Resources

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits are only offered to claimants who have very limited income and resources. For SSI purposes, resources are things you own such as cash, bank accounts, savings bonds, land, life insurance, vehicles, personal property, and anything else you own which can be converted to cash. Resources can also be "deemed" from a spouse, parent, parent's spouse, sponsor of an alien or sponsor's spouse as belonging to the person who applies for SSI.

Currently, to qualify for SSI benefits the resource limit is $2,000 per individual and $3,000 per couple, although there are many resources which are considered exempt by the SSA. For instance, the SSA will not count the land and home you live on, household goods and personal effects (e.g. your wedding and engagement rings), burial spaces for you or your immediate family, burial funds for you and your spouse, each valued at $1,500 or less, life insurance policies with a combined face value of $1,500 or less and one vehicle. There are several other allowable exemptions. Talk to a disability lawyer or the SSA if you have questions.