Questions You Might Ask a Social Security Lawyer

Q: Will my children get benefits if I get SSI?

A: When applying for Social Security (whether you work with a social security lawyer or navigate the process on your own), you need to keep in mind the differences between Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplement Security Income, or SSI. One major difference is that, while children may sometimes be eligible for benefits under Social Security Disability Insurance (talk to a social security lawyer for details), under SSI they will not. Because SSI is considered to be a need based program, dependant benefits are not offered.

With Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits, however, you may be able to obtain benefits for your minor children. Whether or not your children will receive benefits depends on your earnings records. Everybody who is approved for Social security disability Insurance benefits is not necessarily approved for dependent benefits. Those with a short work history may not qualify. Talk to a social security lawyer for details.

Q: If I have money in my bank account, can I be approved for SSI benefits?

A: Any social security lawyer will tell you: because SSI is a need based program, all resources and income will be counted towards qualification. Put simply, those that receive SSI benefits do not have much money or many assets. And while every state has a slightly different resource limit for qualifying for SSI, there are a few general guidelines that a social security lawyer will give you when looking over your application.

In general, the following are considered "resources" that count towards your income:

? Coins and Currency ? Money in the Bank ? Stocks and Bonds ? Real Estate ? Life Insurance Policies ? Vehicles ? Owned Property

Though it is possible to be approved for SSI if you own a vehicle and one home, owning too many assets or "resources" can reduce your chances. In general you must have less than $2000 in the bank for an individual, or $3000 for a couple, to qualify for SSI. However, you will want to talk to a social security lawyer about the specific requirements for your state.

Q: Will they take away my benefits if I sell my house and make money off of it?

A: The answer to this question will vary from case to case, and it is a good idea to speak with a social security lawyer in this situation. If you do make money from the sale of a home, the amount of money you make will be the deciding factor in the effect on your SSI. If you make enough money from selling your house to go over your resources' "allowable value," you will become ineligible for SSI during that month. If, however, you maintain those "over value" resources in a bank account into the next months, your eligibility for SSI benefits may come into question. If this happens, it is important to speak to a social security lawyer in order to know your next steps.

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