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Is My Girlfriend Eligible For SSI?
My 67year old girlfriend receives widow benefits: Question is, Can she also sign-up to receive SSI? She's disabled and the amount she receives from Social Security in widows benefits is not enough to live on.
Hi,
By SSI, I assume you mean Supplemental Security Income, which is a needs based program administered by the Social Security Administration. You may want to try using the eligibility screening tool on SSA's website to see if she could qualify: https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/.
Whether or not your girlfriend could qualify for SSI depends on the amount of her income including her widow's benefit, as well as how much she has in assets. The asset limit for SSI eligibility is $2000, excluding a car and the home in which the person lives. The income limit can vary based on the type of income involved, but if your girlfriend's widow's benefits are more than $755 per month, she wouldn't be eligible for federal SSI payments. Some states offer supplement payments above the federal limits, so you may also want to check with your state's Department of Social Services.
Best, Jerry