SSI will help and there are people out there that used to work for SSI and know the system - now they help out those that cannot fill out the mounds of paperwork and get it thru. The bottom line is that it is standard practice that SSI will turn you down the 1st time around, but there are people that will help you with the paperwork and not ask for anything upfront, ONLY a one-time small percentage of what you get if you are approved. So, go for it!! I pay in enough taxes that it would delight me to help out those on this site that need it vs. the border grasshoppers!