If you have health problems, you’re unable to work, you haven’t worked recently, and your financial resources are limited, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a disability benefits program that can help you pay your bills and support yourself.
Social Security runs SSI, but you can receive SSI benefits even if you haven’t worked and paid much into Social Security for a long time.
Not everyone qualifies for SSI. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has tough economic and medical standards to meet, and you must show that you meet all of its criteria.
Many first-time applicants get rejected.
The Chicago SSI lawyers at Nash Disability Law can help you increase your chances of receiving benefits.
Talk to us to better understand:
Nash Disability Law has helped thousands of people seeking SSI benefits in Chicagoland. These benefits can make a major difference in your life when you can’t work due to bad health.
We’re a top team of disability lawyers based in Illinois and serving Chicagoland.
Our offices are in Chicago and Palos Hills, and we help people all across the Chicago area, from Waukegan to Joliet, to Naperville, Elgin, Schaumburg and more.
WE’VE HELPED MORE PEOPLE IN THE CHICAGO AREA WIN BENEFITS THAN ANY OTHER LAW FIRM.
One of the first questions you’re likely to have for any SSI disability lawyer in Chicago is probably whether you have a strong case for benefits.
So, we’ll walk you through it. There are two sides to qualifying for SSI in Chicago:
When it comes to your health, you have to meet these requirements for SSI:
You must also meet the financial requirements for SSI:
The value of the resources you have that are counted for SSI is strictly limited for you to qualify for benefits.
You don’t have to guess whether you’ll qualify for SSI. It’s free to talk to our Supplemental Security Income lawyers at Nash Disability Law in Chicago for an evaluation of your case for benefits.
Our team of experienced lawyers and paralegals can also help determine what evidence is most important in proving your case. This may include medical records, doctor opinions, and financial statements. And we help you fill out forms mistake-free.
Get a free SSI disability case consultation from Nash. »
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is another benefits program that can help if you can’t work due to an illness or injury, but the rules for qualifying aren’t the same as SSI.
SSDI and SSI also have different rules about how much you can receive in benefits.
Here is a breakdown of the differences between SSI and SSDI from the Nash Chicago disability lawyers:
| SSDI | SSI | |
|---|---|---|
| Your Work History | To qualify for SSDI, you must have worked recently and paid into Social Security a significant amount. | You can qualify for SSI even if you don’t have much work history. |
| Your Financial Resources | You can have any amount of savings, investments and property and still get SSDI. The only financial limit is on your income from working. If you receive other forms of disability or injury benefits, that may offset some of your SSDI payments. | Individuals cannot have more than $2,000 in financial assets and still get SSI. Couples cannot have more than $3,000. These are extremely strict limits not updated since 1989, but you don’t have to count your primary home, one car, and many personal possessions toward the limits. Getting one-time payouts like inheritances or legal settlements can put you over the limit and disqualify you from SSI. |
| Your Health Problems | To qualify for SSDI, you must be unable to work because of health issues for at least a year. | The one area where SSI is the same as SSDI is the medical requirements. You must be unable to work because of bad health for a year. |
| How Much Benefits Pay | For SSDI, the SSA analyzes your past work history and wages to calculate monthly payments. SSDI payments are often higher than SSI. (The average reached $1,630 in 2026). | SSI payments are limited to a maximum amount ($994 per month for individuals and $1,491 per month for couples in 2026) and receiving other types of benefits or assistance can reduce your SSI payments. |
| Health Coverage You Receive | Recipients of SSDI qualify for Medicare earlier than the usual age but after a waiting period. | Recipients of SSI also qualify for Medicaid, and coverage starts immediately if you don’t already have it. |
To receive either benefit, you need to show that you cannot perform “substantial gainful activity (SGA).”
For 2026, the SGA level is $1,690 in gross earnings per month for non-blind people and $2,830 for people with blindness.
You can apply for both SSI and SSDI at the same time. Sometimes you can even qualify for both, but the factors determining which one you receive can get complicated:
If you have any confusion about which benefits you could qualify for, contact us and schedule a FREE consultation.
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When you’re talking about SSI, it’s important to note that another key form of SSI exists for children.
Nash’s Chicago SSI lawyers help families apply for childhood SSI all the time. Not all law firms help with childhood SSI cases, but we do.
Children’s SSI is for children with disabilities whose families meet the SSI financial requirements.
These benefits can be a great help to parents and caregivers, helping cover some of the expenses of a child with special needs, including therapy, equipment, learning programs and more.
Children aren’t expected to have worked, so the qualifications for childhood SSI don’t hinge on ability to work like adult disability benefits.
Instead, children’s SSI has these qualifications:
Like with all disability benefits, you have to prove your child qualifies for childhood SSI using information, evidence and arguments.
If you have a child with disabilities, and your household finances are strained, talk to Nash Disability Law about getting SSI for children.
Getting denied for Supplemental Security Income is a normal part of the application process. Most people can expect to be denied at least once.
The Social Security Administration’s goal is to ensure that people do not claim benefits if they aren’t entitled to them, but this puts up a lot of roadblocks for legitimate applicants.
The good news is that you can appeal after your application has been denied. A Chicago SSI disability lawyer can help you figure out what went wrong and strengthen your claim.
Your disability attorney helps by:
Nash Disability Law helps you navigate the appeals process, which starts with asking for a reconsideration within 60 days of your initial denial.
If that’s unsuccessful, the next step is the disability hearing in front of an administrative law judge. We can represent you and prepare you to testify.
If your hearing doesn’t go your way, the final options are asking the Social Security Appeals Council to review the judge’s decision and then suing in federal district court.
We know this is stressful, but Nash Disability Law is ready to help you fight for the benefits that you deserve.
You won’t pay a lawyer’s fee until your appeal is successful and you win benefits.
When you’re trying to get SSI disability benefits, you can find large national companies who say they help. Why should you work with a local disability law firm like Nash?
Part of the answer is that the Chicago SSI lawyers and SSI appeal lawyers at Nash know the local offices and resources for getting disability benefits.
It makes a difference because Social Security offices and Social Security Disability judges operate a little differently in different places.
The Nash Chicago SSI attorneys work with the local Social Security officials around Chicagoland every day. A big out-of-town company may not have that local knowledge.
For example, our SSI attorneys regularly attend hearings for our clients with judges from local disability hearing offices in Chicago, Evanston, Oak Brook and Orland Park.
From the time you ask for a hearing to when you reach a judge in one of those offices, it can take seven months or longer according to Social Security numbers from 2025.
After hearings take place, the disability judges in the Chicago area offices approve benefits at different rates—from 47% to 58% of the time as of 2025.
We know what the disability judges look for. And with a representative like a lawyer, government numbers have shown your chances of winning benefits after a hearing can be three times better than people without help.
Results are vital. But there’s a deeper reason to get a local, Chicago SSI lawyer when you live in Chicago or the suburbs.
This is a highly personal and sensitive situation. A local lawyer is more likely to give you the time, attention and care you deserve in a process that can feel uncaring.
At Nash Disability Law…
To your Chicago SSI attorney from Nash, you’re a neighbor, not a number.
Contact us for help with your SSI claim anywhere across Chicagoland.
How do I know if I qualify for SSI?
To qualify for SSI, you need to have health problems that interfere with your ability to work and support yourself. Unlike Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), no work history is required. People who have not been able to work for a long time can qualify for SSI. You must have extremely limited income and assets.
Can receiving other benefits affect my SSI claim?
Some benefits can affect your SSI payouts each month. If you are receiving a pension, VA disability benefits, or other disability benefits, the Nash Chicago SSI lawyers could tell you how that might affect your SSI.
Are there income and asset limitations for SSI recipients?
Yes. Working too much can affect your benefits, but so can having too much money and resources. Even a one-time payment, like an inheritance, could affect your benefits, so it’s important to consult with an SSI lawyer if you have any concerns. The SSI asset limits are very low: $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple, though some key types of assets don’t count.
Does my particular health problem qualify for SSI?
You can have any number of illnesses, injuries and chronic conditions and qualify for SSI. The most important factor is how your health—no matter your exact diagnosis—prevents you from working.
How long does it take to seek SSI benefits?
It takes months for Social Security to process your initial application for SSI. It can be well over a year by the time you appeal any denials before you start receiving benefits.
How much does SSI pay?
The government set the maximum monthly payment for SSI at $994 for an individual and $1,491 for a couple in 2026. The amount typically adjusts every year. The size of your monthly checks could be reduced if you receive certain other kinds of benefits, income, or assistance.
How much does an SSI lawyer cost?
There is no upfront cost to getting an SSI lawyer to represent you in your claim for benefits. Your lawyer only gets paid a fee once your claim is approved by the SSA, and their payment is limited to a portion of your back benefits.
What happens if my SSI claim is denied?
You should appeal the denial. You must start the appeals process by asking the SSA for a reconsideration within 60 days. A Chicago disability attorney from Nash can walk you through the next steps and help you make your SSI claim stronger.
Can I receive both SSI and SSDI benefits?
You may be able to receive both types of benefits, but this depends on your income, assets and work history. Every case is different, so we recommend talking to a disability lawyer to learn more about what you could get and to maximize all forms of benefits available to you.
How long can I receive SSI benefits once I’m approved?
You can receive SSI benefits for as long as you need. You just need to continue meeting the Social Security Administration’s financial thresholds, requirements for disability, and at a certain point, age.
Picking an SSI disability lawyer is a big decision with potentially big effects on your finances and future.
When you’re making a decision like this, you want to know what the experience was like for other people who worked with a disability lawyer in a situation like yours.
Nash Disability Law has hundreds of reviews on Google from past clients who gave a combined rating of 4.5 stars.
These are just a few of their stories.
Irene C. found it difficult to concentrate on a disability application as she struggled with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, back problems and mental health.
“Nash was very understanding,” she said. “My attorney…knew exactly how to defend me, and I will forever be grateful.”
Lesley P. found that dealing with Social Security is hard, but that bringing in Nash made it easier.
“The staff and attorneys at Nash are helpful, patient and persistent,” she said. “Nash helped every step of the way…Having peace of mind and someone by your side to help navigate this process is priceless.”
Tom R. said his Nash disability lawyer did a “magnificent job” preparing him for his disability hearing. The hearing itself took about 45 minutes by phone. His lawyer guided him through the process.
About two weeks later, Tom was approved for benefits.
“They handled everything,” he said about Nash. “I could not be happier with the support Nash provided me and would definitely use them again.”
For your SSI disability claim, Contact Us Now. »
Thank you so very much for your help with my disability claim. Please thank each and everyone who helped in getting this done. Every time I had questions and had to call you for advice, whomever I spoke with at the time was very helpful and polite and most of all caring. Thank you so very much.
Thank you for all your help with my disability case. I felt very confident after discussing my claim with your attorneys. The representation I had for my court date was wonderful. I know I couldn’t have done all that you did on my own . I am very appreciative for all the hard work, time and care you gave to me!
