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months after you get it, whatever is left will be counted against the SSI
“resource” limit. (The countable resource limit for an individual on SSI is
$2,000. The countable resource limit for a married couple on SSI is
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$3,000.)
Example 1: Bob, a single person who receives $866.40 per month in
SSI, gets a penalty check for $3,000.00 in July, and will not be eligible
for SSI during July. This means that there will be an overpayment of SSI
in the amount of $866.40 for the month of July. At some point SSA will
want this money back.
Example 2: If Bob keeps the $3,000 until August, he will lose SSI for
August as well. This is because Bob will be over the SSI “resource” limit
of $2000. He needs to spend enough so that when the leftover CBAS
money is added to his other savings on August 1, he has less than
$2000.
Example 3: SSI/SSA income: Bob gets $866.40 in SSI and SSDI
combined. Only $400 of this combined payment is $SSI. Bob’s
overpayment for July would be $400, not the whole amount of the
combined benefit of $866.40. If Bob keeps the payment until August, he
would lose the SSI payment of $400 for August as well. The SSDI
payment would not be affected.
IMPORTANT NOTE: You must show SSA how you spent the money.
You cannot give the money away for the purpose of meeting the $2000
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resource limit ($3,000 for a married couple).
4.
How Can I Spend the Money and Not Hurt My SSI
Eligibility?
There are many ways to spend the money that will not hurt SSI eligibility
but make sure to get receipts for everything. Examples of things it is
okay to spend down the penalty check on are:
-
a home (including paying rent in advance);
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a car;
-
household goods and personal effects (including a television,
phone, computer, and other entertainment items);
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paying credit card debts and other bills;
-
property essential for self support;