SSI & stimulus

I still live with my parents. I get about $500 a month on disability.

My parents are talking about the new stimulus deal that was approved and how they still can’t afford stuff.

I know this isn’t an issue for some.

My question is does anyone know if people on disability will be getting help. I’ve never worked and don’t pay taxes. Unfortunately they need my money to stay afloat but I still have to pay for doctor visits even though they’re over the phone and my meds/etc.

Admittedly, I am not on disability. However, I'm wondering if you can call the disability office or SSA if you have specific questions? I think they're very likely to know. Always good to get it straight from the horse's mouth.

But it is my understanding that democrats *want* to give people with SSDI some money while increasing their monthly financial benefits: Senate Democrats want to boost Social Security by $200 per month

As for doctor visits -- well, the doctors are technically setting aside a certain amount of time to talk to you, whether they are doing it in person or over the phone/video. If you're getting advice or scripts from a doctor in any way, then you're utilizing their services and you have to pay, unless the doctor him- or herself decides to offer services to you for free, at their discretion. Unless you're talking about medicaid/medicare not covering it anymore?

Thank you so much for sharing that article, bluebicycle! I hadn't heard about that until now. I do hope that people on Social Security receive some relief, too. With my husband's job security on the line, such an addition of $200 would be helpful for us. There are so many uncertainties ahead. For my husband and me, the actual covid 19 is not nearly as scary as the potential job losses might be.

Does anybody know if that was in the final bill?

Eta - i just googled and it looks like they left that in. Its not for SSI, but it is for SSDI.

Of course its not! I get SSI. Why they gave me that and not SSDI I have no idea.

As I said in the check-in thread, a lot of people won't actually be getting a check in the first place, and of those who will get checks, a good portion them aren't even eligible for the full amount. The other thing is that some politicians like Bernie Sanders are concerned that a family of four may make $1000 a month (for example), but they may be eligible for $3600 with the new stimulus because each kid they have could give them an additional $500. They argue that people should only get a check equivalent to how much they make in one month. (I'm not saying I agree or disagree with that idea, but that is what politicians who disagree on the proposed bill are saying.)

I'm not saying it's fair that people with SSI aren't eligible even though people with SSDI will *likely* be eligible, but the whole notion of "everyone is getting free money" that the media is touting couldn't be further from the truth. There are also rumors about a stipulation that says people who didn't file their 2018 taxes may not be eligible for any money at all, since supposedly they want to base the check amount on how much money you claimed to make on your 2018 tax forms. So if you didn't file your 2018 taxes, you may be SOL (if this rumor is true).

Not to get too political, but I think it was bad of Trump to advertise this as "everyone gets free money!", when that isn't the case at all. This is what will confuse and enrage people when they find out they don't get a check, or that the check amount isn't as large as they thought it would be.

But even with SSDI, I would assume that you may not even be eligible for the full $1200 they are proposing. They may try to match the check to how much income you make from social security in one month, whatever that may be. (Edit: And if the max you can earn is $1200 but you make $1400 a month in SSDI, then they may cap it at $1200.)

The bill has been agreed to but not voted on yet. Also Nancy Pelosi is threatening not to bring it for a House vote, which will have to be a voice vote since the House is not in session. If the House dithers with this there will be no bill, no stimulus, no extended unemployment benefits, no aid to hospitals, etc.

I personally think that the purpose of the bill is to give relief to families who have lost income because of the virus. Anyone who hasn't lost income shouldn't get a check. I'm including myself in that category. However, it looks like anyone who paid income taxes in 2019 or 2018 will get financial help. It's graduated based on income. After $75,000 individual and $150,000 a couple, the amount is reduced. There is a $500.00 dollar per minor child addition.

I have no idea if people who didn't pay taxes will also get checks. That would include SS beneficiaries. The bill I read was not clear.

SSI is available to people who:

_ Do not have enough work credits to qualify for SSDI
_ Do qualify for SSDI, yet for such a low monthly amount, they also qualify for SSI

Generally speaking, people with SSI benefits usually qualify for Medicaid and often for additional benefits, like Food Stamps, etc.

I hope this helps, Moose.

I just Googled this. Not sure how true it is but scroll down to Special Circumstances

Do you qualify for the $1,200 government stimulus check? How and when will the money come through?

A person has to have enough work credits

20 work credits with in the past 15 years, also it depends on the age you are when you file.

If a person does not have enough time working than they will only qualify for SSI

Some people get SSDI with out meeting that critera , like people on diaylysis or become blind.

The Senate just passed the 2 trillion dollar relief package. Keep in mind, the entire Federal budget for 2019 was 4 trillion dollars. We are going to be paying for this bill for a long, long time. The most important aspect of this bill to me is that it gives people a sense that the government is doing something about the fact that, through no fault of their own, they have lost their jobs. It also gives businesses a way to hang on till the infection curve flattens out. Hope is powerful...and expensive. This is not a time for the gimmees. It's the time to help people who have suffered real financial loss hang in there till the economy can get moving again.