Tribal Community Partner Letter Reentry Protective Filing eServices
Date:
Dear Colleague,
On April 7, local Social Security offices began offering more in-person appointments and resumed in-person service for people without appointments. As we expand in-person service, we strongly encourage you to continue to go online, call us for help, and schedule appointments to avoid the line.
We expanded online service delivery options for people interested in applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). You can use our new online tool (www.ssa.gov/benefits/ssi/start.html) to tell us you want to apply for SSI and other benefits. Third parties, such as parents of minor children, family members, representatives, or members of advocacy groups, can also use the tool to help someone else apply. This will establish a protective filing date for an SSI claim. The protective filing date determines when benefits can begin if we approve the application.
After you complete the online process, a Social Security representative will schedule an appointment to help you apply. We will send the appointment date and time by mail (and email, if provided). In some cases, a Social Security representative may call to schedule the appointment. The data collected in the tool will help us prioritize claims for people facing barriers and applicants with certain disabilities.
You may also establish a protective filing date based on a written statement of intent to apply for benefits or an oral inquiry about program eligibility. Our online tool is part of our ongoing commitment to expand online services and make it easier for people who face barriers to get the support they need from us.
Who is eligible?
The SSI program provides monthly payments to adults and children with a disability or blindness, who have income and resources below specific financial limits. People aged 65 and older, with limited income and resources may also be eligible. A person who is eligible for SSI may also be eligible for other benefits such as medical assistance, food assistance, or housing assistance.
SSA offices expand in-person services
We encourage anyone interested in applying for SSI to use the online tool to start the process and to schedule an appointment in advance. As we expand the availability of in-person service, we will continue to help people who cannot complete their business online or by phone. There is a potential for those who walk-in to a local office without an appointment to encounter delays. Additionally, we began scheduling limited in-person hearings and plan to expand in-person hearings this summer based on required notice to claimants.
How can Tribal Leaders and Tribal Members stay informed and offer us feedback?
To better serve you, we seek to improve access to our services. We will continue to update our American Indians and Alaska Natives webpage ( https://www.ssa.gov/people/aian/) to provide you with information about all our programs and online services, and access to our annual progress report on Tribal Consultation and Coordination outreach.