Social Security Benefits Issues for Homeless Veterans

1
Social Security Benefits Issues for Homeless
Veterans

• Lucy Axton Miller
• Virginia Commonwealth University
• WIPA National Training Center

2
What SSA benefits are available to Veterans and
family members?

• Disability Benefits
• Title II disability benefits (SSDI, DWB, CDB)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Retirement and Survivors Benefits
• Dependent Childs Benefits
• Medicare coverage

3
Two Different Types of SSA Disability Benefits

• SSI or Supplemental Security Income
• Funded by federal tax dollars, not SSA trust fund
• Welfare program based upon financial eligibility
• Comes with Medicaid

• Social Security Title II Disability Benefits
  (SSDI, CDB, DWB)
• Funded by SSA trust fund
• Entitlement program based upon insured status
• Comes with Medicare (24 month waiting period)

4
Eligibility for SSI

• Be medically disabled as defined by the SSA 
• Not be working or earnings under SGA limit
  (980/1,640 GROSS for 2009) at time of
  application ONLY! Parental income counts for
  children under 18. Spousal income counts for
  married persons.  
• Have unearned income of less than the current
  FBR. For 2009 the FBR is 674 for an individual
  and 1,011 for an eligible couple.

5
Eligibility for SSI Continued

• Resources under 2,000 or 3,000 for an eligible
  couple
• Countable resources do NOT include home you live
  in, one car (some restrictions), life insurance
  policy, burial plot, burial funds or pre-paid
  funeral expenses up to 1,500, personal effects
  and household goods, and property essential to
  person's self-support.

6
SSI for Homeless Individuals

• Homelessness does not preclude eligibility for
  SSI
• Individuals who reside in a public emergency
  shelter for the homeless (PESH) may be eligible
  for up to six months of SSI benefits in any
  nine-month period. The 6 months do not need to be
  consecutive.

7
Eligibility for Social Security disability
benefits (Title II)

• Be medically disabled as defined by the SSA.
• Not be working or earnings are under SGA limit
  (980/1,640 GROSS per month for 2009).
• Have earned sufficient credits by paying into
  the system yourself,have a deceased, retired or
  disabled parent who paid in on your behalf (CDB),
  or be eligible for Disabled Widow(er)s Benefits
  (DWB).

8
Eligibility for Title II Disability Benefits
continued

• Resources and other forms of unearned income are
  irrelevant and are not considered in SSD
  eligibility determination. 
• OTHER DETAILS There is a 5-month waiting period
  of initial eligibility before the SSD check
  begins. There is a 24-month Medicare Qualifying
  Period. In the meantime, SSI and Medicaid may be
  received by persons meeting applicable
  eligibility standards.

9
Misunderstandings about SSA Disability Benefits

• There is no percentage of disability full
  disability or no disability
• Disability is directly related to ability to
  engage in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)
• SSI and SSDI are VERY different programs! Some
  people qualify for both.
• It is possible to get VA disability benefits and
  SSA disability benefits simultaneously
• Children can collect additional benefits when
  parent receives SSDI

10
Issues for Veterans who are Homeless

• Application process is lengthy determinations
  can take many months.
• Getting required medical information on homeless
  individuals can be very difficult.
• Incidence of severe mental illness and chemical
  dependency complicates matters need for
  representative payees.
• Disability payments are not due during
  incarceration in corrections/penal facilities.
• SSI rules for homeless veterans residing in PESHs
  make it difficult to save sufficient funds to
  move into permanent housing.