| Overview of Social Security Disability Programs
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Overview of Social Security Disability Programs and Work Incentives - slide 6
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Aged (65+), Blind or Disabled
Financial safety Net
Now that you have a basic understanding of SSDI, I would like to share some information about Supplemental Security Income or SSI with you. In order to help you understand this program I will talking about individuals who are over 18, living independently, already on SSI and meet the eligibility requirements for the SSI program. Please remember that every individual’s situation is different and there is no “cookie cutter approach” when you are talking about an individual’s benefits. The point of this lecture is not to help you figure out an individual’s cash benefit, but rather to explain in general terms how SSI payments are affected when an individual goes to work.
Supplemental Security Income or SSI is also referred to as Title XVI. The SSI program is funded by the general revenues of the federal treasury and is intended to provide a minimal level of income for individuals who are aged, blind, or disabled and demonstrate economic need. It is intended to be a financial safety net for individuals during periods of time when they are not able to work at a substantial level as well as during the process of working towards an employment goal. This is a program of last resort. So in determining an individual’s cash benefit SSA looks at all of the income the person receives, their living arrangement, and the state in which the person lives.
Once eligible for SSI, the amount of the SSI payment individuals receive monthly depends solely on their total countable income and resources. Therefore, individuals will not lose their SSI benefit eligibility due to work activity when their earnings exceed the SGA level which for 2010 is $980. While a reduction in the SSI cash benefit will occur as earnings increase, SSI recipients will continue receiving cash benefits until their total countable income increases to the point at which their SSI check is reduced to zero. This is referred to as the break-even point.