To get Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you must fit into a group the law calls a “qualified alien”.
There are seven main groups of qualified aliens. Examples include:
You were admitted to live in the U.S. permanently (lawful permanent resident, or “green card holder”).
You were granted asylum (permission to stay in the U.S. because it is not safe to return to your home country).
You served in the U.S. Armed Forces (military).
You are a Cuban or Haitian entrant (people from Cuba or Haiti given special permission to stay).
You were given “withholding of deportation” (a court decision that the U.S. cannot send you back to your home country because it is unsafe).
These are only some examples. Other situations may also qualify.
In addition, you must meet all the other SSI rules. These include limits on your income and your resources, like the things you own, like money in the bank or property.
When you apply for SSI, you will need to show proof of your immigration status.
If you have a sponsor (a person who helped you come to the U.S.), their income and resources may also count as part of yours.
For exact rules about your own situation, you should check with the Social Security Administration or talk to an immigration professional.
Last Reviewed: July 14, 2023