SSI Benefits in Ohio

The Ohio SSI supplement is a program that is meant to help those who are disabled and have low income meet their monthly expenses. To qualify for SSI benefits, Ohio residents must meet certain conditions to receive a monthly benefit check. Understanding the guidelines might help you see if you qualify for the program.

Ohio offers two programs that are often confused with each other. One is Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and the other is Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

The Ohio SSI supplement gives money to people who have disabilities and low-income resources. You can receive these benefits whether you have ever worked in the past or not. SSDI is for people with disabilities to qualify because they used to work or who have parents who worked. It is possible to qualify for both these programs at the same time.

To receive the Ohio SSI supplement, you must have a disability or be blind. You can also qualify for Ohio SSI benefits if you are over the age of ​65​ and have a low income. Ohio SSI supplement programs are managed by the Social Security Administration (SSA). You must be under certain income levels and have limited access to resources.

By resources, this means things that you own and could convert to cash count. This can include stocks, bonds and savings. Your home and car are usually exempt if you use your car to get to work.

If you have an ABLE account, the first ​$100,000​ does not count as a resource. An ABLE (Achieving Better Life Experience) account is a tax-advantaged account for people with disabilities. These accounts can only be used for certain expenses like health care, transportation, housing or assistive technology.

If you think that you meet the conditions for qualification, you can find out by visiting your local Social Security Administration Office or by calling ​1-800-772-1213​ or ​1-800-325-0778​ (TTY). They can help you decide if you might qualify and can give you guidance on the application process.

Here are a few of the more common questions people have about Ohio SSI supplement payments.

The maximum SSI benefits Ohio residents can receive is ​$794​ per month. If you have additional income or resources, it might reduce this amount.

Most people who receive SSI and SSA are eligible to receive a stimulus check. If you have not received your stimulus check at this point, you should call the IRS and ask why. It might be that all you need to do is update your information.

For the most part, you do not have to pay Federal taxes on your SSI benefits. If you have additional income, such as wages, interest, dividends or other taxable income, you might have to pay taxes on that income. In this case, only ​85 percent​ of your SSI benefits are taxed.

You can choose to have taxes withheld from your SSI checks if you will owe taxes for the following year. If you receive SSI benefits, Ohio residents might have to pay state taxes, even if they do not owe federal taxes.

If you qualify for SSI benefits, Ohio residents automatically qualify for Medicaid health insurance. Under certain circumstances, you can also hold a job and continue to receive benefits or partial benefits. Some people work and receive SSI benefits, but the amount earned through working might reduce the amount of SSI you receive. The best way to find out about your circumstances is to contact your local SSA office.