How Much Does SSI Pay for Mental Disability?

SSI Disability Benefitsp>If you have a mental health disorder, like bipolar disorder, anxiety, or depression, that hinders your ability to work, you may qualify for federal disability payments. Federal disability pay provides individuals with disabilities money to help them pay for medical care, living expenses, and other bills.

SSDI Versus SSI

Two federal programs pay benefits to individuals with disabilities. SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) is for people who’ve paid into the Social Security program for a specific period; your payments depend on your earnings. SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is a benefit program for people with disabilities and adults over 65 who have limited income and financial resources. There’s no work requirement for SSI. It’s possible to receive SSI and SSDI if your income and financial resources qualify you for SSI and you have enough credits to be eligible for SSDI. Whether you have a physical or mental disability won’t impact the amount of your benefit. Instead, if you qualify for SSI benefits, you’ll receive the same amount for a mental disability as you would for a physical disability.

Benefits from SSI for Mental Disability

The benefits that you receive for SSI are calculated by deducting your countable earned and unearned income from your maximum federal benefit amount. There are multiple rules that permit you to exclude portions of specific types of income. For example, irregular income usually isn’t counted and you’re permitted to exclude the first $20 of your monthly income. Aid received from some state programs may also be excluded. If you’re married, some of your partner’s income will count as your income (though you’ll also qualify for a higher potential monthly payment). For children, part of their parents’ income is counted as the child’s. As of 2022, the maximum monthly SSI benefit for single people is $841 and $1,261 for a married individual. Assume that you’re married, receive unearned income of $70 thanks to a state supplement, and have $300 of your partner’s income counter as yours. After subtracting your $350 of income from your maximum benefit payment ($1,261) and excluding $20 of the income, your SSI benefit payment is $911. SSI payments are adjusted each year for inflation that impacts cost-of-living expenses. In 2022, individuals who qualify for SSI received a 5.9 percent cost-of-living adjustment. Calculating your SSI benefits can be complex thanks to the numerous rules and guidelines. A free case assessment through BenefitsClaim.com will help you learn how much you may qualify to receive.

Qualifying for SSI

To be eligible for SSI, you can’t have more than $2,000 in assets if you’re single or $3,000 in assets if you’re married. These amounts don’t include items like your primary home, burial savings, car, and wedding rings. There are also some accounts, like ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience), that won’t affect your SSI eligibility.

Get Help Applying for SSI Disability Benefits

If the process of applying for SSI feels overwhelming or if you have questions about your eligibility, disability benefits help is available. Seek help today to receive the disability benefits you’re entitled to.