New York State Supplement Program (SSP)

How does the New York State Supplement Program work?

The New York State Supplement Program (SSP) gives extra money each month to New York residents who get SSI benefits. If you qualify for SSI, you’re usually automatically enrolled in SSP. This extra money helps people with little or no income who are older, blind, or have a disability pay for basic needs like food, clothing, and housing. You don’t need to have worked or paid Social Security taxes to get SSI—it’s based on financial need, not work history.

The amount of the extra income you get from SSP depends on any other sources of income you may have and your living arrangements. You receive the additional benefit as part of your regular SSI monthly payment.

Please note: If you enroll in both Medicare and SSI, you will be signed up for the Medicare Part D Extra Help program. This program helps people with limited income and resources pay for their prescription medications.

Who can get help from the New York State Supplement Program?

You may qualify for SSP if you are age 65 or older, blind, or have a disability, and you have limited income and resources. Some things you own—like your home, car, and parts of life insurance or burial accounts—may not be counted when deciding if you qualify.

If you are a U.S. citizen and meet the other program rules, you may get help. Some non-citizens may also qualify. To learn more about citizenship rules, contact the Social Security Administration (SSA).

How do I apply for the New York State Supplement Program?

To get SSP, you first need to apply for federal SSI benefits. Your SSI application also counts as your SSP application. The Social Security Administration will share your information with New York State, which decides if you qualify for SSP.

There’s no online SSI application. To apply, call or visit your local Social Security office and schedule an appointment.

Please note:  SSA uses the date you first applied for benefits as your application date. This date is important because it affects when your payments can start.

If you can’t finish the full application today, call SSA right away and tell them you want to apply for SSI benefits. After your call, you can send a Protected Filing Date Letter to confirm the date you made your request. You’ll need to submit your full SSI application within 60 days of that first request to make sure you qualify for benefits starting from that date.

How do I get help with my SSI application?

There are multiple ways to get help applying for SSI. You can:

• Contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or reach out to your local Social Security office.
• Visit a Benefits Enrollment Center (BEC), if there’s one near you. See if there’s one in your area.
• Call NCOA’s free HelpLine at 1-800-794-6559.