Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a type of income that helps people who qualify with covering some of their basic expenses; SSI is not to be confused with Social Security Disability Insurance payments. SSI is not available to everyone, as a matter of fact there are very few people that qualify; the primary considerations for SSI are old age or being disabled with an economic need. Supplemental Security Income in Illinois can be beneficial to those over 65 who have extremely low income or it can apply to children who are blind or have a severe disability. One of the main benefits for those who do qualify for SSI is that they are automatically entitled to Medicaid which can help substantially to defer their costs of medical attention.
SSI for the elderly, the blind and the disabled was initially created in the 1970s. Prior to SSI people who fell into these groups were supported by the state in which they lived, the states are still actively involved in the administration of SSI. Once an applicant qualifies for SSI they receive monetary support, the amount of support is regulated to the federal government but some states also contribute, as a result the amount the person gets can differ between states. In addition, the amount the federal government provides depends on the income, if any, of the recipient; the formulas that are used to determine the amount are quite complex.
The majority of those who apply for Supplemental Security Income in Illinois do so through a local Social Security office. For those applicants that are disabled they must not yet have reached the age of 22 when they became disabled. When applying for benefits the applicant must present medical proof of the disability as well as proof of income. During the time they continue to receive benefits they can be called upon to continue submitting medical information and income proof that may have an impact on their status.
Applying for Supplemental Security Income in Illinois does not automatically entitle the applicant to benefits; many claims are disallowed although the applicant can appeal the denial of benefits. In some cases the decision will be reversed with a simple appeal but in difficult cases an attorney may be necessary to fight for the rights of the claimant. Even when the initial application is approved it can take some time before the applicant sees his or her monthly income begin but once it does begin it is backdated to the date of the initial application.
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