Supplemental Security Income the program of last resort

***But it is not a last resort for everyone

1. elderly people
2. disabled people
***if you are neither of the two you dont have a last resort!
SSI Background
means tested
federally administered
established in 1972 first paid benefits in 1974
program of last resort helps recipents get any other public assistance for
which they are eligible
purpose? ensure a minimum level of income for certain categories of poor
people
DOES NOT REQUIRED PRIOR WORK
NOT based on the recipients prior work or a family members prior work
similar to OASDI in terms of who it helps but different on terms of the basis
of which help is provided
FUNDED BY GENERAL REVENUES
2012 more than 8 million receiving benefits
in most states SNAP recipients can also receive Medicaid and SNAP
Eligibility
aged (65 or older)
blind
disabled different standards for adults and for children
limited income
limited assets :your home is NOT COUNTED
U.S. Citizen or qualified alien!! Someone who is in the country with proper
documentation/undocumented means you are disqualified
Benefit structure that is inversely related to income
o Need to have less than 2000 if an individual and less than 3000 if a
couple
o Just like Medicaid (categorical eligibility) there is a 3 year look back to
make sure people arent trying to qualify at an advantageous price
Benefits
Max benefit in 2012
o 698 for individuals
o 1048 or couples
o average federal onthly benefit for 2012 was 517

maximum federal benefit is not the whole story the states can give
supplemental money
o avg child 620/month
o avg adult 533/month
o 415/month for elders

Income limits
determined by circumstances, including living arrangements and income
sources
basic federal benefit maximum is the base 698
benefits are inversely related to income
How do SSI beneficiaries compare to OASDI?
Basically the same old age and disability
Ederly people on OASDI may also receive SSI
Disabled adults may receive OASDI and/or SSI
Disabled kids would NOT receive DI since they have no work history
People without a work history or a relationship that qualifies them for OASDI
are qualified for SSI when they are not qualified for OASDI
1. which are the following programs are entitlements?
a. Snap and Medicaid NOT SCHIP
2.
3.
4.
5.

To qualify for SNAP need to be a member of a low income household

Generosity of SNAP benefits was temp increased by ARRA YES
ABAWDS able bodied adults without dependents
Most restrictive state-level income eligibility requirements for Medicaid?

6. less affluent states receive more federal funds per Medicaid payment YES
7. State options? dental care and prosthetic devices