Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs-based program for disabled individuals with low income and asset thresholds. The program should not be confused with Interim Assistance, which is public assistance from the state and not the Social Security Administration, but many times an applicant for one these programs ends up being eligible for the other.
Many times SSI applicants are offered Interim Assistance, which can be in the form of public assistance or general assistance. These individuals can collect monthly cash payments from the state while they are waiting for a decision on a disability claim related to SSI.
It is important to note though that this is not free money and usually comes with a catch. Claimants, who are waiting for a decision on an SSI claim, if eligible, can collect Interim Assistance only after they sign an Interim Assistance Agreement. This agreement states that the recipient agrees to pay back the money they receive, so essentially it is a loan.
Typically, when an SSI applicant is notified that they have been awarded SSI some past-due benefits are paid. Under the Interim Assistance Agreement, the Social Security Administration is allowed to deduct a portion of your backpay to pay the state back the money you received in Interim Assistance. Sometimes the amount people owe can be in the thousands of dollars, depending on when they began to receive benefits.
No one is getting rich of Interim Assistance as most states offer a maximum monthly amount of a couple hundred dollars. Even though applicants must pay back the Interim Assistance they receive, the program is still valuable because it allows many applicants a little income to provide for basic necessities while they are waiting for a decision from the Social Security Administration, which can take well over a year. .
