To Be Deemed Disabled but Not for SSI

[wing8lc]

My sister has many health problems for the past 2 years. she has not worked in many years but didn't need to... until her spouse passed away 1 year ago. Now she can't afford the upkeep on the house she was left. She wants to qualify for disability mainly so she can rent an apartment in a community that offers reduced rent to those who are disabled. Since she has been unemployed for many years she will not quality for ssi even though her health problems prevent her from gaining employment. Is there a way she can be considered disabled (not for the ssi income) but for her to be able to make living arrangements

[Dogmatique]

Why wouldn't she qualify for SSI?

[flyingron]

Why wouldn't she qualify for SSI?

Doesn't meet the means test?

[wing8lc]

the guidelines say that she needed to make a certain amount of money in the past 4 years to be eligible for ssi. It all seems to be based on what she has earned in recent years. Bare with me- I'm just starting to investigate this for her to see what's available. If I'm wrong I would love to be corrected

not sure what the means test is

she is truly unable to work- she's not looking for money- but she would like to live in a senior community for low income senoris OR persons with disability. This would allow her to afford to maintain a place to live

[Dogmatique]

You're referring to SSDI, which is based on earnings.

SSI is not based on earnings. If she's disabled, she may qualify - based on her disability alone - for SSI, as long as she meets the other criteria.

Doesn't meet the means test?

I suspect someone is misreading or misapplying the guidelines.

[flyingron]

Or abbreviation confusion...

SSI - Disabled, and of limited financial means, no employment history required: http://www.ssa.gov/pgm/ssi.htm
SSDI - Disabled, and history of paying SS taxes as a worker: http://www.ssa.gov/pgm/disability.htm

The differences explained here in more detail: http://www.ssa.gov/disability/

Also, you didn't give us your STATE, but hand-in-hand with SSI goes the state assistance programs...look it up here:
http://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/progd...sst/index.html

[Janke]

She needs to file a claim for benefits and let SSA sort it out. You can start online. She should file for SSDI on her own earnings which may be denied for lack of insured status; she needs to file for the low income, means-tested program SSI which may be denied because she has too much property (the house) or too much in other assets (savings); she needs to file for disabled widow's benefits on her deceased spouse's earnings record if she is over age 50. She can start it all online as socialsecurity.gov. Be thorough. Don't assume anyone will figure out the answers to the unanswered questions. She may not get anything. But she may get good information by going to the source.

Start the application this month. Follow through. This can be a very long, drawn out process and not everyone is approved. But she'll have information, not speculation.