The Social Security Administration offers additional benefits under Supplemental Security Income for people who care for elderly or disabled family members. This additional benefit is known as the SSI Caregiver allowance, which reduces the financial burden and supports the unpaid carers.
The allowance will cover the costs that the family cares for the people, such as shelter, food, clothing, and other basic requirements that may increase the financial strain for the family. The allowance offsets the caregiving cost for the households, such as transportation, housing, medical expenses, etc.
The federal government understands that caring for people can be challenging for families, as the healthcare services or medical equipment can increase the burden on families. The allowance will also provide access to programs and services that will help families with caregiving.
| Benefit | SSI Caregiver Allowance |
| Who qualifies? | For people caring for the SSI recipients with disability or serious medical conditions, the caregiver should be related to the recipient, and the recipient should be living with the caregiver. |
| Max. Payout | Up to $1588 |
| Purpose | To support the caregivers and reduce their financial burden |
| Documents Required | Relationship proof with the recipient, medical proof of the recipient, Income proof, etc. |
| Administered by | SSA |
| Official Website | https://www.ssa.gov/ |
Who is eligible?
The SSA has set the following eligibility conditions for the SSI Caregiver allowance to support the carers:
- The individual for whom you are caring should be an SSI recipient who is receiving the benefit based on disability. The disability criteria mean that the disability should limit the person’s ability to work or move around, or it may result in death.
- The SSI recipient should be 18 years or older and must need the support & assistance to go through their day-to-day activities.
- You, as a caregiver, should be the SSI recipient’s parent, spouse, or legal guardian, or another family member who may meet the specific criteria and be caring for the person.
- You must be residing with the SSI recipient for whom you are caring and providing primary care.
- Your income and resources may also play a part in determining your eligibility as the recipient meets the SSI income and resources criteria.
Allowance Payout
The caregivers who wish to get the SSI caregiver allowance for the people they care for can receive the payout based on the number of SSI recipients in their family, or living situation, etc. According to the SSI Caregiver’s allowance, the approved carer receives the monthly support.
The payout for the carers may vary depending on several factors; however, based on the administration guidelines, the carer can expect the following maximum monthly payout:
- An individual caring for an SSI recipient can get a maximum payout of up to $794
- A Couple caring for one SSI recipient may receive the maximum payout of $1,191
- A couple caring for two SSI recipients can receive the maximum payout of $1588.
Documents Required
The carer caring for the SSI recipient who meets the eligibility criteria for the SSI caring allowance would need to prepare the following documents for the application:
- Residency Proof
- Documents that prove your relationship with the SSI recipient you are caring for
- Medical documents of the person you are caring for
- Income proof, such as a tax return
- Caregiving proofs, such as appointment records, medication bills, etc.
The administration may need other documents as well, hence the caregivers are advised to contact the Social Security administration or visit the nearest SSA office to check about the SSI caregiver allowance eligibility and others.
Application Process
The caregivers caring for the family member who is receiving the SSI benefit or suffering from a disability or serious medical conditions can apply for the allowance in the following steps:
- Once you are confirmed of your eligibility, you should reach out to the SSA at the official website https://www.ssa.gov/ or visit the nearest SSA office.
- You can click the Apply for benefits on the official website and complete the application process, or schedule an appointment with SSA officers.
- You should complete the application form for the SSI Caregiver’s allowance and upload the relevant documents with the application.
Once you complete your SSI caregiver allowance application, wait for the administration approval, and once the administration approves, you may start to receive the payout in a month or two.
If you have any issues in gathering or understanding the SSI caregiver allowance application, you can contact the Social Security Administration and inquire about the application process.