People in Houston who apply for Supplemental Security Income must be aware that there are certain issues that will be taken into account when it is decided whether there will be an approval of benefits. The resources that a claimant has will be important. This is because SSI is based on need. A person who has countable resources that surpass $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple will not be able to get SSI.
Countable resources are items that are owned and are calculated toward the total resources. There are many things that are not counted as resources regardless of what they are worth. They are: the home that the claimant lives in; one vehicle if it is used to transport the claimant or a member of the claimant’s household; any life insurance policy that has a face value of $1,500 or less per person; and burial plots or spaces for the claimant and the immediate family.
In addition, the following are not counted as resources: personal effects and household items and property that the claimant or a spouse use in a trade or a business, or in a job if the claimant works for someone else. Those who are disabled or blind can keep money or property that was kept to achieve self-support through the PASS program.
Such property or assets that can be counted and turned to cash are considered resources. These include stocks, bank accounts, bonds and property. When applying for SSI, those who are not aware of the resources that are exempt and those that they are allowed to have could be denied SSI because of it. This is just one of many issues that often arises and stops a worthy claimant from getting approved. To avoid making a mistake such as having too many resources when applying for SSI, getting more information about SSI benefits can help.
Source: ssa.gov, “Spotlight On Resources — 2016 Edition,” accessed on May 31, 2016