What a Michigan resident owns matters for whether he or she will qualify for Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, benefits. There are property limits the government imposes that limit how much a person can own and still obtain benefits. For a person to obtain SSI benefits, his or her assets must be worth $2,000 or less. A couple may own $3,000 or less of assets and obtain SSI benefits.
Fortunately, not all of a person’s assets will count as a resource for purposes of determining SSI eligibility. Property that a person owns and uses to support him or herself may not be counted by the Social Security Administration toward his or her asset limit. Personal property used for work, including safety equipment, tools and uniforms, or other assets used in a person’s business, such as farm equipment or supplies for a beauty parlor, may not be counted toward the personal asset limit for SSI eligibility, either.
Other property that a Michigan resident owns may either be fully or partially excluded when the SSA evaluates the total amount of property a person owns. A person’s non-business property, such as real estate or equipment which a person rents to someone to produce income may be excluded as an asset. Similarly, property such as land or livestock that a person uses to produce goods or services useful for everyday life may also be excluded. The SSA recognizes that such property can be not only valuable, but also essential, as it can help disabled individuals grow food to feed themselves and their families.
A person who is seeking to obtain SSI benefits and has questions about eligibility requirements and property allowances may wish to seek the guidance of an attorney. Someone who thinks he or she owns too much property to qualify for SSI benefits may actually have a large amount of property that does not count toward the property limit and therefore can pursue much-needed benefits.
Source: ssa.gov, “Spotlight On Property You Need For Self-Support,” accessed Nov. 27, 2015
