Individuals have a new way to let SSA know they want to apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) using an online tool that was just released by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Applicants and individuals assisting applicants can now use this online tool to request an appointment to apply for SSI benefits. The request establishes a protective filing date that will be used as the application date, so long as the individual submits an SSI application within 60 days. Establishing a protective filing date is important because the protective filing date is used to determine when an individual can start receiving SSI benefits. An individual only needs to provide basic information to make the online request. After the individual submits the request, SSA will schedule an appointment to apply for benefits by phone and send notification of the appointment within 7-14 business days. An individual can also indicate a "priority life circumstance," such as homelessness, a terminal illness, or recent release from incarceration, and that will prompt an SSA employee to attempt to contact the applicant by phone within three business days to apply for SSI at that time or schedule an appointment to apply. More detailed policy guidance about the online tool can be found in EM-22015. |
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