SSI in South Carolina: Eligibility, Benefits, & How to Apply

People living in South Carolina who can’t work because of a disability and are having trouble making ends meet can apply for SSI in South Carolina. SSI is a benefit program from the Social Security Administration that provides money to people who can’t work because of a disability.

If you’re over the age of 18, you live in South Carolina, and you’ve never been able to work because you have a disability recognized by the SSA you can apply for SSI in South Carolina. You can also apply for SSI if you are over the age of 65 and disabled.

Parents who have a child who has a disability and can’t work because they need to take care of their child can apply for SSI on behalf of their child. However, if your child is approved for SSI benefits you must document how all of the SSI is spent and show that it’s being used to pay for the child’s living and medical expenses.

If your application for SSI in South Carolina is approved you may also qualify for assistance with housing, utilities, medical care, and food expenses.

Eligibility Criteria for SSI in South Carolina

When you apply for SSI in South Carolina you need to include documentation with your application that proves you meet the SSA’s requirements for SSI. The SSA wants to be sure that people who are receiving SSI really need the money and really can’t work. You will also need to prove that you meet the SSA’s Blue Book requirements for the medical condition that you have.

Income/Resource Requirements

There are income limits on receiving SSI in South Carolina. Currently, the income limit for SSI in South Carolina is $914 for an individual and $1,371 for a couple.

That means that if you live alone you can’t make more than $914 per month or you won’t qualify for SSI. If you are married or live with a partner who is also eligible for SSI together you can’t make more than $1,371 per month.

However, the first $20 of income per month doesn’t count towards the requirement. And the first $65 of earned income doesn’t count towards that requirement. Also, half of the remaining earned income after that $65 doesn’t count towards the requirement cap.

There is also an asset limit set by the SSA. You can’t have more than $2,000 in assets or resources, and a couple can’t have more than $3,000 in assets. Assets, or resources, are things like pensions, savings accounts, stocks, and real estate. If you own a car or a house or both those items don’t count towards the asset limit. You won’t be denied SSI because you have a car or a home.

Medical Criteria

Proving that you meet the SSA’s medical criteria can be a challenge, but it’s necessary to have your application for SSI approved. You must show that you have a disability that is listed in the SSA’s Blue Book, and you must also prove that you meet the requirements for that listing.

That means you need to submit a lot of medical documentation. A letter of diagnosis, test results, notes from your doctor, and many other documents are necessary to convince the SSA that you are really disabled.

You will also have to submit financial information like your tax information, bank records, and other financial documents. Your financial documents must show that you don’t exceed the income and asset requirements for SSI in South Carolina.

The SSA will look at all of your documentation, your finances, and other factors to decide if your disability makes it impossible for you to work. If they decide it does, and your financial documents prove that you meet the financial requirements, they will approve your application for SSI.

State-Specific Programs

If you are approved for SSI in South Carolina, you may also be eligible for several other types of assistance like:

Medicaid: If your application for SSI in South Carolina is approved you will also be eligible for Medicaid, which will pay for your medical expenses.

Food Assistance Program (SNAP): SSI recipients in South Carolina can apply for food stamps to help pay for food and essentials. Your SSI income will be considered when determining eligibility and benefit amounts.

Housing Support: Your SSI benefits may help you qualify for other housing assistance programs, such as public housing or Section 8 vouchers.

2025 SSI Benefits in South Carolina

All South Carolina residents who receive SSI will receive a benefit amount based on their circumstances, which is set by the Federal Social Security Administration.

Federal Benefit Rate In 2025

The Social Security Administration has set the maximum benefit amount for an individual receiving SSI at $967 in 2025. That means if you’re a single person the most money you will receive for SSI in South Carolina is $967.

If you are married or you’re part of a couple and your partner also receives SSI the highest benefit payment that the two of you can receive is $1,450.

State Supplements

Some states pay people who qualify for SSI an additional monthly benefit to help them cover their living expenses, but South Carolina does not pay any additional money to SSI recipients.

Healthcare Coverage

People who qualify for SSI in South Carolina automatically qualify for Medicaid. Medicaid provides health insurance for low-income people that is administered by the state.

Applying for SSI in South Carolina

If you’re applying for SSI you should know the application process can be intimidating. There are a lot of supporting documents that you need to submit in addition to the application forms. And the application forms themselves can be confusing.

Most people have their applications denied when they apply for SSI. In many cases, those applications are denied because of mistakes on the application forms, missing a deadline, or not including a supporting document.

It’s strongly recommended that you work with a South Carolina disability attorney who can help you with the application to reduce the risk of your application being denied.

After you have the application filled out and you have all the necessary documents you can apply online, over the phone, or in a local SSA office in South Carolina.

Documents Needed for Application

When you apply for SSI you will need to provide:

Proof of identity
Medical records
Financial Records
Social Security numbers

Application Timeline

It’s normal to wait for several months before getting a decision from the SSA about your application. It can take from 3-6 months or even longer in some cases, to get a decision when applying for SSI in South Carolina.

Appeals Process for Denied SSI Applications in South Carolina

If your application for SSI in South Carolina is denied you can appeal that decision by asking the SSA to reconsider your application.

Steps to Take if Denied

If your application is denied that doesn’t mean you won’t ever get disability benefits. You can appeal the denial. When you get your denial letter you will receive a form that you can file to ask for reconsideration.

That’s asking the SSA to look at the application again. If the SSA rejects the application during reconsideration you can ask for a hearing with an administrative law judge. And if the judge rejects your application, you can ask for further appeals. Don’t lose hope if your application is denied the first time.

How Long Does the Appeals Process Take?

The appeals process can take anywhere from 1-3 months for a reconsideration to over a year for a hearing with a judge. To shorten the time it takes to have your appeal heard it’s very important that you meet all deadlines for sending in documents.

Resources and Support for SSI Applicants in South Carolina

Some resources and agencies that can help you apply for SSI in South Carolina are:

Working with a South Carolina SSI Lawyer

You should talk to a South Carolina disability lawyer to improve your chances of getting your application approved or winning your appeal. A South Carolina SSI lawyer can help you with things like:

Make sure you meet all deadlines
Understanding the application forms and filling them out correctly
Gathering medical evidence
Filing appeals

Fill out the Free Case Evaluation now to get connected with a South Carolina SSI lawyer who can help you with your South Carolina SSI application.