Understanding Supplemental Security Income SSI Application Process and Applicants' Rights -- 2024 Edition

SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI) APPLICATION PROCESS AND APPLICANTS' RIGHTS


CHECK IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SSI AND LEARN HOW TO APPLY

We strongly recommend you check the eligibility requirements for SSI before you start your application or contact us to make an appointment. If you are not certain whether you are eligible after reading these requirements, call us at 1-800-772-1213 (or TTY 1-800-325-0778 if you are deaf or hard of hearing).

You can apply for SSI payments by:

    small blue and black arrowVisiting our Apply Online for Disability Benefits website to start the disability application process online. You may be eligible to apply for SSI through the online disability application.

    small blue and black arrowCalling us at 1-800-772-1213 (or TTY 1-800-325-0778 if you are deaf or hard of hearing) and making an appointment to apply for SSI.  If you are deaf or hard of hearing, we can also take telecommunications relay services (TRS) assisted calls at 1-800-772-1213. You can make a telephone appointment with one of our representatives at your local Social Security Office to file for SSI benefits.

    small blue and black arrowHaving someone else call and make the appointment for you or assist you with your application for SSI.

    • Calling your local Social Security office to schedule a telephone appointment to file for SSI benefits.
    • Visiting our Start the SSI application process | SSA website and telling us that you want to apply for SSI. A Social Security representative will schedule an appointment to complete your application.

    small blue and black arrowSubmitting your SSI or disability applications with a commercial product (e.g., Adobe, DocuSign) signature. For more information about the requirements for this process, please click here.

    You will need to provide information and work with us to get documents concerning SSI eligibility.

    WHEN TO APPLY

    Apply as soon as possible so you do not lose benefits. We cannot pay benefits for time periods earlier than the effective date of your application.

    If you call us to make an appointment to apply and you keep your appointment and file an application, we may use the date of your call as your application filing date.

    If you do not keep this appointment and you do not contact us to reschedule the appointment, we will try to contact you. If we can not get in touch with you to reschedule the appointment, we will send you a letter. The letter will explain that if you file an application within 60 days from the date of the letter, we will use the date of your original contact with us as your SSI application date.

    If you are in a public institution but you will be leaving within a few months, you may not be eligible for SSI until you leave. You may, be able to apply before you leave so that your SSI payments can start soon after you leave.  Check with the institution and contact us about filing an application under the "prerelease procedure."

    NOTE: See our SSI Spotlight on Prerelease Procedure.

    In most states, if you are a youth in foster care and have a disability, you will stop getting foster care payments when you turn 18. You may need the income support and health services that result from SSI eligibility to ease the transition to independent living. To help with this transition, we may accept an SSI application from you up to 180 days before your foster care eligibility ends due to age.

    NOTE: See our SSI Spotlight on SSI Benefits for the Disabled Youth in Foster Care.

    YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO APPLY

      small blue ballAnyone may apply for SSI.

      small blue ballThere is no charge to apply.

    YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE HELP FROM SOCIAL SECURITY

    We will complete the application forms for you based on information you give to us.

    We will help you get documents you need to show that you meet the SSI eligibility requirements.

    If you are applying due to disability or blindness and we decide that the medical information needed to make a determination is not available, we will pay for you to have a medical exam or test. We will make the appointment for you. If you need a medical exam or test, you must be examined or tested before we can determine whether you are eligible to receive SSI. In some circumstances we may also pay your travel costs to get to this exam or test.

    NOTE For information on when we pay for travel to medical exams, see our SSI Spotlight on Payment for Travel to Medical Exams or Tests.

    YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO A REPRESENTATIVE

    You may appoint someone as your representative to help you with your SSI application and go with you to your appointment(s) with us.

    NOTE See our chapter on HOW SOMEONE CAN HELP YOU WITH YOUR SSI.

    YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO A NOTICE

    We will notify you in writing of any decision about your SSI eligibility or change in your payment amount.  We will also send copies of all notices to your representative if you have one.  Each notice about your eligibility or change in payment amount will explain your appeal rights.

    NOTE See our chapter on SSA NOTICES AND LETTERS for further information.

    YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO EXAMINE YOUR FILE

    You or your appointed representative may request and examine or get a copy of the information in your case file.  Also, you or your representative may access www.ssa.gov/ssi/ssi-law-regs.htm to review and copy the laws, regulations, and policy statements used in deciding your case.

    YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO APPEAL

    You may appeal most determinations we make about your eligibility for SSI or changes we make in your payment amount.

    NOTE See our chapter on the APPEALS PROCESS, for further information.

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