Mailing Address:
ATTENTION: RITA CAIRNS
SSI- DIVISION OF DISABILITY & ELDER SERVICESS
1 WILSON ST RM 450
PO BOX 7851
MADISON, WI 53702

Telephone Numbers and Contact information
Phone #:(800) 772-1213 Federal and State, M-F (7:00am-7:00pm)
Phone #:(800) 362-3002 State only, M-F (7:00am-7:00pm)
Phone #:(800) 325-0778 M-F (7:00am-7:00pm)
Phone #:(608) 266-6890 Rita Cairns
Phone #:(800) 675-0249 Help-line (8:00am-4:30pm)
Fax Number:

Web Page:  dhfs.wisconsin.gov/ssi/caretaker.htm
E-mail to:   CairnRI@dhfs.state.wi.us

Program Details:
Operating Agency: Wisconsin Dept of Health and Family Services (Governmental)
Person In Charge: Director:Rita Cairns
Hours:
Eligibility: People in financial need who are 65 or older and of any age who are blind or disabled.
Fees: None.
Intake Process: Must apply at your local social security office.
Service Area: Nation wide. Call 800-772-1213 to locate your nearest SSA office.

Program/Service Notes:
*SSI Eligibility
People in financial need who are 65 or older or people of any age who are blind or disabled may be eligible for monthly cash payments from the federal SSA and from the state DHFS. Since 1996, new applicants may receive the state SSI payment only if they qualify for a federal SSI payment. Disabled means you have a physical or mental condition that keeps you from working and is expected to last at least a year or to result in death. Children as well as adults can get benefits because of disability. When deciding if a child is disabled, Social Security looks at how his or her disability affects everyday life.



People may qualify for SSI payments if they have little or no income and if their assets are $2,000 or less for a single person or $3,000 or less for a married couple. Certain assets do not count, such as your home and car.

*Eligibility for Caretaker Supplement benefits
A person must be a single parent who receives SSI benefits (or if there are two parents in the household, both must receive SSI.). She/he must have dependent children living in his or her home.
Each child must meet all eligibility requirements that were in place for the AFDC program that formerly existed in Wisconsin.
The children's assets must be at or below $1,000.
Each child must continue to receive Medicaid.
Eligible parents must cooperate with the county child support agency to ensure that any absent parent is paying child support.
Families with SSI parents are not eligible for the Caretaker Supplement for any child who also receives SSI.


*Eligibility for Exceptional Expense Supplement (SSI-E)
SSI recipients whose expenses are greater than the SSI-E payment level ($782.77 in 2006) and live in one of the following licensed or certified facilities:
Foster home for children.
Group home for children.
Adult family/foster home.
Community Based Residential Facility (CBRF) of 20 beds or less.
Residential Care Apartment Complex (RCAC).
or

SSI recipients who live in their own household or another's household who pay their share of household expenses and who need at least 40 hours of primary long term support services each month.

This information was last updated on 07/19/2007

This information is provided as is with no guarantee as to the accuracy of the information. Information is considered to be accurate as of the date of the last update, printed above. Family Resource Connection  may not be held liable for misuse of this information.