Understanding Supplemental Security Income
SSI Spotlight on Rights and Responsibilities
2008 Edition

You have the right to:

	apply for benefits, free of charge;
	get help from us to fill in the application forms and get documents you need;
	have someone help you with your SSI claim and have that person go with you when you visit your local Social Security office;
	be represented by an attorney or other qualified person of your choice;
	ask to see or get copies of the information in your records;
	get a letterletter that will tell you what we determine about what SSI benefits you can get and what we will pay you;
	appealappeal most determinations we make about whether you can get SSI benefits, or the amount of SSI benefits, if you disagree with our determination;
	have the assistance of an interpreterinterpreter, free of charge, if you do not speak English well enough to do business with us;
	get help from us to obtain your medical records; and
	get copies of the law, regulations or policy statements used to decide your claim.

You must tell us when:

	you move or change your address;
	anyone moves into or out of your household;
	your or your spouse's or parent's incomeincome or earnings change;
	your or your spouse's or parent's resourcesresources or things you own change;
	you get help with living expenses or get income from friends or relatives;
	your spouse or anyone in your household dies;
	you get married, separated or divorced;
	you change your name;
	you become eligible for other benefits or payments;
	you enter or leave an institution (such as a hospital, nursing home, prison or jail);
	you leave the United States or return to the United States;
	a warrant has been issued for your arrest for a crime, or attempted crime, that is a felony or, in jurisdictions that do not classify crimes as felonies, a crime that is punishable by death or imprisonment for more than one year;
	a warrant has been issued for your arrest because you violated a condition of your parole or probation;
	there is a change in school attendance (if under age 22);
	there is a change in your immigration status;
	you are a sponsored immigrant and your sponsor's income changes;
	your condition improves, if you get SSI benefits because of a disability or blindnessdisability or blindness; and
	you cannot keep your appointment(s) with our office(s).

Please visit or write any Social Security office, or phone our toll–free number at 1–800–772–1213. You can speak to a representative between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on business days. Whenever you call, have your Social Security number handy.

Spanish speaking representatives are also available to take your calls. Follow the instructions in Spanish to reach a Spanish speaking representative.

Recorded information and services are available 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays.

If you contact the local office or call the 1–800 number service and you need an interpreter to communicate with us, we will provide one upon request, free of charge.

If you have a TTY machine, you may call our toll–free TTY number,
1–800–325–0778, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on business days.

We treat all calls confidentially––whether they're made to our toll–free numbers or to one of our local offices. We also want to ensure that you receive accurate and courteous service. That's why we have a second Social Security representative monitor some incoming and outgoing telephone calls.

You may also visit our website on the Internet: www.socialsecurity.govwww.socialsecurity.gov for other topics regarding SSI or Social Security.