I can answer this question. I was involved in this field.
In order to understand how he qualifies for SSA, you need to know how the rules of eligibility work. It's really complicated but in essence, the question is, "Can this individual work and participate in substantial gainful activity"?
That is, you can work part time up to a certain limit AND draw SSI benefits. But money is involved first before the case gets handed off to a disability determination services agency. This is a state agency fully funded by SSA (weird right?).
It doesn't matter if you can't stand for 8 hours to do a cashier job. A workplace can make accommodations so you could sit, for example. So if you can do this FT and earn above SGA, then you do not qualify for benefits.
If you can sit/stand for 2 hours to do a cashier job, work 5-7x a week, but earn less than SGA, you are eligible to apply.
Chris qualifies for SSI (Title XVI) because he's never had any SSA credits. He is disqualified from SSDI (Title II) I believe. But I don't know the entire story behind this. I don't know if he's getting survivor benefits. But let's just assume he only gets SSI.
SSI is means tested, which means that your income and assets are taken into consideration. The program is designed so that you better be dirt poor if you qualify. The current monthly tugboat payment is $771/mo.
As for qualification... I mean... just look at the CWCki. Yeah, he definitely qualifies HOWEVER...
It looks like he is selling items for money, as well as begging for donations. I highly doubt it is being reported.
If anyone wants to, you can report that Chris is earning income while drawing SSI. They may send federal investigators to see what's up. What they may actually do is just send a letter asking him to report income, which he could easily lie about. If you have evidence of major financial transactions, you can say so and these could make for a better case.