Many children who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits worry that they might lose their financial support from the Social Security Administration (SSA) when they go to college. Fortunately, you can attend college and keep receiving SSI benefits.
Our lawyers can guide you on what requirements you must maintain to remain eligible and other methods to keep resources from being counted as income. College and university students regularly attending class full-time can apply for a specific exemption that allows them to earn up to $2,350 per month without it being included in their eligibility determinations. Further, federal financial aid programs will not count in SSI calculations, nor will portions of private financial aid that are put toward school expenses. Our team can also help prepare a plan for your professional future that will permit you to have more resources without affecting your eligibility for benefits.
For a free and private case review with our Arkansas disability lawyers, call us today at (479) 316-0438.
Will I Lose My SSI Benefits if I Am a College Student in Arkansas
College students receiving SSI from the SSA because of a disability can still attend school and retain their SSI benefits while studying. However, there are specific regulations that apply to SSI recipients who are also in college. Many students find it necessary to work during their college years, whether through summer jobs or part-time positions, to help cover their various expenses. The problem is that the SSA will generally use income earned from employment to decrease a person’s monthly SSI benefit.
Eligibility for SSI hinges on the severity of your medical condition and financial status. For adults, an additional factor is work history. Fortunately, merely attending school does not impact your status regarding SSI benefits. Further, college students under the age of 22 and regularly attending classes can apply for the Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE). This exclusion allows young students to earn a certain amount of income without negatively impacting their SSI benefits.
Our disability attorneys in Arkansas can help students and parents understand how these rules can influence a student’s eligibility and what resources the SSA might count against them. We can also explain what role financial aid plays in the SSA’s determinations and how your eligibility is affected after graduating from college.
Student Earned Income Exclusion Requirements
Under the ESIE for SSI, children with a disability or who are blind and students regularly attending a college or university will be allowed to have limited income that will not be counted against their SSI benefits. The 2025 exclusion amounts are $2,350 a month, but no more than $9,460 can be excluded in the calendar year. Fortunately, the ESIE is set to increase its maximum amounts each year with the cost of living, as per COLA’s measurements.
“Regularly attending school” has a specific legal meaning under SSA guidelines. A person is regularly attending school if they are enrolled in one or more classes at a college or university, with a minimum of eight completed per week for a typical semester system. If a student’s disability prevents them from attending classes in person but is getting home tutors or visitors from the school to lessons, they meet the definition to qualify for the ESIE.
The Impact of Financial Aid on SSI Benefits
Many students worry that their financial aid will jeopardize their SSI benefits, especially since students often rely on that aid for housing and food costs. The good news is that it will not.
The SSA defines income as anything a person receives in a month that can be used for shelter or food. Federal financial aid under the Higher Education Act (HEA) is excluded from this definition and is not considered a “resource.” Aid programs under HEA include direct loans, Pell Grants, work-study programs, and many others. It generally does not matter what the student uses the federal aid for, whether it is used for housing, food, clothes, or most other things, it is not considered income and will not factor into your SSI qualifications.
Other forms of financial aid that are not federal, like private grants, scholarships, gifts, and fellowships, will not count as income as long as it is spent on tuition and other required educational expenses. If that aid is used for any other purpose besides necessary school costs will be considered income and potentially impact SSI benefits unless it is being set aside for future educational expenses.
The Plan to Achieve Self-Support
The Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) is a way for students to set aside more income to help reach a specific work goal without it counting against their SSI benefits. The PASS is a written plan that must be approved by the SSA, which has the goal of allowing you to make enough to eliminate or reduce your SSI benefits. If approved, money can be used for costs associated with accomplishing your goal, including startup costs for a business, equipment, transportation, childcare, uniforms, and much more. It will not qualify as income.
The PASS will also exclude necessary expenses to meet your goal from your resource limit calculations. Individuals can only have at most $2,000 in money and possessions, and couples only $3,000, to be eligible for SSI benefits. With an approved PASS plan, services and items you need to reach your goal can be paid for with the resources at your disposal.
To apply for a PASS, complete the online application or reach out to your local SSA office for a copy to be mailed. This document can be challenging to complete and demands many specific details, which our attorneys can help you develop and complete the application. It must include specific work-related goals, like the services, items, and training needed to accomplish the goal, as well as necessary steps throughout the plan and the time needed to complete them.
Contact Our Arkansas Disability Lawyers Today for Help
Contact us at (479) 316-0438 for your free case assessment with our disability lawyers in Arkansas.