Chapter 6: Types of Financial Benefits – Am I Eligible?

Financial Benefits/Resources:

Felons convicted of certain drug-related offenses are not eligible for SNAP benefits. Individuals disqualified for fraud are ineligible for one year for the first offense, two years for the second offense, and permanently for the third. Dependents of disqualified or ineligible individuals may be eligible. https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/forfamilies/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap/supplemental-nutritionassistance-program-snap-eligibility-information.html

What is Expungement?

Expungement is a court-ordered process where the legal record of some criminal cases can be erased in the eyes of the law. https://www.tncourts.gov/expungements

Reentry Screening Tool: Find Out if Your Charges Can Be Removed from Your Record

The Reentry Program for the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, in partnership with the Georgetown University Law Center, developed a Tennessee Expungement Eligibility Assessment web-based app to increase access to self-help expungement eligibility information.

This app will tell you what things on your criminal record you may be able to have taken off your record. This is also known as an expungement. Once you answer all of the questions, the app will tell you what expungements you might be eligible for. You can have your answers sent to an email address so that you have proof of the report. A copy will also be sent to a legal expert with the Legal Aid Society.

Expungement can help you get a job, find housing, get student loans, or access other opportunities that were previously not an option because of criminal convictions or charges. Expungement allows you to legally deny an incident, arrest, or conviction that occurred for charges that have been expunged. https://las.org/reentry-screening/

SSI/SSDI: Although you cannot receive monthly Social Security benefits while you are incarcerated, benefits to your spouse or children will continue as long as they remain eligible. If you are receiving SSI, the social security administration office will suspend your payments while you're in prison. Your payments can start again in the month you are released. https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10133.pdf

An individual released from incarceration may be eligible for Social Security retirement, survivors, or disability benefits if they have worked or paid into Social Security enough years. An individual released from incarceration may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income benefits if they are 65 or older, are blind, or have a disability and have little or no income and resources.

Social Security’s Definition of Disability We consider you disabled under Social Security rules if: ● You cannot do work that you did before; ● We decide that you cannot adjust to other work because of your medical condition(s); and ● Your disability has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death.

If you meet the above requirements, Social Security benefits also may pay: ● Your child who is under age 18, or severely disabled before age 22, or ● Your wife who is 62 or older, or is caring for your child who is under age 16 or severely disabled before age 22.

For additional information via our pamphlets, please see the links below:

● What Prisoners Need To Know ● Entering The Community After Incarceration—How We Can Help

If you believe you qualify, call our toll-free telephone number, 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an appointment. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call TTY 1-800-325-0778.