And, in most states, a person who is receiving SSI benefits is automatically eligible for health benefits under Medicaid. To qualify for SSI, individuals or couples must meet certain guidelines. They must be aged 65 or older, or blind, or disabled. They must be U.S. citizens, with certain exceptions for non-citizens. The amount of the SSI benefit will depend on the income an individual or couple receives.
Many states provide extra income above the federal guidelines.
This section was copied directly from the official Social security web site. A fairly recent phenomenon in American households is the growing incidence of grandparents taking over as parents for their grandchildren. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 3 million of America's 70 million children now live with their grandparents. Whatever the reason, more and more grandparents find themselves assuming the role of parents. And when this happens, it's helpful to know that Social Security may be able to help with the financial burden.