Will A Stimulus Check Affect My Disability Benefits

If you are collecting SSDI or SSI benefits, you might wonder what will happen if you receive stimulus checks and cash them. Each type of program has different rules and they may or may not be affected by receiving a stimulus check. Therefore, you will want to consult with a Social Security Disability law firm.

Eligibility

If you receive SSDI or SSI benefits, the IRS has determined that you are already eligible for stimulus payments. Unless there are changes made to the rules, you may later be eligible for further payments. You do not even need to file a tax return. If you do not receive a stimulus check, the IRS might need more information to determine your eligibility. 

SSI Benefits

Whether or not you qualify for SSI benefits depends on how many assets you have. If you just barely qualify for SSI benefits and you then receive a stimulus check, the amount of money you receive might place your SSI benefits in jeopardy when the SSA decides to review how many assets you have to determine if you're still eligible. 

When you apply for benefits, the SSA will look at how much money you have in the bank. A single person applying for benefits cannot have more than $2,000 and a married couple cannot have more than $3,000. You are allowed to own certain assets like one house and one car, but if the number of assets you own exceeds a particular amount, you may lose your benefits.

Therefore, you will want to speak with an attorney about whether your benefits might be put in jeopardy. Because stimulus checks are temporary, there might be steps you can take to have your SSI benefits reinstated after your total assets fall below a particular level.

Common Reasons for Having Benefits Denied

Your benefits are more likely to be denied if you do not have sufficient medical evidence or if you do not have complete documentation. There are also sometimes situations where the SSA has simply made a mistake. If that's the case, you'll want to speak with an attorney experienced with working with the SSA.

An attorney will assist you in gathering the evidence you need to prove that you should be qualified for benefits. Your attorney will work with your physician to create compelling evidence that you are not able to work and that you, therefore, need SSDI benefits to get by. Look for a Social Security Disability attorney near you to learn more.