Supplemental Security Income

• The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program pays benefits to those with low income and the disabled, blind or older than 65 years of age. Social Security provides monthly payments to SSI recipients to help them pay for the costs of their basic needs. You can cash the check you receive and use the money to buy food or clothing or pay for housing. Benefits are paid on the first of every month. The amount of benefits you are eligible to receive varies according to your income level, whether you are married and your state of residence, since some states add payments to the federal SSI amount. As of March 2011, the maximum federal SSI benefit is $674 if you are single and $1,011 if you are married.
  
  

Disability

• You are not required to have a long-term disability or a severe condition to be eligible for SSI benefits. However, you must have a condition classified as a disability by a doctor or medical provider. If you are receiving SSI benefits based on this medical condition, your eligibility may change as your disability improves. For this reason, the Social Security Administration reviews your medical condition while you are receiving benefits to determine if you are still considered eligible. If you see or feel any changes, you must report these to the Social Security office. If your condition has improved in such a way that you can no longer be considered disabled, your benefits stop.
  
  

Income

• Supplemental Security Income benefits are also paid based on income levels. As of 2011, you cannot earn more than $1,000 per month. However, your local Social Security office will let you know if the income limit for your state is the same. Some states have different allowable income levels, since their economies are different, as are costs of living. You must report any changes that occur in your income levels and work, such as more hours of work, higher pay per hour or a change of jobs. If your income overcomes the allowable limit, your SSI benefits stop.
  
  

Resources

• The Social Security Administration also requires you to have few resources to be eligible to receive SSI benefits. Resources include clearly identifiable values, such as cash, bank accounts and bonds. As of 2011, to receive SSI benefits, you can have up to $2,000 in resources if you are single and up to $3,000 if you are married. If you are receiving benefits and the value of your resources changes, you must report it to the Social Security office. If your resources exceed the allowable values, your benefits stop. However, Social Security does not consider your house, the land it is on, your car, personal goods and insurance with a face value of $1,500 or less per person.