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Supplemental Security Income (SSI) In California

SSA Publication No. 05-11125, January 2008 [View .pdf] Get Accessible Adobe Acrobat Reader (En Español)
 

Contents

What Is SSI? Skip contents links
Medical assistance
Food stamps
Other social services
Monthly SSI payment amounts
Contacting Social Security
 
 

What is SSI?

SSI, or Supplemental Security Income, is a federal program that provides monthly cash payments to people in need. SSI is for people who are 65 or older, as well as for blind or disabled people of any age, including children.

To qualify you also must have little or no income and few resources. This means that the value of the things you own must be less than $2,000 if you are single or less than $3,000 if you are married. The value of your home does not count. Usually, the value of your car does not count. And the value of certain other resources, such as a burial plot, may not count either.

To get SSI, you also must apply for any other cash benefits you may be able to get.

You must live in the United States or the Northern Mariana Islands to get SSI. If you are not a U.S. citizen, but you are a resident, you still may be able to get SSI. For more information, ask for a copy of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) For Noncitizens (Publication No. 05-11051).

The state of California adds money to the federal payment. The single payment you get in the beginning of each month includes both the federal SSI payment and your supplement from California.

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Medical assistance

If you get SSI, you usually can get medical assistance (Medi-Cal) automatically. A separate Medi-Cal application is not necessary. If you have questions about Medi-Cal, contact your local county welfare office.

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Food stamps

People who get SSI in California cannot get food stamps because the state adds money to the federal SSI payment instead.

However, you may be able to get food stamps:

  • While you are waiting for a decision on your SSI application;
  • If your application for SSI is denied; or
  • If you move to another state.

For more information, contact your local county welfare office.

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Other social services

Other services you may be able to get through your local county welfare office include:

  • A special allowance for assistance dogs for people who are blind or have a disability;
  • In-home support services; and
  • Protective services.

For more information, contact your local county welfare office.

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Monthly SSI payment amounts

The amounts include both federal and state payments combined. Not all SSI recipients receive the maximum amount. Your payment may be lower if you have other income

 
 
Category 2008 total monthly payment
Single people Aged Disabled Blind
Independent living status
$870.00
$870.00
$935.00
Non-medical board and care
$1,049.00
$1,049.00
$1,049.00
Independent living status, no cooking facilities
$954.00
$954.00
 
Living in the household of someone else
$658.67
$658.67
$739.67
Disabled minor child
 
$756.00
 
Disabled minor child in household of another
  
$532.67
  
Aged or disabled couples
Independent living status
$1,524.00
 
Non-medical board and care
$2,098.00
  
Independent living status, no cooking facilities
$1,692.00
  
Living in the household of someone else
$1,233.00
  
Blind couples
Independent living status
    
$1,751.00
Living in the household of someone else
    
$1,460.00
Blind person with an aged or disabled spouse
Independent living status
    
$1,666. 00
Living in the household of someone else
    
$1,374.00
 
 

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Contacting Social Security

For more information and to find copies of our publications, visit www.socialsecurity.gov or call toll-free, 1-800-772-1213 (for the deaf or hard of hearing, call our TTY number, 1-800-325-0778). We can answer specific questions from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. We can provide information by automated phone service 24 hours a day.

We treat all calls confidentially. We also want to make sure you receive accurate and courteous service. That is why we have a second Social Security representative monitor some telephone calls.

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