The following are the basic eligibility requirements:

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  Age 65 or older, blind, or disabled;

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  Reside in one of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, or the Northern Mariana Islands, except for a child of military parent(s) assigned to permanent duty anywhere outside the United States (U.S.), see SI 00501.415 or certain students temporarily abroad, see SI 00501.411;

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  Citizen or national of the U.S or an alien who meets the applicable requirements as follows:

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    for benefits payable beginning August 22, 1996, the alien must meet the alien status requirements in SI 00502.100;

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    for benefits payable before August 22, 1996, the alien must be lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the U.S., see GN 00303.440 or permanently residing in the U.S. under color of law, see SI 00501.420.

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  Have income and resources within specified limits; and

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  File an application.

An eligible individual is a person who meets all of the basic requirements in SI 00501.001B.1., including a person who meets the definition of “child,” see SI 00501.010.

An eligible spouse is a person who meets all of the basic requirements in SI 00501.001B.1. and is the spouse of the eligible individual and who is living in the same household with that person. An individual and spouse must each file an application and meet all the criteria to establish eligibility as an eligible couple.

1. a. 

   Despite meeting all of the criteria, an individual is not eligible for SSI if they:

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     Fail to apply for all other benefits for which they may be eligible, see SI 00510.001 through SI 00510.030.

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     Are, in some cases, a resident of a public institution throughout a month, see SI 00520.001, SI 00520.009, SI 00520.010 through SI 00520.012, and SI 00520.120 through SI 00520.930.

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     Have been outside the U.S. for 30 consecutive days (except for a child of a military parent stationed overseas or certain students temporarily abroad). Once an individual has been outside the U.S. for 30 consecutive days that individual is not eligible for SSI until they have been back in the U.S. for 30 consecutive days, see SI 00501.410 and SI 02301.225.

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     Do not give us permission to contact any financial institution to request any financial records that the financial institution may have about them.

2. b. 

   An individual is ineligible to receive SSI benefits for any month during which they:

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     Have an unsatisfied warrant for their arrest for a crime that is a felony or, in jurisdictions that do not define crimes as felonies, is punishable by death or imprisonment for a term exceeding 1 year regardless of the actual sentence imposed under the laws of the place from which the warrant is issued, see SI 00530.001B.

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     Have an unsatisfied warrant for avoiding custody or confinement after conviction for a crime which is a felony or, in jurisdictions that do not define crimes as felonies, is punishable by death or imprisonment for a term exceeding 1 year regardless of the actual sentence imposed under the laws of the place from which the person flees; or see SI 00530.001B.

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     Are violating a condition of probation or parole imposed under Federal or State law, see SI 00530.001B.