The Social Security Administration (SSA) may be able to pay you Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits while you wait for your medical determination if you qualify for Presumptive Disability or Presumptive Blindness benefits. These are temporary benefits awarded to a claimant whose alleged conditions make them likely to be approved.
These benefits are paid out for a maximum of six months while the SSA confirms that the claimant qualifies. The claimant must also meet the financial requirements to be eligible for SSI payments. Presumptive Disability and/or Presumptive Blindness are not available for claimant’s who only qualify for Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB).
Claimants that qualify for presumptive disability payments have impairments that are so severe that the SSA presumes you meet the qualifications to be approved for benefits. Some examples are total blindness, total deafness, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), end stage renal disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Please refer to the SSA’s Expedited Payment’s section to view the full list of qualifying impairments.
Children may also be eligible for Presumptive Disability payments while waiting for a decision. For example, a child who has not yet reached his or her first birthday and weigh below 1,200 grams (2 pounds, 10 ounces) at birth will be awarded. A child may also be eligible for Presumptive Disability if they have a severe mental deficiency or Down syndrome.
If you have been paid Presumptive Disability benefits and are later denied you will not be required to pay these benefits back to the SSA. If you have been paid Presumptive Disability or Presumptive Blindness benefits for six months and are still waiting on a decision the benefits will end until a decision is issued.
More information on Presumptive Disability and Presumptive Blindness benefits can be found in the SSA’s POMS Section: DI 23535.001.
