The Basics
If you have a disability, are blind, or are over age 65 and you also have low income and limited resources, you may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a program run by the Social Security Administration (SSA).
If you qualify for SSI, you get monthly cash payments to help you pay for your basic needs. A person who is single can get up to $943 per month in benefits. You also get Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) health coverage automatically, without having to file a separate application.
If you get SSI benefits and start working, you'll probably end up better off financially. SSI's rules are designed to help you find work and make sure that your total income will be higher after you get a job.
Social Security has two disability benefits programs with very similar names:
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) gives cash benefits to people with disabilities who have low income and low resources. You do not need to have worked in the past to get SSI. SSI is explained in this article.
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) gives cash benefits to people with disabilities who qualify because they used to work or have a parent who worked. Learn more in DB101’s SSDI article.
Some people qualify for both programs at the same time. If you get benefits from Social Security, but aren’t sure which ones you get, open a free my Social Security account or order a free Benefits Planning Query (BPQY) at your local Social Security office or by calling 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY).
If you have questions about SSI and need to talk with somebody, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY) or visit your local Social Security office.
If you want to ask about how work might affect your SSI benefits, try contacting:
- A Work Incentive Consultant at Benefits 2 Work Arizona at 1-866-304-WORK (9675), or
- The Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY).
Learn more
Get Expert Help
Ask an Arizona Work Incentive Consultant your questions about work and benefits.
1-866-304-WORK (9675)
A Work Incentive Consultant is a trained expert who can help you understand Social Security work incentives, disability benefit programs, and how they are impacted by work. Their goal is to help you transition to work and make a sustainable financial plan for your future.
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