No, unlike the Social Security Disability Insurance program, if you are receiving Supplemental Security Income payments you must live in the United States or Northern Mariana Islands. It is important to talk to the Social Security Administration if you have to leave the United States for an extended period of time. If you leave the United States for a full thirty day period you may have your Supplemental Security Income Benefits suspended.

Other reasons your Supplemental Security Income Benefits could be suspended or denied include:

• If you are a fugitive felon
• If you are sent to prison
• If you intentionally lower their resources or income to qualify for Supplemental Security Income benefits.
• Non-United States Citizens (Certain exceptions may apply-contact the SSA for more information)
• If you leave the United States for a full 30 consecutive days may have their benefits suspended.

Definition for Supplemental Security Income Benefits:

Supplemental Security Income benefits or the SSI program is a disability program which will provide individuals with monthly supplemental income payments. This Supplemental Security Income benefit program is different than the Social Security Disability Insurance program because an individual does not have to have worked and accumulated “work credits”. To qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) an individual must have limited income and resources. The income and resource amount allowed is determined by the federal government. You also must be: age sixty-five or older, or partially or totally blind or have a medical condition that will not allow you to work for at least twelve months or result in death. The method used to determine an individual’s disability is similar for both the Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance programs.

If you qualify for Supplemental Security Income benefits the base supplemental payment amount in 2009 per individual is $674 and the standard supplemental payment amount is $1,011 per couple. Certain states may add additional supplemental payments onto the basic federal standard amount. Certain other payments as well as your living arrangements could also affect the Supplemental Security Income payments you may be eligible to receive.