Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Program

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Program is a welfare program by the government of the United States of America. It is regulated by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Although the SSI is not paid for the Social Security taxes. 

The SSA in the last month of 2022, released the COLA (Cost- Of-Living-Adjustment) Information for 2023. 

The 2023 COLA was issued with a record largest increase in it. The increase of 8.7 % has turned effective with the start of Jan 2023. As per the records approximately 70 million Americans were supposed to benefit from the program.

An increase of 140 US Dollars per month was applied to the SS benefits. The citizens who satisfy particular criteria would receive both SS and SSI benefits. According to the official website of the Social Security the monthly and annual amounts calculated were as follows:

An eligible person would receive a monthly amount of 914 US Dollars and an annual amount of 10,970.44 US Dollars.

The annual amount in 2022 was 10,092.40 US Dollars. An eligible individual with an eligible spouse would receive a monthly amount of 1371 US Dollars and an annual amount of 16,453.84 US Dollars.

The annual amount for eligible couples in 2022 was 15,136.93. An essential person would receive a monthly amount of 458 US Dollars and an annual amount of  5,497.80 US Dollars. The annual amount in 2022 was 5,057.77 US Dollars. This is unrounded data.

The unrounded amounts would each be divided by 12 and then the resulting amount would be rounded down to the next lower multiple of 1 US Dollar. 

What Is The History Of The SSI Program?

The SSI Program was given form by Richard Nixon, the 37th President of the United States of America. The program was created when President Nixon signed the Social Security Amendments in 1972.

The introduction of the program was a reformation of the welfare programs of the nation. Before the introduction of the program, a state-wise welfare program to financially aid the needy and eligible citizens of the nation was present

The states used to run programs under  Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled, Aid to the Elderly, and Aid to the Blind. These programs were controlled by the state administration and received funding from the federal government.

The program was put into the effect following the 1935 Social Security Act and is incorporated in Title 16 of the Social Security Act. 

 Nixon’s government envisioned that the programs should be brought under a single umbrella and should be undertaken by the national government. Running it under the SSA was a viable measure. 

SSA was selected as the parent authority because it had been administering a nationwide adult disability program under the Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB) program. The program was in effect since 1956 and covers those employees who are insured via their payroll deduction.

This was in order under the Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) programs and was linked with Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) payroll taxes

The origin of the SSI eliminated the differences between the states including different standards for disability and income and required resources. This was causing people who have the same conditions in different states to be the recipients of different benefits. 

SSI is a means-tested program that supplies payments in money to U.S. citizens who are individuals aged 65 or above, disabled adults, and disabled children.

Who Are The Eligible Beneficiaries?

Anyone can apply for SSI benefits but only those who fulfill the mandatorily required conditions can become beneficiaries. 

The requirements that needed to be satisfied are:

• Should meet age requirements
• Should meet disability requirements
• Should meet residency requirements
• Should meet income requirements
• Should meet resources requirements

Age Requirements

1. Should be 65 years of age
2. Should be more than 65 years of age

This should be established with legal documents.

Disability Requirements

1. Should be blind 
2. Should be disabled

The disability must be established by providing medical documents proving disability that are considered eligible by the definition of disability by SSA. 

SSA Norms

Adult Disability Cases

A disability that stops the adult from working at an effective level for the national economy. 

Child Disability Cases

• A marked disability in the child
• A disability that causes severe functional limitations.

The disability certificates are issued by the state Disability Determination Services (DDS) after determining whether the applicant is disabled or not by verifying with the federal definition of disability.  

Those who get denied in this process can appeal against the decision before the Administrative Law Judges, SSA’s Appeals Council, and the federal courts.

Residency Requirements

1. Should be a legal United States resident
2. Should be a  legal resident of one of the fifty states
3. Should be a legal resident meeting the conditions of the District of Columbia
4. A legal resident of the Northern Mariana Islands
5. The child of army parents who are assigned to permanent duty outside of the U.S.
6. A student who is temporarily residing abroad. 

The SSI benefits could also be received by aliens who legally reside in the United States. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has listed 7 categories of eligible aliens in relation to their immigration statuses. They are:

1. Those who are admitted as Lawfully admitted for permanent residence (LAPR).
2. Those who are granted conditional entry pursuant to section (a)(7) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
3. Those who are paroled into the US under section 212(d)(5) of the INA for a period of at least one year.
4. Those who are refugees admitted to the residential boundary of the U.S. under section 207 of the INA.
5. Those who are granted asylum under section 208 of the INA.
6. Those whose deportation is being withheld under sections  241(b)(3) or  243(h) of the INA.
7.  Entrants from Haiti or Cuba who comes under section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980.

There are five conditions of exceptions. They are:

1. Those who had already been receiving SSI on August 22, 1996.
2. Those who have 40 qualifying credits (using SSI as a supplement to Retirement or Disability Insurance Benefits) when in LAPR status.
3. Those who are a veteran, an active duty member of the U. S. military service, or
4. Those who are the spouse or dependant child of an individual who is the SSI beneficiary. 
5. Those who have been lawfully residing in the US on August 22, 1996, and are blind and disabled (excluding aged individuals).

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Income And Resources Requirements

Income and resources of certain members in your household, like a parent of a minor child or a spouse.

The income limit can differ based on:

• The state in which the individual resides
• Living arrangements
• Number of people living in the residence
• Type of income
• Whether the individual is living with a spouse who covers the basic financial needs 

Exceptions in the individual income:

• Grants
• Scholarships
• SNAP benefits
• Home energy assistance,
• Other small nonfrequent payments 

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