WHAT ARE THE SSI BENEFITS?
1. Maximum Monthly Cash Assistance
| Type of Person | Maximum Benefit |
| Single person 65 or older | $1,040.21 |
| Disabled person 18 or over | $,1040.21 |
| Single blind person any age | $1,110.26 |
| Couple, both disabled or aged | $1,765.64 |
| Couple, both blind | $1,952.88 |
| Disabled person under 18 | $921.75 |
| One person living in a licensed Board & Care facility | ($154 for that person’s private use) $1,365.77 |
https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-11125.pdf
Food: SSI recipients are eligible for CalFresh. If you live where meals cannot be prepared you can get an additional $90 to $100 per month in your SSI grant. (ask for the Restaurant Meals Allowance.)
Health Care: If you get SSI, you automatically qualify for Medi-Cal. You may also qualify for In-Home Supportive Services (See In-Home Supportive Services)
Special Telephone Equipment: If your disability makes it difficult to use the phone you may qualify for special
equipment to help. Call (800) 806-1191 (voice) or (800) 806- 4474 (TTY line.)
Rent and Household Expenses: You can qualify for the maximum SSI grant even if you live with someone else or live in someone eles’s household as long as you pay your fair share for your own food and shelter costs. If you live in someone else’s household and pay none or only part of your food and shelter costs, your SSI grant will be reduced by one third of the federal SSI benefit rate.
If you were getting some help in paying for your food and shelter when you applied for SSI but later begin paying your share for food and shelter, tell your social security worker so your benefits will increase to the maximum benefit. Also tell Social Security if you move/ lose housing or if you no longer have access to cooking facilities.
If you are living with someone else, who is paying all or a part of the expenses for your food or shelter, and you have an agreement to pay them back once you begin receiving SSI,be sure to tell Social Security (at the time you apply for SSI benefits.) This signed written agreement should say that you will pay your share of the food and shelter expenses for each month you receive back SSI payments. If you have this written agreement any retroactive SSI benefits should not be reduced for the reason that you are living in the home of another and are not paying your share of the food and shelter expenses.You can contact legal aid for help writing this agreement so your back SSI benefits are not reduced.
A single person can get a $1,365.77 (as of 2022) board & care rate called “Non-medical Out of Home Care,” if you do not receive In Home Supportive Services, are not staying in your own home, and a relative who does not get SSI is providing you room, food, and personal care. The county must certify the private residence.
You may be able to get a $400 immediate payment from the Social Security office if either your SSI or your Social Security check is late and you need money right away. If you are denied immediate payment contact the office of your Congressperson and ask for a staff person who can help.