To be eligible or remain eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, a child cannot have resources in excess of $2,000. Resources include the child’s monthly benefit plus the balance of the child’s savings account, which includes funds from RSDI benefits as well as SSI benefits. The monthly benefit is not considered a resource until the month following its receipt. Funds from SSA that must be placed in a dedicated account for the child are also not counted as resources for SSI.

Accounting staff members monitor the resources of children receiving SSI to make sure they do not exceed the $2,000 limit. Accountants use the CIA Balance report to monitor the balances in the children’s checking and savings accounts. When a child’s financial resources have reached, or are within $10 of, the resource limit, the accountant contacts the regional SSI coordinator. The SSI coordinator contacts the CPS caseworker to determine whether the child has needs on which funds can be spent. If no needs are identified, the funds are spent on the child’s cost of care, to keep the total amount of financial resources within the $2,000 limit.