Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul recently released a message to all Social Security employees about the need to assist people who wish to apply for Social Security disability benefits, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Saul admitted the number of applications for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits are significantly down since the pandemic forced Social Security to close its offices in March of 2020. There is no doubt that the inability to go to a Social Security office and apply for benefits has resulted in many vulnerable people being unable to apply for benefits they crucially need. Below is a portion of Saul’s message to the Social Security employees.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impose hardships especially on our country’s most vulnerable citizens. Of concern, we have seen reduced application filings for the Disability Insurance (DI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs since the middle of last year. Many of these individuals, including those people with low-income, limited English proficiency, facing homelessness, or with mental illness, have historically relied on meeting with you face-to-face to get the help they need.
Over the past year, we have worked closely with national and local advocacy groups to improve service to vulnerable populations. We have also engaged Federal, State, and local agencies, as well as private industry, to raise public awareness of how to access our services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The positive response demonstrates how much our programs matter. Agency resources, like the recently implemented “Information for People Helping Others” page at www.ssa.gov/thirdparty, provide the type of information the beneficiaries, and the advocate communities who help them, need, but we can do more.
Social Security is asking for help to assist people apply for disability benefits. Because SSI applications can’t be filed online it is even more difficult for vulnerable to people to apply for these benefits. If you are interested in assisting a vulnerable person apply for SSI benefits please check the eligibility requirements. Once this is done it is advised that a phone appointment be made directly with your local Social Security office.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR SSI?
Anyone who is:
- aged (age 65 or older);
- blind; or
- disabled.
And, who:
- has limited income;
- has limited resources;
- is a U.S. citizen or national, or in one of certain categories of aliens;
NOTE: In general, an alien who is subject to an active warrant for deportation or removal does not meet the citizenship/alien requirement.
- a resident of one of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, or the Northern Mariana Islands;
- is not absent from the country for a full calendar month or for 30 consecutive days or more;
- is not confined to an institution (such as a hospital or prison) at the government’s expense;
- applies for any other cash benefits or payments for which he or she may be eligible, (for example, pensions, Social Security benefits);
- gives SSA permission to contact any financial institution and request any financial records about you;
- files an application; and
- meets certain other requirements.
