Direct answer
How to apply for SSI
You can start an SSI application online at ssa.gov, by calling 1-800-772-1213, or in person at a local Social Security office; SSA will schedule an interview to complete the non-medical portion.
The SSI application involves two parallel tracks: a non-medical review (income, resources, living arrangement, citizenship) handled by SSA field offices, and a medical review handled by your state Disability Determination Services (DDS). Both must approve for benefits to start.
Sourced from ssa.gov — see citations below.
Direct answer: You can start an SSI application online at ssa.gov, by calling 1-800-772-1213, or in person at a local Social Security office; SSA will schedule an interview to complete the non-medical portion.
How do I apply for SSI benefits?
The SSI application involves two parallel tracks: a non-medical review (income, resources, living arrangement, citizenship) handled by SSA field offices, and a medical review handled by your state Disability Determination Services (DDS). Both must approve for benefits to start.
Where does this rule live in SSA's regulations?
SSA publishes the SSI eligibility rules in the SSI Eligibility page on ssa.gov and the annual 2026 SSI figures at ssa.gov/oact/cola/SSI.html. When SSA's public page and this article differ, ssa.gov controls.
What if I'm not sure I qualify?
Apply anyway. SSA determines eligibility on the facts of your case, and application itself protects the earliest possible filing date. There is no penalty for applying and being denied.
Topics
- ssi
- SSI vs SSDI
- eligibility
Sources
Every figure and rule on this page is drawn from official SSA publications. Verify at the links below.
- SSA — Understanding SSI Eligibility (ssa.gov)
- SSA — 2026 SSI Federal Payment Amounts (ssa.gov)
- SSA — SSI Spotlights (ssa.gov)