age 22 and start or stop attending school 18 If a person addicted to drugs or alcohol stops treatment 19 If a person getting SSI can't manage money 19 If a person getting SSI dies 19 If you live in California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, or Vermont, see page 20 for other things you should tell us. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 11 If You Move Or Change Your Address Let us know if you move or change your address. You must tell us your new address even if you get your checks by direct deposit rather than by mail. We need your address so we can send you information about your checks and so we can contact you to make sure you should still get checks. If we can't find you, your checks will be stopped. Also tell your post office your new address. Then, if the Social Security office doesn't get your new address in time to change it on your next check, the post office will send your check to your new address. If Someone Moves Into Or Out Of Your Household Let us know if there is a change in the number of people who live with you. You must tell us if: * Someone moves into or out of your home, * Someone who lives with you dies, * You or someone who lives with you has a baby. Also, let us know if you start living in someone else's home or if you move out of someone else's home. If There's A Change In Your Income If you have income other than your SSI checks, you must tell us about it. Also, tell us if the amount of your income changes or stops. Usually, changes in your income in a month will affect your SSI check 2 months later. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 12 If you're married, you also should let us know about any change in your husband's or wife's income. If you have a child under 18 who gets SSI and lives with you, tell us about any change in: * The child's income, * Your income, * The income of your husband or wife, and * The income of a child in your home who is not getting SSI. Also tell us if a child in your home who is not getting SSI marries. If a child who is working or is age 18-20 starts or stops attending school, tell us that, too. If you also get Social Security checks, you don't have to tell us when you get a Social Security benefit increase. But, if your husband or wife gets Social Security checks, you should tell us about any change in his or her benefits. Under SSI, income includes cash, checks, and other things you get that can be used for food, clothing, or shelter. It even includes items you wouldn't have to report for Federal, State, or local income taxes. Following are examples of income. * Wages from your job, whether in cash or another form; * Net earnings from your business if you're self-employed; * The value of food, shelter, or clothing that someone gives you, or the amount of money they give you to help pay for them; * Veterans Administration (VA) benefits; -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 13 * Railroad retirement and railroad unemployment benefits; * Annuities, pensions from any government or private source, workers' compensation, unemployment insurance benefits, black lung benefits, and Social Security benefits; * Prizes, settlements, and awards, including court-ordered awards; * Proceeds of life insurance policies; * Gifts and contributions; * Support and alimony payments; * Inheritances in cash or property; * Interest earned, including interest on savings, checking, and other accounts; * Rental income; * Strike pay and other benefits from unions. The following items are not income. * Medical care and services; * Social services; * Receipts from the sale, exchange, or replacement of things you own; * Income tax refunds; * Earned Income Tax Credit payments; * Payments made by life or disability insurance on charge accounts or other credit accounts; * Proceeds of a loan; * Bills paid by someone else for things other than food, clothing, or shelter; -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 14 * Replacement of lost or stolen income; * Weatherization assistance. Some things we normally count as "income" will not reduce your SSI check. For example, under certain conditions, home energy assistance provided by certain home energy suppliers isn't counted as income. Food, clothing, shelter, or home energy assistance provided free or at a reduced rate by private nonprofit organizations also isn't counted. But, you should still tell us about these things. If There's A Change In The Things You Own Tell us if there is any change in what you own. A single person can own things worth up to $2,000 and still get SSI. A couple can own as much as $3,000. Many of the things you own aren't counted, however. Your home and the land it's on don't count. Depending on how much they're worth, household goods, personal property, and a car may not count. Up to $1,500 in burial funds for you and up to $1,500 in burial funds for your husband or wife don't count. Burial plots for you and your immediate family also aren't counted. Some of the things we do count are: * Cash, * Your checking and savings accounts, * Christmas club account, * Certificates of deposit, and * Stocks and bonds. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 15 If you are single and the things you own that we count add up to more than $2,000, tell us. If you are living with your husband or wife and the things you own that we count add up to more than $3,000, tell us. Any back checks you get from SSI or Social Security won't be counted for 6 months after you get them. If you have any back payments left over after the 6-month period, they will count. If you agreed to sell property so you could receive SSI, you should tell us when you sell it. If you don't sell the property, you may not be able to get any more SSI checks. And you may have to return any checks we already sent you. If your name is on any bank accounts with another person or other people, you must tell us about the account even if you do not consider that the money belongs to you. You must tell us about such an account even if you don't use the money or account. If someone wants to add your name to an account, check with us first. If the money isn't really yours or if it's for a special purpose like your medical expenses, we can tell you how to set up the account so it will not affect your SSI. Also, tell us if you or your husband or wife buys, sells, or becomes the owner of any real estate, a car, or personal property. If you have a child who gets SSI, you should tell us about changes in the things the child owns and the things you and your husband or wife own. If you aren't sure if something counts, give us a call. It's our job to help you figure it out. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 16 If You Get Help With Living Expenses If someone gives you money, food, clothing, or free housing, let us know. Also, tell us if other people help to pay for your food, utilities, rent, or mortgage, or if the amount they pay changes. If you used to get these things but don't get them now, tell us that, too. If You Enter Or Leave An Institution You must tell us if you enter or leave a residential institution, hospital, skilled nursing facility, nursing home, intermediate care facility, halfway house, jail, prison, public emergency shelter, or any other kind of institution. Let us know the name of the institution and the date you entered or left. If you aren't able to tell us, ask someone in the institution's office to help you. You usually cannot get SSI while in an institution. If you enter a medical institution, it's especially important to tell us right away. There are special rules if you enter a medical institution for a stay of less than 90 days. Often, you can keep getting your SSI checks if we learn about it right away. Your doctor must sign a statement about how long you will stay. You must sign a statement that you still need to pay expenses for your home while you're in the institution. We must get both statements by the 90th day you are in the institution, or the day you leave if that's earlier. But please get us the statements as soon as possible. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 17 If You Get Married, Separated, Or Divorced Tell us if you get married or if your marriage ends. Also, tell us if you separate from your husband or wife. If you are separated now, tell us if you begin to live together again. If You Leave The United States Leaving the United States means leaving the 50 States, the District of Columbia, or the Northern Mariana Islands. Usually, if you leave the United States for 30 days or more, you can no longer get SSI. If you plan to leave the United States, tell us before you leave. We need to know the date you plan to leave the U.S. and the date you plan to come back. Then we can tell you if your checks will be affected. Once you have been outside the U.S. for 30 or more days in a row, your checks can't start again until you have been back in the U.S. for at least 30 straight days. There are special rules for dependent children of military personnel who leave the U.S. They may continue to get SSI while overseas if they were receiving SSI in the month before their parent reported for overseas duty. If You Are A Sponsored Immigrant If you are an immigrant who is sponsored by a U.S. resident, a special rule applies to you. In deciding whether you can get SSI and how much your check will be, we -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 18 look at the income of, and things owned by, all the following people: * Yourself (including anything you still have in your homeland); * Your husband or wife; * Your parents if you are under 18; * Your sponsor; and * Your sponsor's husband or wife. For 3 years after you enter the U.S., you must report any changes in the income of, and things owned by, the above people. After the 3-year period, you have to report only changes of your own, your spouse, and your parents if you are under 18. Read pages 11 through 15 for more information about the rules on income and things you own. This special rule doesn't apply to you if you're a refugee or if you have been granted asylum. It also doesn't apply if you become blind or disabled after being admitted for permanent residence to the U.S. If you are a sponsored immigrant and become blind or disabled, call your Social Security office. If You Are Under Age 22 And Start Or Stop Attending School If you are under 22, tell us if you start or stop attending school regularly. It may affect your SSI. Also, tell us the date your attendance changed. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 19 If A Person Addicted to Drugs Or Alcohol Stops Treatment Whoever is responsible for handling SSI checks for someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol should tell us if the person stops taking treatment. People with these addictions can get SSI checks only as long as they continue with required treatment. If A Person Getting SSI Can't Manage Money Sometimes a person is unable to manage his or her own funds. If this happens, Social Security should be told. We can then arrange to send the checks to a "representative payee." A representative payee is a relative or someone else who agrees to manage and use the money for the well-being of the person getting SSI. If A Person Getting SSI Dies If someone getting SSI dies, somebody should tell us. If there is a surviving husband or wife who is getting SSI, the amount may be changed. Any checks sent after the month of death or any checks not cashed or deposited before death must be returned. If a person's checks were being deposited directly into an account in a bank, the bank should also be ~old of the person's death. The bank will return the checks. Checks sent to the account of a deceased recipient should not be withdrawn. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- P.20 If an SSI recipient has a representative payee and the payee dies, someone should tell us. Special Rules For People In Some States If you live in one of the following States, there are some other things you must report to us: * California--Let us know if you were eating your meals away from home regularly and now you are eating at home. Also let us know if you were regularly eating at home and now you eat out. * Hawaii, Michigan, or Vermont--Tell us if you live in a facility that provides different levels of care and the level of care you get changes. * Massachusetts--Tell us if you (or you and your wife or husband) were paying over two-thirds of the living expenses for the household and now you pay less. Also, tell us if you were paying less than two-thirds of these expenses but now you pay more. * New York--Let us know if you were regularly eating your meals away from home and you are now eating at home. Or, tell us if you were eating your meals at home and now you eat out. Also, if you live with other people, tell us if you used to prepare your meals by yourself and now you prepare meals together. Or, tell us if you were preparing your meals with other people and now you prepare your meals alone. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 21 Part 3 How And When To Report Changes How To Report You can make your report by calling us at 1-800-772-1213. When you call, please have your Social Security number handy. You also can report by mail or in person. If you mail your report, be sure it shows: * The name of the person the report is about; * The Social Security number of the person who gets SSI checks; * The change being reported; * The date the change happened; and * Your signature, address, and phone number. When To Report You must report a change within 10 days after the month it happens. You should report a change even if you're late. If you don't report a change, you may miss out on money you need if the change will mean you can get a bigger check. Or, you may get too much money and have to pay it back. If you don't report a change or if you make a false statement and get money you aren't supposed to, Social Security will make you pay back the money. It also can result in a fine, imprisonment, or both. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 22 Part 4 Other Things You Should Know If You Get SSI Disability If You Get Better If you get SSI because of a disability or blindness, you must tell us if your condition improves. If your disability ends, your SSI will stop after a short adjustment period. Reviewing Your Disability If you get SSI because of a disability, we will occasionally review your case to make sure you're still disabled. How often we review your case depends on how bad your disability is. If your disability is expected to improve, we'll probably review your case 6-8 months after your checks start. When we review your disability, we may ask you to take special tests so we can decide if you are still disabled. Vocational Rehabilitation Services If you get SSI because of a disability, you may be contacted by your State's vocational rehabilitation agency. The people there may offer you help so you can return to work. If you're offered vocational rehabilitation services, you should take them. If you refuse to accept these services, your SSI checks can be stopped. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 23 Special Rules To Help You Work And Keep Your SSI Tell us right away if you go to work--no matter how little you earn. There are special SSI rules to help you try to work. Your SSI checks may continue while you work and are still disabled. As your earnings go up, your SSI checks will go down and may eventually stop. Even if your SSI checks stop, you may be able to keep your Medicaid coverage. Medicaid coverage may continue if you depend on it to work and don't earn enough to pay for similar medical help. Tell us if you have any special work expenses because of your disability. These include items and services you need to work because of your disability. Some examples are a wheelchair, attendant care services, Braille devices, and certain drugs and medical services. The earnings you use to pay for these expenses don't count as income so they won't lower the amount of your SSI check. If you work or would like to work, you may be able to have a "plan for achieving self-support." Such a plan allows you to put aside money to help you become more fully employed. A plan can help you with expenses for things such as education, vocational training, work related equipment, or starting a business. Having a plan usually means you can keep more of your SSI because the money you set aside won't lower your SSI check. As your earnings increase, it becomes more important for you to develop a plan. You can get more information about all the special rules to help you work from any Social Security office. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 24 Ask for the booklet, Working While Disabled ... How Social Security Can Help (SSA Publication No. 05-10095). A Special Note For People Who Get SSI Because They're Blind You can ask us for special handling of the letters we send you about changes in your SSI. We have two ways to give you these special letters. We can either telephone you or send your letters by certified mail. If you work, be sure to tell us if any of your work expenses change. We don't count your work expenses as income so they won't lower the amount of your SSI. Part 5 Other Things All SSI Recipients Should Know This section tells you other things you should know when you get SSI checks. If You Disagree With A Decision We Make If you ever disagree with a decision we make about your checks, you have the right to ask us to look at it again. Whenever we send you a letter about your SSl, we'll tell you what to do if you disagree. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 25 Your Right To Be Represented You have the right to be represented by an attorney, or other person of your choice, in any business you have with us. This doesn't mean you'll need a representative. Most people handle their business themselves with the help of the people in the Social Security office. But, if you want somebody else to help you, we will be glad to work with your representative. There are special rules about who may represent you and what your representative may do. If you want more information, call us to get a copy of the fact sheet, "Social Security And Your Right To Representation" (SSA Publication No. 05-10075). If A Social Security Employee Visits You If anyone comes to your home to talk about your SSI, ask for his or her identification. Anyone who is from Social Security will be glad to show you proper identification. If you have any doubts about the person, you can call us to ask if someone was sent to see you. And remember: Social Security employees will never ask you for money to have something done. It's their job to help you. Free Social Security Services You never have to pay for information or service at Social Security. Some businesses advertise that they can provide name changes, Social Security cards, or earnings statements for a fee. All these services are provided free by Social Security. So don't pay for something that's free. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 26 Call us first. Social Security is the best place to get information about Social Security. Social Services People who get SSI may also be able to get social services from the State they live in. These services include free meals, housekeeping help, transportation, or help with social problems. You can get information about services in your area from your State or local social services or welfare office. Food Stamps People who get SSI can usually get food stamps, too. You can get a food stamp application at your Social Security office or local social services or welfare office. A Special Note For People With Medicare There's special help for low-income Medicare beneficiaries. Your State may pay your Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance. If you're paying your Medicare premiums yourself or if you chose not to be covered because you couldn't afford it, contact your State or local medical assistance (Medicaid) office to ask about the "Qualified Medicare Beneficiary" program. It might save you money. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 27 For More Information If you need more information about SSI, or have questions about other Social Security programs, call or visit any local Social Security office. Our toll-free telephone number is 1-800-772-1213. When you call be sure to have your Social Security number handy. The Social Security Administration treats all calls confidentially--whether they're made to our toll-free number or to one of our local offices. We also want to ensure that you receive accurate and courteous service. That is why we have a second Social Security representative listen to some incoming and outgoing telephone calls.