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- Am I eligible for a Federal Economic Impact Payment if I receive SSI or SSDI and do not have other income?
- Where can I get benefits guidance regarding COVID-19 and HUD, Medicaid, Medicare, TANF, SNAP and unemployment insurance?
- What resources are available to assist me with my utility bills?
- Does my state allow for the online purchase of food for delivery using my SNAP benefits as payment?
- How can I find information on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) in my state?
- Can an SSI recipient refuse to apply for unemployment compensation and the current $600 additional unemployment payment because they will lose their SSI and have to reapply once the payments stop?
You do not have to be earning income as an employee of a company or from any other source in addition to your Social Security payment. However, if you are listed as a dependent on someone else’s federal tax return you may not be eligible.
Cornell University’s Institute on Employment and Disability has released guidance on the impact of COVID-19 on public benefits.
LIHEAP ( Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program) is a federally-funded program that helps low-income households pay their home heating and cooling bills. LIHEAP agencies across the country are working to address COVID-19 and are providing resources. Customers can use these resources to stay informed about program changes in their area and not miss opportunities for assistance.
Recently, some states have begun to allow authorized retailers to accept SNAP for online purchases for delivery. Only eligible food may be purchased with SNAP benefits; delivery fees and other associated charges may not be paid for with SNAP benefits. A SNAP beneficiary needs to pay delivery fees from another source such as savings or with an ABLE savings account debit card.
TANF can assist needy families with children (or expecting a child) experiencing financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 emergency. The criteria for “needy,” income eligibility and services varies by state.
No. Unlike SSDI, DAC or DWB benefits, SSI is a program of last resort and the law requires that an SSI recipient apply for any benefit they may be eligible to receive or risk termination of SSI.
If the receipt of unemployment compensation and/or the additional $600 causes the loss of SSI, when the payments stop the recipient should notify SSA immediately and ask them to resume their SSI payments. SSI can be reinstated without a new application for up to 12 months after the SSI was suspended for this reason.
If you decide to save some or all of these payments, an ABLE account, open to eligible individuals with a disability, is a great option to have up to $100,000 in savings not counted.
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The Financial Resilience Center was developed by National Disability Institute with generous funding from the Wells Fargo Foundation.
