Understanding Supplemental Security Income
SSI Spotlight on Getting SSI Benefits While
You Try to Sell Excess Resources
2008 Edition

To get SSI benefits, your countable resourcesresources must not be worth more than $2,000 for an individual, or $3,000 for a couple. However, you may be able to get benefits if you agree to sell some of your countable resourcesresources.

You can sell the following types of things:

	real property, such as land or a house that you don't live in; or
	personal property, such as non–excluded vehicles (for example, a second car).

	While you are trying to sell real property, you can receive SSI benefits for up to nine months under certain conditions.
	While you are trying to sell personal property, you can receive SSI benefits for up to three months.
	And, we may pay you even longer if you meet certain conditions.

	Your SSI benefits cannot begin until after you sign a conditional benefits agreement, and we accept the agreement.
	The agreement form is available at your local Social Security office. Please ask us for more details.

	You will have to pay back some or all of the SSI benefits you received while trying to sell the property.
	You may continue to get SSI benefits. Please contact your local Social Security office to find out if your SSI benefits will continue after the sale.