You may be able to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) even if you have other income.

SSI is a federal program that provides monthly payments to people who have little or no income and who don't own many things. SSI is for elderly people, as well as blind or disabled people of any age, including children. To get SSI, you must be 65 or older, be totally or partially blind or have a medical condition that keeps you from working and is expected to last at least one year or result in death.

To be eligible for SSI, you also must be a U.S. resident and have resources worth less than $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple. The resources usually do not include the home you live in, vehicle you drive, funds set aside for burial or personal items. Many people believe that if they have other income, they cannot apply for SSI. The fact is you can apply, as long as your current income is limited. The type and amount of additional income you receive may have an effect on your SSI amount.

The maximum monthly payment for SSI is $637 for an individual and $956 for a couple.

For SSI purposes, we look at a person's monthly income. For unearned income, such as Social Security benefits, unemployment, or workers' compensation, we do not count the first $20 you receive each month. So, if you get a check for $200, only $180 would be counted as income for SSI purposes.

After the $20 exclusion, the remaining money counts dollarfor- dollar against your SSI. So

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in this example, $180 would be deducted from the base amount of your SSI payment. If an individual's Social Security benefit is $657 or higher, the individual would not be eligible for SSI payments. If a couple's Social Security is $976 or higher, the couple would not be eligible for SSI payments.

For earned income (like wages or self-employment) we exclude an additional $65 per month. If your only income besides SSI is wages or selfemployment and there is no unearned income, the additional $20 exclusion is added on. This means your exclusion for earned income would be $85 per month.

It is important to remember that we use your gross income, not your net income, to compute the monthly amounts. Also, some income is no counted at all, such as food stamps, food from churches and soup kitchens and shelter you receive from most private, non-profit organizations. We also exclude most home-energy assistance.

If you think you qualify for SSI, call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or check out our Web site at www.socialsecurity.gov.You can also read our online publication,

You May Be Able to Get SSI, at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/11 069.html.

Reaching age 65 or full retirement age in 2008? - If you will turn 65 or reach full retirement age in 2008 and have not filed a Social Security or Medicare application, we can provide you with information that will be helpful in determining when to file an application. Mail us the following information:

- Your name.
- Social Security number.
- Estimated 2007 earnings.
- Estimated 2008 earnings.
- Complete mailing address.
- Telephone number (both home and work).
-Date of birth.
- If you plan to retire in 2008, month in which you would.
- Spouse's Social Security number.
- Spouse's date of birth.
- If spouse is deceased, give date of death.

Send it to: Your Social Security, Social Security Administration, 3885 Main St., 3rd Floor, Bridgeport CT 06606. Attn: A. Renzoni.

Anthony Renzoni is district manager of the Bridgeport office of the Social Security Administration. His column appears every Monday.