The federal government provides a range of income supports for people with disabilities. Each can offer critical cash assistance to people with mental illnesses who are striving to live independently. Children and adults with mental illnesses are eligible for all of these programs, but often the rules are quite restrictive.
The Bazelon Center believes that federal income support programs must be improved to better meet the needs of people with mental illnesses. Cash benefits need to be increased so that recipients’ income is raised to at least the federal poverty level. In addition, program administrators must offer accommodations to people with mental illnesses to help them enroll and stay enrolled.
The two most important income programs for children and adults disabled due to mental disorders are the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, for persons with low income, and the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, for those who have paid Social Security taxes for a certain period of time. To qualify for SSI or SSDI, individuals must have an impairment that prevents them from engaging in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA); in other words, they must be unable to work to support themselves.
Other benefit programs that provide cash assistance are:
- The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) offering time-limited cash assistance to families. TANF focuses on improving self-sufficiency and returning families to the workforce.
- Veterans benefits, providing cash assistance and access to health care (exact benefit is dependent upon whether the veteran’s disability is service-connected or not).
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as the Food Stamp program, providing funds for low-income individuals to purchase food.
Visit benefits.gov for personalized access to information about these and other federal and state government benefits.
Federal law allows Supplemental Needs Trusts that allow families to set aside funds to benefit a person with a disability without making the individual ineligible for the federal benefits described above.