An SSI application from start to finish to approval takes between 6 to 8 months, although it can take a year or even 2 to 3 years to get approved and sometimes you might need to reappeal if denied or even go to an Administrative Law Judge hearing.
You also need a good stack of at least a year of medical records in most case to get approved and need to be seeing your doctor or therapist consistently and attend every appointment.
If you're just building medical records it can take longer to get approved.
The initial application for SSI takes 6 to 8 months and only between 20 percent to 30 percent of SSI claims are approved at the initial stage.
If the initial claim is denied, this is then the first level of appeal that can take 6 to 7 months.
Then if the SSI appeal is denied you will see an Administrative Law Judge at a ALJ Hearing which can take 9 to 18 months.
And then once you're approved, your first SSI payment often arrives within 30 days to 60 days and if you have back pay they will pay it out in installments to avoid you going over your asset and resource limits.
Even if you're just starting your medical records you should still start the SSI application to lock in your protective filing date so that your back pay can start building up while you wait.
The savings that count toward SSI are any savings that make you exceed your total countable resources of $2,000.00 for an individual or $3,000.00 for a married couple.
The SSA for SSI counts any cash, bank accounts, stocks and even property as resources.
The SSA considers that anything that you own, which could be converted into cash and used for food or shelter as a countable resource and these countable resources include cash on hand, checking and saving account balances, U.S. savings bonds, stocks and mutual aids, land and real estate, "except your primary home" and life insurance policies that have a combined face value of more than $1,500.00.
However not all things you own count toward the SSI limit.
When applying for and being on SSI, the SSA exempts your primary residence, which is the home you live in and the land it sits on, one vehicle that is used for transportation is excluded regardless of it's value if it's used for transportation.
And personal and household items like clothes, furniture, personal effects and even burial funds, like up to $1,500.00 set aside for burial expenses for you and your spouse.
And any specialized accounts up to $100,000.00 that are held in an ABLE Account for individuals whose disability began before age 46 or any funds saved under an SSA approved PASS Plan.
To talk to someone on the phone at your local Social Security Office, you can call the SSA national toll free phone line at 1-800-772-1213 between the hours of 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM local time, Monday through Friday.
Also wait times to be able to speak to a person or SSA representative are often shorter in the morning hours, later in the week and even later in the month.
The SSA is also very busy so it can be hard to speak to a person at the local SSA without an appointment.
You can also make an appointment with the SSA office by calling the national SSA toll free line at 1-800-772-1213 or if you're need TTY if deaf or hard of hearing you can dial 1-800-325-0778.
Appointments for the SSA Office are often required and recommended for initial claims such as applying for supplemental security income, disability or retirement.
And if you need to apply for a replacement social security card or change an address you can also often handle these things online directly without needing to visit the SSA Office.
You can just walk into an Social Security Office without an appointment as social security offices will accept walk-ins for emergencies, dire need situations, military personnel, and vulnerable populations.
Although for most in person services at the social security office, you need an appointment.
If you simply walk in to the Social Security Office without an appointment you will often experience long wait times or even be turned away for routine tasks such as getting a new Social Security Card or applying for SSI.
Although the exceptions are made for dire need situations including terminal illness or military personnel.
If applying for SSI or needing a replacement social security card you can do so online.
You simply need a my Social Security Account at https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount
To apply for the social security card replacement online you need to be a United States Citizen and at least 18 or older with a United States mailing address.
You must also have a state issued ID or driver's license from a participating state and not require any changes to your card, like a name change.
To avoid long waits at the SSA office and avoid being turned away, it is best to book a time in advance using the SSA Appointment Planner or by calling 1-800-772-1213.
While appointments for visiting the SSA are strongly encouraged for standard services like replacing a Social Security card or updating your records, walk-ins may still be accommodated at locations with light traffic or for those requiring immediate attention.
If you must walk in to the SSA office, try visiting your local SSA office on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, and aim for early in the morning.
When visiting your local SSA office, you should always ensure that you bring your government-issued ID and any required original documents with you, as proof of identity is mandatory for all in-person services.
For a smoother experience, you can also complete initial applications online at Social Security Administration Online Services before your visit.