How do I apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?

Supplemental Security Income is a safety-net program administered by the Social Security Administration that provides cash assistance to people with limited income and financial resources who are 65 or older, have a disability or are blind. Most people seeking SSI benefits must call Social Security at 800-772-1213 or make an appointment at their local Social Security office to apply. That goes for all those applying on the basis of age.

The SSA is in the middle of a multi-year project to streamline the SSI application process and provide a digital option for all applicants. For now, if you are filing for SSI because of disability or blindness, you may be able to apply online if you meet all these criteria:

• You are between the ages of 18 and 64 years 10 months.
• You have never married.
• You have not previously applied for SSI for yourself or a child.
• You are also applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Social Security’s primary benefit program for people largely unable to work due to a medical condition. (It is permissible to receive Supplemental Security Income along with SSDI benefits.)

In 2024 the SSA introduced a simplified version of the initial SSI application that reduces the number of questions from 54 to as few as 12, depending on how you respond. You can use Social Security’s SSI application tool to help you get started on your claim.

If you are applying for SSI on behalf of a child with a disability, you can start the process by filling out a Child Disability Report online. You will need to call 800-772-1213 to schedule an appointment with your local Social Security office to complete the SSI application.

Regardless of how you apply, you’ll need to extensively document your income, work history, financial assets, living arrangements and, possibly, your medical history. The paperwork list is long and, depending on your situation, may include pay stubs, bank statements, tax returns, rent receipts, deeds and contact information for doctors and hospitals. Social Security has an online checklist.

Keep in mind

• Supplemental Security Income is paid out of general U.S. Treasury funds, not from Social Security taxes. You need not have worked a certain amount, or paid FICA taxes, to be eligible.
• In 2025, the maximum federal SSI benefit is $967 a month for an individual and $1,450 for a married couple if both spouses qualify for the program.
• SSI benefits are available to residents of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the Northern Mariana Islands. Residents of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands cannot receive SSI.