Annual Report 

of the

Supplemental

 Security

 Income Program

Social Security Administration

2011
.
SOCIAL SECURITY

The Commissioner

May 27, 2011

President Barack H. Obama

The White House

Washington, D.C.

The Honorable John A. Boehner

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Washington, D.C.

The Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

President of the Senate

Washington, D.C.

Dear Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, and Mr. Biden: 

It is my pleasure to submit to you the 2011 Annual Report of the Supplemental Security Income

Program (the fifteenth such report), in compliance with section 231 of the Personal

Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Astrue

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION BALTIMORE MD 21235-0001
.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-193)

directs the Social Security Administration (SSA) to report annually to the President and to the Congress on

the status of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. Projections of program recipients and costs

through at least 25 years are a required element of these reports. This report is the fifteenth of such reports. 

Highlights of the SSI Program

 • The SSI program is a nationwide Federal assistance program administered by SSA that guarantees a

minimum level of income for needy aged, blind, or disabled individuals. It acts as a safety net for

individuals who have limited resources and little or no Social Security or other income.

 • In January 2011, 7.7 million individuals

received monthly Federal SSI payments averaging $478, up from 7.5 million recipients

with an average payment of $476 in January

2010.

 • Federal expenditures for cash payments under

the SSI program during calendar year 2010

increased 4.1 percent to $47.8 billion, while

the funds made available to administer the SSI

program in fiscal year 2010 increased 9.2 percent to $3.7 billion. In 2009 the corresponding

program and administrative expenditures were

$45.9 billion and $3.4 billion, respectively.

Major Findings of the Report

 • By 2035, the end of the 25-year projection period, we estimate that the Federal SSI recipient population will reach 9.9 million. The projected growth in the SSI program over the 25-year period is largely

due to the overall growth in the U.S. population, although we expect the current economic slowdown

to temporarily generate additional growth beyond what we might expect from historical trends. We

project that the percentage of the population receiving SSI will vary somewhat by age group, with the

percentage for those age 65 or older declining throughout the projection period and the percentage for

those under 65 continuing to increase over the next 4 years, but declining thereafter to a level slightly

higher than the current percentage.

 • As a percentage of the total U.S. population, the number of Federal SSI recipients increased slightly

from 2.37 percent in 2009 to 2.42 percent in 2010. We project this percentage to increase gradually to

2.60 percent of the population by 2035 due largely to the changing age distribution of the population.

 • We estimate that Federal expenditures for SSI payments in calendar year 2011 will increase by $1.5

billion to $49.3 billion, an increase of 3.2 percent from 2010 levels.

 • In constant 2011 dollars, we project that Federal expenditures for SSI payments will increase to $60.9

billion in 2035, a real increase of 0.9 percent per year.

 • Federal SSI expenditures expressed as a percentage of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) were 0.293

in 2008 and increased to 0.325 percent of GDP in 2009 due to the economic recession. After increasing slightly to 0.326 percent of GDP in 2010, we project that expenditures as a percentage of GDP

will decrease slightly to 0.324 percent of GDP in 2011, and continue to decline thereafter to 0.244

percent of GDP by 2035.

Aged

10.1%

Disabled

under 18

18.9%

Disabled

18-64

62.9%

Disabled 65

or older

8.2%

SSI Federal Payments, Calendar Year 2010

$47.8 billion

(VII)

CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

II. HIGHLIGHTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

A. RECENT PROGRAM EXPERIENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

B. SSI LEGISLATION SINCE THE 2010 ANNUAL REPORT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

C. CURRENT ISSUES FACING THE SSI PROGRAM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

D. KEY RESULTS FROM THE 25-YEAR PROJECTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

III. THE SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME PROGRAM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

A. BACKGROUND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

B. THE BASIC PLAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

C. UNIFORM STANDARDS AND OBJECTIVE CRITERIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

D. ASSISTANCE OF LAST RESORT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

1. Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

2. Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

3. Filing for Other Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

4. Eligibility Issues for Residents of Public Institutions or Medical Treatment Facilities. . . . 12

5. Personal Needs Allowance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

6. Deeming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

a. Spouse-to-Spouse Deeming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

b. Parent-to-Child Deeming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

c. Sponsor-to-Alien Deeming. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

E. INCENTIVES FOR WORK AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR REHABILITATION . . . . . . . . . 14

1. Earned Income Exclusion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

2. Impairment-Related Work Expense Exclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

3. Work Expenses of the Blind Exclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

4. Student Earned Income Exclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

5. Plan to Achieve Self-Support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

6. Special Provisions for Disabled Recipients Who Work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

7. Vocational Rehabilitation/Ticket to Work Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

8. Expedited Reinstatement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

F. ADMINISTRATION OF THE SSI PROGRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

1. Application Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

2. Determination of Eligibility for Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

3. Payment of Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

4. Ensuring Continued Eligibility for Benefits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

5. Representative Payees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

6. Appeal Rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

7. Fees for Attorneys and Non-attorney Representatives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

8. Advance Payments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

a. Emergency Advance Payments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

b. Presumptive Disability or Blindness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

G. STATE SUPPLEMENTATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

1. Optional State Supplementary Payment Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

2. Mandatory State Supplementary Payment Programs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

3. Administration of State Supplementary Payments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

4. Passalong Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
(VIII)

H. COORDINATION WITH OTHER PROGRAMS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

1. Windfall Offset. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

2. Medicaid Determinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

3. Food Stamp Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

4. Interim Assistance Reimbursement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

IV. ESTIMATES OF PROGRAM RECIPIENTS AND FEDERAL EXPENDITURES

UNDER THE SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME PROGRAM, 2011-35 . . . . . . . . . 26

A. DEMOGRAPHIC AND ECONOMIC ASSUMPTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

B. NUMBERS OF SSI PROGRAM RECIPIENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

C. FEDERAL PAYMENTS UNDER SSI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

D. FEDERAL SSI PAYMENTS AS A PERCENTAGE OF GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT . . 50

E. THE SSI PROGRAM’S SHARE OF SSA’S ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS 

AND BENEFICIARY SERVICES COSTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

V. APPENDICES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

A. HISTORY OF PROVISIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

1. Basic Eligibility Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

2. Other Eligibility Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

a. Citizenship and U.S. Residency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

b. Other Benefits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

c. Drug Addiction and Alcoholism (DA&A). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

d. Institutionalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

e. Vocational Rehabilitation and Treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

f. Continuing Disability Reviews and Eligibility Redeterminations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

g. Deeming of Income and Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

3. Federal Benefit Payments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

a. Windfall Offset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

b. Proration of Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

c. Retrospective Monthly Accounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

d. Uncashed Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

e. Rounding of Payment Amounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

f. Penalties for False or Misleading Statements or Withholding of Information. . . . . . . . . 64

g. Installment Payments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

h. Retroactive Payments to Prisoners, Fugitive Felons, and Probation or Parole Violators 65

4. Federal Benefit Rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

5. Exclusions from Income. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

a. General Exclusions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

b. Special Exclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

6. Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

a. General Exclusions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

b. Special Exclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

c. Transfer-of-Resources Penalties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

7. Presumptive and Emergency Payments and Interim Assistance Reimbursement . . . . . . . . 75

a. Presumptive Payments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

b. Emergency Advance Payments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

c. Interim Assistance Reimbursement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

8. Medicaid Eligibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

9. State Supplementation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

10. Overpayment Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

11. Attorney Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
(IX)

B. INCOME AND RESOURCE EXCLUSIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

1. Earned Income Exclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

2. Unearned Income Exclusions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

3. Resource Exclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

C. HISTORICAL ALLOWANCE DATA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

1. Technical Notes on the Disability Research File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

2. General Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

D. HISTORICAL REDETERMINATION AND CONTINUING DISABILITY REVIEW DATA 92

1. Redeterminations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

2. Continuing Disability Reviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

E. INCENTIVES FOR WORK AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR REHABILITATION . . . . . . . . . 101

1. Work Incentives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

a. Numbers of Participants in Work Incentive Programs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

b. Average Earnings of Participants in Work Incentive Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

2. Vocational Rehabilitation/Ticket to Work Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

F. INVOLVEMENT OF SSI RECIPIENTS IN OTHER PROGRAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

G. RESEARCH ON RELATED TOPICS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

1. Ongoing Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

a. SSI Policy Simulations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

b. National Survey of SSI Children and Families . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

c. Analytic Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

d. Evaluation of the Ticket to Work Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

e. Homeless Outreach Projects and Evaluation (HOPE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

f. Youth Transition Demonstration (YTD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

g. Disability Program Navigators (DPNs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

h. TANF/SSI Disability Transition Project (TSDTP). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

i. Occupational Information System (OIS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

2. Bibliography of Recent Publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

H. GLOSSARY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133

ADDITIONAL STATEMENT BY THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADVISORY BOARD

(XI)

TABLES

III.H1 SSI State Supplementation and Coordination with Other Programs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

IV.A1 Historical and Projected Social Security Area Population based on the 

Intermediate Assumptions of the 2010 OASDI Trustees Report, as of July 1, 1974-2035. . . . 27

IV.A2 SSI Federal Benefit Rate Increases and Levels: Historical and Projected on the Basis of

the Intermediate Assumptions of the 2010 OASDI Trustees Report, 1974-2035 . . . . . . . . . . . 28

IV.B1 SSI Federally-Administered Applications, Calendar Years 1974-2035 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

IV.B2 SSI Federally-Administered New Recipients, Calendar Years 1974-2035 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

IV.B3 SSI Federally-Administered Terminations Due to Death, Calendar Years 1974-2035 . . . . . . . 35

IV.B4 SSI Federally-Administered Terminations Due to Reasons Other Than Death, 

Calendar Years 1974-2035 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

IV.B5 SSI Federally-Administered Terminations for All Reasons, Calendar Years 1974-2035 . . . . . 37

IV.B6 SSI Recipients with Federal Benefits in Current-Payment Status as of December, 1974-2035 38

IV.B7 SSI Recipients with Federal Benefits in Current-Payment Status as a Percentage of 

Selected Social Security Area Population Totals, as of December, 1974-2035 . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

IV.B8 SSI Recipients with Federally-Administered State Supplementary Benefits Only,

in Current-Payment Status as of December, 1974-2035 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

IV.B9 SSI Recipients with Federally-Administered Benefits in Current-Payment Status 

as of December, 1974-2035. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

IV.C1 SSI Federal Payments in Current Dollars, Calendar Years 1974-2011. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

IV.C2 SSI Federal Payments in Current Dollars, Fiscal Years 1978-2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

IV.C3 SSI Federal Payments in Constant 2011 Dollars, Calendar Years 1974-2035 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

IV.C4 SSI Federally-Administered State Supplementary Payments in Current Dollars,

Calendar Years 1974-2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

IV.D1 SSI Federal Payments as a Percentage of GDP, Calendar Years 1974-2035. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

IV.E1 Selected SSI Costs, Fiscal Years 1978-2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

V.A1 Federal Benefit Rates Set by Legislation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

V.C1 Disabled Adult Claims: Disposition of Applications for SSI Disability Benefits by 

Year of Filing and Level of Decision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

V.C2 Disabled Child Claims: Disposition of Applications for SSI Disability Benefits by 

Year of Filing and Level of Decision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

V.D1 SSI Redeterminations and Limited Issues Completed, Fiscal Years 1986-2010. . . . . . . . . . . . 92

V.D2 SSI Disabled Adult Reviews: Disposition of Continuing Disability Medical Reviews by Fiscal 

Year of Initial Decision and Level of Decision. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

V.D3 SSI Disabled Child Reviews: Disposition of Continuing Disability Medical Reviews by Fiscal 

Year of Initial Decision and Level of Decision. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
(XII)

V.E1 SSI Federally-Administered Blind or Disabled Working Recipients as

of December, 1987-2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

V.E2 SSI Federally-Administered Blind or Disabled Individuals with SSI Recipient

Status Participating in Other Work Incentives as of December, 1990-2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

V.E3 Average Monthly Earnings of SSI Federally-Administered Blind or Disabled Working

Recipients, as of December, 1987-2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

V.E4 Vocational Rehabilitation Reimbursement Claims Allowed, Fiscal Years 1987-2010 . . . . . . . 107

V.E5 Employment Network Payments Allowed, Fiscal Years 2002-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

V.F1 Percentage of SSI Federally-Administered Recipients in Current-Payment Status with

Participation in Selected Programs Based on SSA Administrative Records,

December, 2010. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
(XIII)

FIGURES

IV.B1 SSI Federally-Administered Applications by Age Group, Calendar Years 1975-2035 . . . . . . 32

IV.B2 SSI Federally-Administered New Recipients by Age Group, Calendar Years 1975-2035 . . . . 34

IV.B3 SSI Federally-Administered Terminations by Age Group, Calendar Years 1975-2035 . . . . . . 38

IV.B4 SSI Recipients with Federal Benefits in Current-Payment Status, by Age Group, 

as of December, 1975-2035. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

IV.B5 SSI Recipients with Federal Benefits in Current-Payment Status as a Percentage of 

Selected Social Security Area Population Age Groups, as of December, 1975-2035 . . . . . . . 42

IV.C1 SSI Federal Payments, by Age Group, in Constant 2011 Dollars, Calendar Years 1975-2035 47

IV.D1 SSI Federal Payments, by Age Group, as a Percentage of GDP, Calendar Years 1975-2035. . 50

V.E1 SSI Federally-Administered Blind or Disabled Working Recipients 

as of December, 1987-2010. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
.
1

I. INTRODUCTION

Congress established the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program in 1972, with payments beginning

in January 1974. The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers the program. SSI replaced the former Federal-State programs of Old-Age Assistance, Aid to the Blind, and Aid to the Permanently and

Totally Disabled in the 50 States and the District of Columbia. Residents of the Northern Mariana Islands

became eligible for SSI in January 1978.

Under the SSI program, the monthly Federal cash payment in 2011 for an eligible person living in his or

her own household and having no other countable income is $674 ($1,011 for a couple if both members

are eligible). Since 1975, these Federal SSI benefit rates have increased with the same cost-of-living

adjustment that has been applied to benefits under the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance

(OASDI) program.1 In addition to setting a Federal benefit standard, the legislation establishing SSI also

permitted individual States to supplement the Federal payment with an additional monthly amount. As

described in section III, these State supplementary payments can be either voluntary at the option of the

individual States or, in certain cases, mandatory under requirements in effect when the SSI program began.

Under section 231 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, SSA

must submit a report on the SSI program to the President and Congress no later than May 30 of each year.

This is the fifteenth annual report on the SSI program. The legislative mandate requires that the report

include:

 • A comprehensive description of the SSI program;

 • Historical and current data relating to: (1) claims intake and dispositions at all levels of decision making; (2) demographic information about recipients, including program cost and prior enrollment in

other public benefit programs; (3) redeterminations, continuing disability reviews, and utilization of

work incentives; (4) administrative costs; and (5) State supplementation program operations; 

 • 25-year projections of future recipients and program costs; 

 • A historical summary of statutory changes to title XVI of the Social Security Act; and

 • Summaries of any relevant research on the SSI program by SSA or others.

In addition, the legislation specified that the report may include views of the SSI program by the Social

Security Advisory Board.

Much of the required information is the subject of extensive ongoing research. In responding to each of the

specific requests for information, every effort has been made to provide the best information available at

this time. SSA will continue to make improvements upon such information, in order to provide the President and Congress with the input necessary to effectively manage this important part of our society’s

social safety net.

 1 The Federal SSI benefit rates for 2011 are unchanged from 2010 because there was no cost-of-living increase for 2011.
2011 SSI Annual Report

2

II. HIGHLIGHTS

The SSI program is a nationwide Federal assistance program administered by SSA that guarantees a minimum level of income for needy aged, blind, or disabled individuals. This section presents highlights of

recent SSI program experience, a summary of important changes to the program in the last year, a discussion of current issues facing the SSI program, and a summary of the key results from the 25-year projections.

A. RECENT PROGRAM EXPERIENCE

SSI program experience during the past year included the following:

 • During calendar year 2010, 2.4 million individuals applied for SSI benefits based on blindness or disability, an increase of 3 percent over 2009. Additionally, 148 thousand applied for SSI benefits based

on age, an increase of less than 1 percent over 2009. In 2010, 1.1 million applicants were awarded SSI

benefits, an increase of 5 percent as compared to the 1.0 million awarded benefits in 2009.

 • Each month on average during calendar year 2010, 7.6 million individuals received Federal SSI benefits. This group was composed of 1.1 million aged recipients, 6.4 million disabled recipients, and 65

thousand blind recipients. Of the 6.5 million blind or disabled recipients, 1.2 million were under age

18, and 0.8 million were aged 65 or older. During the year, 8.6 million aged, blind, or disabled individuals received at least 1 month’s Federal SSI benefit.

 • Federal expenditures for payments under the SSI program in calendar year 2010 totaled $47.8 billion,

up from $45.9 billion in 2009.

 • Each month on average during calendar year 2010, 2.4 million individuals received Federally-administered State supplementary payments. This group was composed of 0.6 million aged recipients, 1.8

million disabled recipients, and fewer than 50 thousand blind recipients. During calendar year 2010,

2.6 million individuals received at least 1 month’s Federally-administered State supplementary payment.

 • State expenditures for Federally-administered supplements, excluding fees for Federal administration,

totaled $3.6 billion in calendar year 2010, down from $4.0 billion in 2009.

 • The percentage of SSI recipients participating in direct deposit reached 65 percent in fiscal year 2010.

SSI recipient participation in direct deposit has increased gradually in recent years after experiencing

a period of sharp growth when it more than doubled from 24 percent in 1995 to 49 percent in 2000.

We expect participation in direct deposit to increase significantly in the next few years as SSI recipients must choose to receive their benefit payments by either direct deposit or the Direct Express®

debit card by March 2013.

 • The cost of administering the SSI program in fiscal year 2010 was $3.7 billion, which was roughly

7 percent of total Federally-administered SSI expenditures.

 • In January 2011, 8.0 million individuals received Federally-administered monthly SSI benefits averaging $500. Of these, 7.7 million received monthly Federal SSI payments averaging $478, and

2.4 million received monthly State supplementation payments averaging $125.

B. SSI LEGISLATION SINCE THE 2010 ANNUAL REPORT

Since the 2010 SSI Annual Report was transmitted to the President and Congress on August 19, 2010, the

following legislative changes were made to the SSI program:
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2011 SSI Annual Report

Public Law 111-255, enacted October 5, 2010

Provides for income and resource exclusion of compensation received by SSI beneficiaries or spouses for

participating in clinical trials researching treatment of rare diseases or conditions. Excludes the first

$2,000 of compensation received per calendar year. The exclusion is effective for a 5-year period from

date of enactment.

Public Law 111-291, enacted December 8, 2010

Ratifies a class-action lawsuit settlement (Cobell et al. v. Salazar et al.) that determined the United States

had mismanaged American Indian assets for generations. Under the terms of the settlement, Indian landowners who had monies held in mismanaged trust accounts are eligible for settlement payments. These

payments are excluded from consideration as income (in the month received) or as a resource (for a period

of one year beginning with the month of receipt) for SSI purposes.

Public Law 111-312, enacted December 17, 2010

Excludes Federal tax refunds or advance payments (with respect to refundable tax credits) from income (in

the month received) or as a resource (for a period of 12 months from receipt) for Federal or Federallyassisted program purposes, including SSI. The exclusion applies to refunds or advance payments received

after December 31, 2009 but before January 1, 2013.

C. CURRENT ISSUES FACING THE SSI PROGRAM

Within the past year, nearly 8 million aged, blind, and disabled individuals received SSI payments to meet

their basic needs. In this respect, the program continues to provide a vital lifeline to those in our society

who have the least. However, as with any Federal program of this magnitude and complexity, sound

administration requires us to critically evaluate program performance and results. In this section, we

examine two areas of interest stemming from this critical evaluation:

 • Reducing the occurrence of improper payments

 • Ensuring that program results are consistent with program intent

REDUCING IMPROPER PAYMENTS

During the past year, we have continued our progress on initiatives that reduce the occurrence of improper

payments caused by inaccurate or untimely income and resource verification. However, SSI overpayments

still present our greatest payment accuracy challenge. During fiscal years (FYs) 2010-2012, we project an

overpayment accuracy rate of 91.6 percent, 92 percent, and 92.5 percent, respectively.1 Although we still

work toward additional improvements in this accuracy rate, these projections show progress when compared with accuracy rates of the recent past. As recently as FY 2008, overpayment accuracy had dropped

to 89.7 percent, a reflection of reduced program integrity funding. With the additional resources provided

for this work in recent years, we have invested in the strategies described in this section.

1 We determine payment accuracy rates by reviewing and redeveloping a sample of cases where a payment was made within the fiscal year under review.

We conduct interviews and redevelop nonmedical factors of eligibility to determine whether the payment was correct. Overpayment and underpayment

errors are reported separately. For the FY 2009 accuracy review (the most recent year for which we have finalized data), we reviewed 4,310 cases.
2011 SSI Annual Report

4

Access to Financial Institutions

Unreported financial accounts are one of the major causes of improper payments in the SSI program. As

we described in our 2010 report, the Access to Financial Institutions (AFI) is an initiative to verify bank

account balances for purposes of determining SSI eligibility. Through the AFI initiative, we verify bank

accounts at the SSI recipient’s alleged financial institutions and search other financial institutions for

accounts in his or her name. The AFI system improves efficiency by automating our current paper-based

verification process and allowing us to verify electronically financial account balances alleged during the

claims and redetermination processes. As a result, SSI records are more likely to be correct, and overpayment occurrence reduced. AFI is currently operating in 36 states, and we plan to complete AFI expansion

nationwide during FY 2011. Once we fully implement AFI, we project roughly $900 million in lifetime

program savings for each year we use the process.

Telephone Wage Reporting

In another effort to reduce improper payments, we continue to use the SSI Telephone Wage Reporting System (SSITWR). The SSITWR system automates monthly wage reporting by recipients, deemors, and representative payees. In the past, recipients needed to mail, fax, or hand-deliver their monthly wage reports

to one of our field offices. This manual process required a field office employee to key in wages; thus a

delay in the report of wages or a delay in entering this information to our SSI system could create overpayments. Through the SSITWR program, individuals can call a designated agency telephone number to

report their monthly wages via a voice-recognition system or touch tone software. Once we have the

report, the information automatically updates our SSI claims system. The SSITWR program is available

nationwide. The accuracy rate of SSITWR reported wages is 92.2 percent. In contrast, the accuracy rate of

initial wage estimates on the SSI record based on a projection of likely earnings is only 75.5 percent.

Program Integrity Funding

Funding for program integrity workloads is critical to maintain and improve SSI payment accuracy. These

workloads, Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) and SSI redeterminations, are the most important tools

we use in completing program integrity work. Medical CDRs are periodic reevaluations of all medical factors to determine if beneficiaries are still disabled. SSI redeterminations are periodic reviews of nonmedical criteria for eligibility, including verification of living arrangements, income, and resources. With

timely and adequate funding, we will increase the number of medical CDRs and SSI redeterminations we

perform, allowing us to detect and prevent improper payments. With full FY 2012 President’s Budget

funding, we plan to conduct 592,000 medical CDRs and 2,622,000 SSI redeterminations. We project that

meeting our FY 2012 program integrity goals for CDRs and redeterminations will yield program savings

over the 10-year period (through FY 2021) of about $9 billion, including OASDI, Medicare, and Medicaid

savings.

ENSURING PROGRAM RESULTS

We critically evaluate program results just as we do with program performance. To what extent is the SSI

program reaching those who are in the greatest need of assistance? Beyond the immediate concern of

meeting basic needs, to what extent do federal programs assist those with limited means to become more

self sufficient? We addressed these questions in two of the President’s FY 2012 budget proposals.

SSI Extension for Refugees (FY 2012 Budget Proposal)

The SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act (P.L. 110-328), signed into law on September

30, 2008, temporarily extended the seven-year SSI eligibility period for refugees, asylees, and certain

other humanitarian immigrants from seven to nine years during the period October 1, 2008, through Sep-
5

2011 SSI Annual Report

tember 30, 2011. The extension was only applicable in situations where the recipient signed a statement of

intent to pursue citizenship. Recipients who had filed for citizenship were exempt from time-limitations,

and could receive up to three additional years of SSI during the effective period of the law. With this legislation, Congress acknowledged that humanitarian immigrants may be unable to attain citizenship within

the 7-year period of SSI eligibility, even if they apply as soon as they are eligible.

The Administration’s FY 2012 budget contains a proposal that would continue the current extension of

SSI eligibility from seven to nine years for refugees, asylees, and other non-citizens in refugee-like immigration statuses. As long as these immigrants show intent to pursue citizenship, they could receive SSI

benefits for up to 9 years, through the end date of the effective period (September 30, 2013). During this

same period, the exemption from time limits for recipients who had filed for citizenship would also apply.

After September 30, 2013, the eligibility period would revert to seven years. In short, the proposal would

continue the current policy for an additional 2 years. As with the initial eligibility extension, the proposal

underscores the nation’s commitment to refugees, asylees, and other humanitarian immigrants who come

to America with very little, and who frequently have nowhere else to go.

PROMISE Grants (FY 2012 Budget Proposal)

The President’s FY 2012 budget also contains a proposal for a study tentatively called PROMISE (Promoting Readiness of Minors in SSI). PROMISE seeks to improve the outcomes of SSI child recipients and

their families by focusing on situational concerns such as health status, physical and emotional development, and completion of education and training. This study would be a joint project with the Departments

of Health and Human Services, Education, and Labor. PROMISE would consist of incentives to States and

coordination of existing programs to improve the educational and economic well-being of children receiving SSI, and their families. The program would use competitive grants to test and evaluate interventions

that may improve outcomes for these recipients. The Department of Education would administer the initial

set of grants and we would be responsible for evaluating and providing data to states. PROMISE would

provide SSI child recipients with expanded opportunities and a greater chance of leaving the SSI rolls.

CONCLUSION

The SSI program continues to provide a safety net for millions of people with limited means. We

remain focused on improving automated tools to help reduce improper payments and to ensure

we pay the right person the right payment at the right time. We must also continue to ask hard

questions about the outcomes for people relying on this assistance of last resort. During the next

year, we will continue this effort to be effective stewards of taxpayer funds, even as we

also support the SSI program’s mission to provide for those in society who have the least.

D. KEY RESULTS FROM THE 25-YEAR PROJECTIONS

The major findings in the 25-year projections prepared for this report are:

 • Following small declines in the SSI recipient population in the late 1990s due to the combined impact

of Public Law 104-121 (the Contract With America Advancement Act of 1996) and Public Law 104-

193 (the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996), modest growth

in the SSI rolls resumed in 2000, and we expect it to continue throughout the projection period largely

due to the growth in the U.S. population, although we expect the current economic slowdown to temporarily generate additional growth beyond what we might expect from recent historical trends. By

2035, we estimate that the Federal SSI recipient population will reach 9.9 million. As a percentage of

the total U.S. population, we project the number of Federal SSI recipients to increase slightly from

2.42 percent of the population in 2010 to 2.60 percent by 2035 due largely to the changing age distribution of the population. 
2011 SSI Annual Report

6

 • We estimate that Federal expenditures for SSI payments in calendar year 2011 will increase by $1.5

billion to $49.3 billion, an increase of 3.2 percent from 2010 levels. In constant 2011 dollars, we project that SSI program outlays will increase to $60.9 billion in 2035, a real increase of 0.9 percent per

year. 

 • Federal SSI expenditures were 0.293 percent of GDP in 2008 and increased to 0.325 percent of GDP

in 2009 due to the economic recession. After increasing slightly to 0.326 percent of GDP in 2010, we

project that such expenditures will decrease slightly to 0.324 percent of GDP in 2011, and continue to

decline thereafter to 0.244 percent of GDP by 2035.
7

2011 SSI Annual Report

III. THE SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME PROGRAM 

This section presents a brief history and comprehensive description of the SSI program. This section also

includes information on the administration of the program and coordination with other programs.

A. BACKGROUND

Federal entitlement programs for the aged, blind, or disabled have their roots in the original Social Security Act of 1935. The Act established an old-age social insurance program administered by the Federal

Government and an old-age means-tested assistance program administered by the States. Congress added

similar programs for the blind or disabled to the Act in later years. Means-tested assistance provided a

safety net for individuals who were either ineligible for Social Security or whose benefits could not provide a basic level of income.

This means-tested assistance comprised three separate programs—Old-Age Assistance, Aid to the Blind,

and Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled. Despite substantial Federal financing, these programs

were essentially State programs. Federal law established only broad guidelines for assistance. The Federal

Government provided matching funds to support whatever payment levels the States established, with no

maximum or minimum standards. Consequently, each State was responsible for setting its own standards

for determining who would get assistance and how much they would receive.

Beginning in the early 1960s, this State-operated, Federally-assisted welfare system drew criticism that

was directed at the “crazy quilt” eligibility requirements and payment levels. Other criticism centered on

specific requirements, such as lien laws and provisions that required certain relatives to bear responsibility

for the maintenance of needy family members.

Responding to these concerns, Congress passed and the President approved the SSI program in 1972,

reversing the Federal and State roles with regard to adult assistance. Under the new arrangement, SSI

would provide a uniform Federal income floor while optional State programs supplemented that floor. The

new program was historic in that it shifted from the States to the Federal Government the responsibility for

determining who would receive assistance and how much assistance they would receive. 

B. THE BASIC PLAN

The main objective of the SSI program is to provide the basic financial support of needy aged, blind, or

disabled individuals. Congress designed the SSI program based on the following principles:

 • Eligibility requirements and benefit standards that are nationally uniform and eligibility determinations based on objective criteria;

 • An assistance source of last resort for the aged, blind, or disabled whose income and resources are

below specified levels;

 • Incentives and opportunities for those recipients able to work or to be rehabilitated that would enable

them to reduce their dependency on public assistance;

 • An efficient and economical method of providing assistance;

 • Inducements to encourage States to provide supplementation of the basic Federal benefit and protection for former recipients of State adult assistance programs who were converted to the SSI program;

and
2011 SSI Annual Report

8

 • Appropriate coordination of the SSI program with the food stamp, medical assistance, and other programs.1

C. UNIFORM STANDARDS AND OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Prior to the SSI program, the eligibility of aged, blind, or disabled individuals for Federally-funded adult

assistance depended on the State in which they lived. Benefit amounts varied from State to State. The SSI

program replaced the State-run programs with a national program with uniform standards and objective

eligibility criteria. These standards include:

 • A uniform limitation on the dollar amount or value of income and resources that an individual can

have and still qualify for SSI assistance. The countable income limits for individuals and couples are

equal to their respective Federal benefit rates2 and hence are increased annually according to changes

in the cost of living. For 2011, the Federal benefit rate is $674 a month for individuals and $1,011 a

month for couples. The resource limit is $2,000 in countable resources for individuals and $3,000 for

couples.

 • A uniform standard of 65 as the minimum age requirement for assistance based on age.

 • A uniform definition of disability and blindness. The definitions for individuals age 18 or older are

the same as those used for the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program. In order to be

considered disabled, an individual must have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment

which is expected to last or has lasted at least 12 continuous months or is expected to result in death

and (1) if age 18 or older, prevents him/her from doing any substantial gainful activity3 or (2) if under

age 18, results in marked and severe functional limitations. However, individuals for whom addiction

to drugs or alcoholism is a contributing factor material to the determination of their disabilities are not

eligible for benefits. In order to be considered blind, an individual must have central visual acuity of

20/200 or less in the better eye with the use of a correcting lens or have tunnel vision of 20 degrees or

less.

 • Uniform standards for citizenship and residency. In order to be eligible for SSI, an individual

must be a citizen or national of the United States, an American Indian born in Canada who is admitted to the United States under section 289 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), an

American Indian born outside the United States who is a member of a Federally recognized Indian

tribe under section 4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, a noncitizen

who was receiving SSI benefits on August 22, 1996, or be a qualified alien in one of the following

categories4:

 — Certain noncitizens who are blind or disabled and were lawfully residing in the United States on

August 22, 1996;

1 For example, as explained in section III.H, SSI recipients in most States are also automatically eligible for Medicaid, which generally provides for their

medical needs.

2 See table IV.A2 for historical and estimated future Federal benefit rates.

3 “Substantial gainful activity” (SGA) is used to describe a level of work activity that is both substantial—i.e., involves the performance of significant

physical and/or mental duties which are productive—and gainful—i.e., performed for remuneration or profit. SGA rules do not apply to the SSI blind. Generally earnings from work activity of over $1,000 a month is evidence of ability to engage in SGA. If an SSI applicant is earning over $1,000 a month, he/she

generally would not be considered disabled. However, if an SSI recipient is earning over $1,000 a month, he/she could continue to be eligible for SSI. (See

“Incentives for Work and Opportunities for Rehabilitation” section III.E.) The SGA level of $1,000 remains unchanged for 2011 (75 FR 74123). Yearly

increases in the SGA amount usually occur, but not in years when the national average wage index (upon which the adjustment is based) is lower than it was

in a prior year.

4 Generally, SSI eligibility for humanitarian immigrants is limited to 7 years. However, under the “SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act,”

which became law on September 30, 2008, the 7-year period was extended to 9 years during the window of October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2011.

Afterwards, the SSI eligibility period reverts back to 7 years. Noncitizens who have naturalization applications pending during this same 3-year window are

exempt from the 7-year limitation.
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2011 SSI Annual Report

 — Refugees (eligibility generally limited to the 7-year period after their arrival in the United

States);

 — Asylees (eligibility generally limited to the 7-year period after the date they are granted asylum);

 — Noncitizens who have had their deportations withheld under section 243(h) of the INA as in

effect prior to April 1, 1997, or who have had their removals withheld under section 241(b)(3) of

the INA (eligibility generally limited to the 7-year period after the date that deportation or

removal is withheld);

 — Cuban and Haitian entrants as defined by Federal statute, including: 1) section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980; 2) former parolees and other aliens who became residents under the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966; 3) aliens who became permanent residents

under the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act; 4) aliens who adjusted status as Cuban/

Haitian entrants under the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; and

5) aliens who became permanent residents under the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act

(eligibility for these categories is generally limited to the 7-year period after the date that entrant

status is granted);

 — Amerasian immigrants admitted pursuant to section 584 of the Foreign Operations, Export

Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1988, and subsequent amendments (eligibility generally limited to the 7-year period after their arrival in the United States);

 — Noncitizen active duty Armed Forces personnel, honorably discharged veterans, and their

spouses and dependent children; or

 — Lawful permanent residents who have earned, or can be credited (from their spouses or parents)

with, 40 qualifying quarters of earnings.

Qualified alien status includes noncitizens (or their parents or children) who have been battered or

subjected to extreme cruelty in the United States by a spouse or parent (or a member of the spouse’s

or parent’s family) with whom they live, and who have an approved petition, or have a petition pending, setting forth a prima facie case for adjustment of their immigration status. A complete list of noncitizens who are considered qualified aliens can be found in the Glossary under “Qualified Alien.”

However, to be eligible to receive SSI benefits, these noncitizens also must be in one of the categories

listed above.

In addition, certain noncitizens are treated as refugees for SSI purposes:

 — Noncitizens who have been certified by the Department of Health and Human Services to be victims of trafficking in persons in the United States,1 with eligibility for SSI generally limited to

the 7 years after a determination is made that they are trafficking victims; and 

 — Iraqi or Afghan noncitizens granted special immigrant status under emergency conditions (i.e.,

Iraqis or Afghans who have provided service to the U.S. government and, as a result, may be in

danger within their country of origin), with eligibility for SSI generally limited to the 7 years

after the special immigrant status is granted.

1 Generally defined as the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services through the use of force, fraud, or

coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.
2011 SSI Annual Report

10

In addition to having to be a U.S. citizen (or national) or in one of the potentially eligible noncitizen

categories, an individual must reside in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, or the Northern Mariana Islands. An individual also must be physically present in the United States1 for 30 consecutive

days, if he/she had been outside of the United States for 30 or more consecutive days. There are two

exceptions to the residency and physical presence requirements: 

 — Blind or disabled children who are citizens of the United States may continue to be eligible for

payments if they are living outside the United States with a parent who is on duty as a member of

the U.S. Armed Forces. This exception also applies to blind and disabled children of military

personnel who: (1) are born overseas; (2) become blind or disabled overseas; or (3) applied for

SSI benefits while overseas.

 — Students studying abroad for not more than 1 year also may continue to be eligible for payments

if the studies are sponsored by a U.S. educational institution but could not be conducted in the

United States.

D. ASSISTANCE OF LAST RESORT

As a means-tested program, SSI takes into account all income and resources that an individual has or can

access. The amount of an individual’s countable income and resources are the measure of his/her need for

assistance.

1. Income

The amount of an individual’s income is used to determine both eligibility for, and the amount of, his/her

SSI benefit. As countable income increases, an individual’s SSI benefit amount decreases. Generally, ineligibility for SSI occurs when countable income equals the Federal benefit rate plus the amount of applicable Federally-administered State supplementary payment (State supplementation is discussed later).

The monthly Federal benefit rate2 is reduced dollar-for-dollar by the amount of the individual’s “countable” income—i.e., income less all applicable exclusions. Countable income is determined on a calendar

month basis. The result of this computation determines SSI eligibility and the amount of the benefit payable. These benefit rates are adjusted annually in January to reflect changes in the cost of living. 

When an individual lives in the household of another and receives support and maintenance in kind (i.e.,

generally room and board) from the householder, the Federal SSI benefit rate is reduced by one-third in

lieu of counting the actual value of the support and maintenance as unearned income. The value of food or

shelter-related items the individual receives in kind from persons other than the householder (including inkind assistance from outside the household in which he/she lives) is counted as unearned income. However, the amount that is countable is limited to an amount equal to one-third of the applicable Federal benefit rate plus $20.

SSI law defines two kinds of income—earned and unearned. Earned income is wages, net earnings from

self-employment, remuneration for work in a sheltered workshop, royalties on published work, and honoraria for services. All other income is unearned including, for example, Social Security benefits, other pensions, and unemployment compensation. The distinction between earned and unearned income is

significant because different exclusions apply to each type of income. 

1 Fifty States, the District of Columbia or the Northern Mariana Islands.

2 See table IV.A2 for historical and estimated future Federal benefit rates.
11

2011 SSI Annual Report

However, not everything an individual receives is considered to be income. Generally, if the item received

is not food or shelter or cannot be used to obtain food or shelter, it will not be considered as income. For

example, if someone pays an individual’s medical bills, or offers free medical care, or if the individual

receives money from a social services agency that is a repayment of an amount he/she previously spent,

that value is not considered income to the individual. In addition, some items that are considered to be

income are excluded when determining the amount of an individual’s benefit.

Income Exclusions1

The principal earned income exclusions are: 

 • The first $65 per month plus one-half of the remainder; 

 • Impairment-related work expenses of the disabled and work expenses of the blind; 

 • Income set aside or being used to pursue a plan to achieve self-support (PASS) by a disabled or blind

individual; and 

 • The first $30 of infrequent or irregularly received income in a quarter. 

The principal unearned income exclusions are: 

 • The first $20 per month;2

 • Income set aside or being used to pursue a PASS by a disabled or blind individual; 

 • State or locally funded assistance based on need; 

 • Rent subsidies under the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs;

 • The value of food stamps; and 

 • The first $60 of infrequent or irregularly received income in a quarter. 

2. Resources 

The value of an individual’s resources is used to determine whether he/she is eligible for SSI in any given

month. SSI law states that eligibility is restricted to individuals who have countable resources, determined

monthly, that do not exceed $2,000 ($3,000 for a couple). Although the law does not define “resources”,

the law lists those items that are not considered resources.

Regulations define a resource to be a liquid asset, such as cash, or any real or personal property that individuals (or their spouses) own and could convert to cash to be used for their support and maintenance.

This definition is consistent with the general philosophy of the SSI program that only items that can be

used for an individual’s food or shelter should be used in determining his/her eligibility and benefit

amount. Not all resources an individual owns are counted. The value of an item may be totally excluded or

counted only to the extent that its value exceeds specified limits.

If an applicant disposes of resources at less than fair market value within the 36-month period prior to his/

her application for SSI or at any time thereafter, he/she may be penalized. The penalty is a loss of SSI ben1 A complete list of the SSI income exclusions can be found in section V.B.

2 Any portion of this $20 amount not used to exclude unearned income may be used to exclude earned income.
2011 SSI Annual Report

12

efits for a number of months (up to a 36-month maximum).1 The penalty does not apply if, among other

things, the applicant can show that the resources were disposed of exclusively for a purpose other than

establishing SSI eligibility.

Resource Exclusions2

The principal resource exclusions are:

 • The home and land appertaining to it, regardless of value;

 • Life insurance policies whose total face value does not exceed $1,500;

 • Burial funds not in excess of $1,500 each for an individual and spouse (plus accrued interest);

 • Household goods, if needed for maintenance, use and occupancy of the home, and personal effects;

 • An automobile, if used to provide necessary transportation;

 • Property essential to self-support;

 • Resources set aside to fulfill a PASS; and

 • Amounts deposited into either a Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or “Assets for

Independence Act” individual development account (IDA), including matching funds, and interest

earned on such amounts.

3. Filing for Other Benefits 

As the “program of last resort,” eligible individuals receive SSI benefits only to the extent other income

and resources do not satisfy their needs. After evaluating all other income and resources, SSI pays what is

necessary to bring an individual to the statutorily prescribed income “floor.” In keeping with this principle,

SSI law requires that SSI applicants and recipients file for other payments for which they may be eligible,

such as annuities, pensions, retirement or disability benefits, workers’ compensation, and unemployment

insurance benefits. 

SSA must provide an individual with written notice of potential eligibility for other benefits and of the

requirement to take all appropriate steps to pursue these benefits. The individual has 30 days from receipt

of the notice to file for the benefits involved. 

4. Eligibility Issues for Residents of Public Institutions or Medical Treatment Facilities 

State and local governments—rather than the Federal Government—traditionally have taken the financial

responsibility for residents of their public institutions. The SSI program continues this long-standing public assistance policy. Residents of public institutions for a full calendar month are generally ineligible for

SSI unless one of the following exceptions applies:

 • The public institution is a medical treatment facility and Medicaid pays more than 50 percent of the

cost of care, or in the case of a child under age 18, Medicaid or private health insurance pays more

than 50 percent of the cost of care—in these situations, the SSI payment is limited to $30;

1 The number of months of penalty is obtained by dividing the uncompensated value of disposed-of-resources by the Federal benefit rate plus the maximum

Federally-administered State supplementary payment, if any, applicable to the individual’s living arrangement.

2 A complete and more detailed list of the SSI resource exclusions can be found in section V.B.
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2011 SSI Annual Report

 • The public institution is a publicly-operated community residence which serves no more than

16 residents;

 • The public institution is an emergency shelter for the homeless (payments are limited to no more than

6 months in any 9-month period);

 • The recipient was eligible under section 1619(a) or (b)1 for the month preceding the first full month in

the public institution and is permitted by the institution to retain any benefits (payable for up to 2

months); or

 • A physician certifies that the recipient’s stay in a medical treatment facility is likely not to exceed 3

months and continued SSI eligibility is needed to maintain and provide for the expenses of the home

to which the individual will return. In these situations, the recipient may continue to receive the full

benefit for any of the first 3 full months of medical confinement if all other conditions for payment

are met.

5. Personal Needs Allowance 

When individuals enter medical treatment facilities in which Medicaid pays more than half of the bill,

their monthly Federal benefit rate is generally reduced to $30, beginning with the first full calendar month

they are in the facility. In the case of an individual under age 18, the $30 payment amount is also applicable if more than half of the bill is paid by private insurance or a combination of Medicaid and private

insurance. The theory behind this provision is that the individual’s basic needs are being met by the medical treatment facility. In these cases, the SSI program provides up to $30 a month, which is intended to

take care of small comfort items not provided by the facility. 

6. Deeming 

In certain situations the income and resources of others are counted in determining whether an individual’s

income and resources fall below the levels established by law. This process is called “deeming” and is

applied in cases where an eligible individual lives with an ineligible spouse, an eligible child lives with an

ineligible parent, or an eligible noncitizen has a sponsor.2 In concept, the practice takes into account the

responsibility of the spouse, parent, or sponsor to provide for the basic needs of the eligible individual. 

a. Spouse-to-Spouse Deeming 

When an eligible individual lives in the same household with a spouse who is not eligible for SSI, the ineligible spouse’s income and resources are deemed to be available to the eligible individual. In determining

the amount of income and resources available to the eligible individual, all applicable exclusions are used.

In addition, a living allowance is provided for the ineligible spouse, as well as any ineligible children

under age 18 (or under age 22 and a student) living in the household. The allowance reduces the amount of

income to be deemed. Spouse-to-spouse deeming is intended to result in the same amount of income available to the couple as would be available if both members of the couple were aged, blind, or disabled and

eligible for SSI.

Deeming does not apply when the eligible individual is not living in the same household as the ineligible

spouse. However, if the ineligible spouse’s absence is temporary, or is due solely to an active duty assignment as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, deeming continues to apply. 

1 See section III.E.6 of this report for a description of the special section 1619 provisions for disabled individuals who work.

2 Deeming also applies to an individual who lives with an essential person (a concept carried over from the former State assistance plans). However, there

are fewer than 50 of these cases remaining.
2011 SSI Annual Report

14

b. Parent-to-Child Deeming 

A child under age 18 is subject to deeming from an ineligible natural or adoptive parent (and that parent’s

spouse, if any) living in the same household. Deeming does not apply if a child lives in a household with

only the spouse of a parent (i.e., a stepparent) and the natural or adoptive parent has permanently left the

household. Certain amounts of the parent’s income are excluded, living allowances are provided for the

parent(s) and an allocation is set aside for each ineligible child under age 18 (or under age 22 and a student) who is living in the household. Deeming to a child would continue if the parent is absent from the

household but the absence is temporary or is due solely to active duty assignment as a member of the U.S.

Armed Forces. If a child lives in a household in which all members are receiving public assistance benefits, that child is not considered to be receiving any support and deeming would not apply. 

c. Sponsor-to-Alien Deeming 

The income and resources of noncitizens are deemed to include those of their sponsors. The way the

income and resources are deemed and the length of the deeming period depend on whether the sponsor

signed a legally enforceable affidavit of support1 or the previous version of the affidavit. Generally, noncitizens who entered the country before 1998 did so under the old version of the affidavit.2

Under the old version of the affidavit, deeming of the sponsor’s income and resources lasts until the noncitizen has been in the United States for 3 years.3 Living allowances equal to the Federal benefit rate are

provided for the sponsor, and allowances equal to one-half of the Federal benefit rate are provided for each

of the sponsor’s dependents. Allowances are also provided for the sponsor and his/her family members in

determining deemed resources. These allowances reduce the amount of the sponsor’s income and

resources deemed to the noncitizen.

For noncitizens admitted into the United States under a legally enforceable affidavit of support, deeming

generally applies until the noncitizen becomes a U.S. citizen. Deeming ends before citizenship if the noncitizen has earned, or can be credited with, 40 qualifying quarters of earnings. Children and spouses of

workers may be credited with quarters earned by the worker. A quarter otherwise earned after 1996 does

not count as one of the required 40 if the noncitizen or worker received Federal means-tested public benefits during the relevant period. 

Also for this group of noncitizens, deeming does not apply for specified periods if the noncitizens or their

children or parents have been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty while in the United States or if

sponsors leave the noncitizens indigent by not providing them with sufficient support. 

E. INCENTIVES FOR WORK AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR REHABILITATION

SSI benefits provide a basic level of assistance for individuals who are blind or disabled with limited earnings capacity due to their impairments. Nonetheless, for recipients who want to work, the SSI program is

designed to encourage and support their work attempts in order to help them achieve greater degrees of

independence. The SSI program includes a number of work incentives that enable recipients who are blind

or disabled to work and retain benefits or to increase their levels of work activity without the loss of SSI

disability status or Medicaid. These incentives provide higher amounts of income or resource exclusions

1 Legally enforceable affidavits of support are required by Public Law 104-208.

2 The Immigration and Naturalization Service now known as the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began using the new, legally

enforceable affidavits on December 19, 1997. However, if a potential immigrant had a visa issued before that date, the sponsor would sign an old version of

the affidavit even if the affidavit was signed after December 19, 1997.

3 For a temporary period—January 1994 through September 1996—the deeming period was 5 years.
15

2011 SSI Annual Report

as recognition of the expenses associated with working or as inducements to seek rehabilitation services

and support for work efforts. 

The SSI program also includes provisions to help disabled recipients obtain vocational rehabilitation and

employment support services. These provisions were revised by legislation establishing the Ticket to Work

program, which is described in section III.E.7.

1. Earned Income Exclusion 

The first $65 ($85 if the individual has no income other than earnings) of any monthly earned income plus

one-half of remaining earnings are excluded for SSI benefit computation purposes. This general earned

income exclusion is intended to help offset expenses incurred when working. It ensures that SSI recipients

who are working will be rewarded for their efforts.

2. Impairment-Related Work Expense Exclusion 

The costs of certain impairment-related services and items that a disabled (but not blind) individual needs

in order to work are excluded from earned income in determining SSI eligibility and benefit amounts. 

In calculating these expenses, amounts equal to the costs of certain attendant care services, medical

devices, equipment, prostheses, vehicle modifications, residential modifications to accommodate wheelchairs, and similar items and services are deductible from earnings. The costs of routine drugs and routine

medical services are not deductible unless these drugs and services are necessary to control the disabling

condition.

3. Work Expenses of the Blind Exclusion 

Any earned income by a blind individual that is used to meet expenses needed to earn that income is

excluded from earned income in determining SSI eligibility and benefit amounts. A deductible expense

need not be directly related to the worker’s blindness; it need only be an ordinary and necessary work

expense of the worker.

Some frequently excluded work expenses include transportation to and from work, meals consumed during work hours, job equipment, licenses, income or FICA taxes, and costs of job training. 

4. Student Earned Income Exclusion 

The student earned income exclusion is an additional exclusion for an individual who is under age 22 and

regularly attending school. It is intended to help defray the cost of educational training. Under current regulations, up to $1,640 of earned income per month but no more than $6,600 per year may be excluded.1

5. Plan to Achieve Self-Support 

A plan to achieve self-support (PASS) allows a disabled or blind individual to set aside income and

resources to get a specific type of job or to start a business. A PASS may involve setting aside funds for

education or vocational training. A recipient can also set aside funds to purchase work-related equipment

or pay for transportation related to the work goal. The income and resources that are set aside are excluded

under the SSI income and resources tests. 

1 Effective January 1, 2011 (75 FR 74123). Under current regulations this exclusion is increased yearly based on changes in the cost of living. Since there

was no cost-of-living increase for 2011, the excluded amounts remain at 2010 levels.
2011 SSI Annual Report

16

The individual must have a feasible work goal, must have a specific savings or spending plan, and must

provide for a clearly identifiable accounting for the funds which are set aside. The PASS must be approved

by SSA. The individual must then follow the plan and negotiate revisions as needed. SSA monitors the

plans by reviewing them periodically to evaluate the individual’s progress towards attaining the work goal. 

6. Special Provisions for Disabled Recipients Who Work 

This work incentive generally is referred to by its section number in the Social Security Act, section 1619.

Under section 1619(a), disabled individuals who would cease to be eligible because of earnings over the

substantial gainful activity level may receive special cash benefits so long as they:

 • Continue to have the disabling condition;

 • Have income under the amount which would cause ineligibility for any payment under SSI income

counting rules; and

 • Meet all other nondisability requirements for SSI payment.

In many States, being a recipient of the special benefit permits the individual to be eligible for Medicaid

benefits.

Under section 1619(b), “SSI recipient” status for Medicaid eligibility purposes also is provided to individuals:

 • Whose earnings preclude any SSI payment but are not sufficient to provide a reasonable equivalent of

SSI benefits, social services, and Medicaid benefits that an individual would have in the absence of

earnings; and 

 • Whose ability to continue working would be seriously inhibited by the loss of social services and

Medicaid benefits. 

To qualify for extended Medicaid coverage under section 1619(b) an individual must: 

 • Have a disabling condition;

 • Need Medicaid in order to work;

 • Not be able to afford equivalent medical coverage and publicly funded personal or attendant care

without assistance; 

 • Meet all nondisability requirements for SSI payment other than earnings; and 

 • Have received a regular SSI cash payment in a previous month within the current period of eligibility.

(In some States, the individual must have qualified for Medicaid the month preceding the first month

of 1619 eligibility.) 

In determining whether individuals’ earnings are not sufficient to provide them with the equivalent benefits they would be eligible for if they stopped working, their earnings are compared to a threshold amount

for their State of residence. Section 1619(b) status continues if the earnings are at or below the threshold.

If earnings exceed the State threshold, we make an individualized assessment of the need for Medicaid and

1619(b) status may continue. 
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2011 SSI Annual Report

7. Vocational Rehabilitation/Ticket to Work Program

Since the beginning of the SSI program, State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies have provided services to those blind or disabled SSI recipients whom they have accepted as clients. SSA has traditionally

reimbursed the VR agency for services provided in situations where the services result in the individual’s

working at the substantial gainful activity level for a continuous period of 9 months and in certain other

limited situations.

The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 established a Ticket to Work and SelfSufficiency program under which a blind or disabled beneficiary may obtain vocational rehabilitation,

employment, and other support services from a qualified private or public provider, referred to as an

“employment network” (EN), or from a State VR agency. In addition, the Ticket legislation provided that

ENs would be compensated under an outcome or outcome-milestone payment system.1 By expanding the

pool of providers and giving the providers incentives for achieving success, this program seeks to expand

a disabled beneficiary’s access to these services in order to assist the beneficiary in finding, entering, and

retaining employment and reducing his/her dependence on cash benefits.

The Ticket to Work program has been in operation nationwide since September 2004. Under this program

SSA provides eligible individuals who receive SSI benefits due to blindness or disability with a ticket.

These individuals may use the ticket to obtain the vocational rehabilitation services, employment services,

and other support services needed to return to work or go to work for the first time. The Ticket to Work

program provides that as long as the beneficiary is “using a ticket” SSA will not initiate a continuing disability review to determine whether the beneficiary has medically improved.

ENs and State VR agencies are the only providers of VR services to disabled SSI recipients that can be

compensated for those services by SSA. All ENs are compensated through the Ticket to Work program’s

milestone and/or outcome-based payment system. State VR agencies are compensated under the traditional VR reimbursement system unless they have elected to participate as an EN for specific cases. Any

services provided by the State VR agencies to SSI recipients who are not yet eligible for a ticket will be

compensated under the traditional VR reimbursement system.

Individuals who improve medically and, therefore, are no longer considered disabled or blind may continue to receive SSI benefits if they are actively participating in the Ticket to Work program or another

approved program of VR services, employment services, or other support services. For benefits to continue, SSA must determine that continuing or completing the program will increase the likelihood that

they will be permanently removed from the SSI rolls. SSI benefits and Medicaid generally continue until

the recipient completes the approved program or the individual ceases to participate in the program.

In 2008, SSA revised the Ticket to Work regulations to enhance beneficiary choice and improve the effectiveness of the program. The revisions extended the program to all adult SSDI and SSI blind or disabled

beneficiaries, removed disincentives for ENs to participate in the program, provided incentives for ENs to

support beneficiaries through a more gradual return to work and positioned ENs to better support ongoing

retention of employment. The regulations also encourage partnership between State VR agencies and ENs

to provide long-term services to a beneficiary by allowing the beneficiary to assign a ticket to an EN after

receiving VR services.

1 State VR agencies generally have the option on a case-by-case basis of electing to be paid under an EN payment system or under the traditional cost reimbursement payment system. Effective July 21, 2008, a State VR agency under the traditional cost reimbursement option and an EN under the EN payment

system may be compensated for providing successive services to a beneficiary.
2011 SSI Annual Report

18

8. Expedited Reinstatement

A disabled or blind individual whose eligibility for SSI payments ended because of earnings can request

expedited reinstatement of SSI benefits without filing a new application. To qualify for expedited reinstatement, the individual must make the request within 60 months after his/her eligibility ended and must

have a disabling medical condition that: (1) is the same as (or related to) the disabling medical condition

that led to the previous period of eligibility and (2) prevents the performance of substantial gainful activity. In determining whether the individual is disabled or blind, the medical improvement review standard is

applied. Normal nonmedical requirements for SSI eligibility still apply.

An individual requesting expedited reinstatement may receive up to 6 months of provisional benefits while

his/her request is pending. These benefits generally are not considered an overpayment if the request is

denied. Provisional benefits may include Medicaid but do not include any State supplementary payments.

F. ADMINISTRATION OF THE SSI PROGRAM

The framers of the SSI program chose SSA to administer the SSI program because the basic system for

paying monthly benefits to a large number of individuals was already in place in the form of the Social

Security program, and SSA had a long-standing favorable reputation for thoughtfully and respectfully

serving the public.

1. Application Process

Individuals can apply for SSI benefits at any one of the approximately 1,300 SSA field offices around the

country or through SSA teleservice centers. Although many of the eligibility requirements for the Social

Security program and the SSI program are different, the application process is very similar. Many times,

individuals file for benefits under both programs at the same time.

SSA corroborates information provided by applicants for SSI through independent or collateral sources.

Generally, the basic responsibility for obtaining evidence lies with the claimant, although SSA often gives

advice and assistance on ways to obtain the needed information. Due to the special circumstances of the

SSI population (for example, financial need, old age, or illness), SSA makes special efforts to assist claimants in obtaining this information.

With regard to disability and blindness claims, SSA determines the nonmedical eligibility factors and each

State’s disability determination services (DDS) determines the medical eligibility factors.1

2. Determination of Eligibility for Benefits

SSI applications have no retroactivity and become effective in the month after the month of filing or the

month after all eligibility requirements are met, whichever is later. Eligibility for benefits in a month is

based on income received in that month. We generally calculate the amount of the monthly benefit using

income in the second month preceding the month for which the benefit is paid.2 However, at the start of a

period of eligibility or re-eligibility, we determine the amount of benefits for both the first and second

months using the income received in the first month.

1 The applicant can appeal unfavorable determinations of either the nonmedical or medical eligibility factors. The administrative review process consists of

several steps, which must be requested within certain time periods.

2 This method of calculating the benefit is called retrospective monthly accounting.
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2011 SSI Annual Report

3. Payment of Benefits

In general we pay SSI benefits on the first day of each month. If the first of the month falls on a weekend

or legal public holiday, we deliver benefit payments on the first working day preceding such Saturday,

Sunday, or holiday. While SSA strongly encourages all SSI beneficiaries to receive their monthly benefits

by direct deposit, we also make benefit payments by check if individuals do not wish to use direct

deposit.1 Monthly benefit payments include both the Federal SSI and State amounts if the recipient lives

in a State in which SSA administers the State supplementary payment. (See section III.G.)

4. Ensuring Continued Eligibility for Benefits

SSI recipients have their nonmedical eligibility factors redetermined periodically, depending on their specific situation.

In addition to these nonmedical reviews, medical reviews are conducted on disabled or blind recipients in

order to determine if they continue to be disabled or blind. For administrative efficiency we conduct the

medical reviews most often on those disabled or blind recipients whose medical conditions are most likely

to improve. The Act generally requires that we conduct medical reviews for disabled or blind recipients

under the following circumstances:

 • When earnings of recipients exceed the substantial gainful activity level;2

 • At least once every 3 years for recipients under age 18 whose medical conditions are likely to

improve;

 • Not later than 12 months after birth for recipients whose low birth weight is a contributing factor

material to the determination of their disability, unless SSA determines that the impairment is not

likely to improve within 12 months of the child’s birth; and 

 • Within 1 year after attaining age 18 for those recipients whose eligibility we established under the disabled child eligibility criteria. We conduct the required review using the adult eligibility criteria.

The Social Security Act requires applicants and recipients to report events and changes of circumstances

that may affect their SSI eligibility and benefit amounts. The Act requires such reports, for example, when

an individual has a change in the amount of his/her income or resources, changes living arrangements, or

leaves the United States. Failure or delay in reporting such a change can result in monetary penalties or

ineligibility for SSI benefits.

The basic “failure to report” penalty is $25 for the first such failure or delay, $50 for the second such failure or delay, and $100 for each subsequent failure or delay. However, in cases of fraud or false representation of material facts, SSA’s Inspector General can assess civil monetary penalties in amounts as large as

$5,000. SSA also has the authority to suspend eligibility to SSI benefits for periods of 6, 12, or 24 months.

Additionally, SSA may use an accelerated rate of overpayment recovery to encourage accurate reporting.

Overpayments to SSI recipients are generally recovered by withholding from the monthly benefit an

amount equal to 10 percent of the individual’s countable monthly income. For many recipients whose only

income is SSI, this withheld amount is 10 percent of their monthly SSI payment. However, if SSA deter1 Effective May 1, 2011, applicants filing for SSI benefit payments must choose either direct deposit or the Direct Express® debit card, a prepaid debit card

available to any individual receiving SSI benefit payments. Individuals currently receiving payment by check will have until March 1, 2013 to switch to

direct deposit or the Direct Express® debit card. Through the first 6 months of fiscal year 2011, 68 percent of SSI recipients received their benefits by direct

deposit.

2 A medical review cannot be initiated while the SSI recipient is “using a ticket” under the Ticket to Work program.
2011 SSI Annual Report

20

mines that the recipient misrepresented or concealed material information, 100 percent of the monthly SSI

benefit may be subject to recovery.

5. Representative Payees 

When SSI recipients are incapable of managing their benefits or are declared legally incompetent, we

appoint representative payees for them, and we send their SSI benefits to the representative payees. In

many cases the representative payee is a spouse, a parent, or other close relative who will act in the recipient’s best interest. In some cases, SSA approves an organization to serve as a payee. SSA authorizes certain types of organizations to collect a fee from the benefit for acting as payee. The fee cannot exceed the

lesser of 10 percent of the benefit amount or a specified amount ($37 a month in 20111).

Representative payees may use an SSI recipient’s benefit only for the use and benefit of the recipient and

must account for all benefits received. The Act requires representative payees to report any changes that

may affect SSI recipients’ eligibility and payment amount and holds them liable for certain overpayments

that occur. In cases in which a child is due a retroactive payment that exceeds six times the Federal benefit

rate, we require the representative payee to establish a dedicated account at a financial institution to maintain the retroactive payment. Expenditures from the account must be used primarily for certain expenses

related to the child’s impairment.

6. Appeal Rights 

SSI applicants may disagree and file an appeal if SSA determines they are not eligible for SSI. There are

four levels of appeal: reconsideration, hearings, Appeals Council review, and Federal court. If applicants

do not receive the benefits they seek at one level, they may appeal to the next. A reconsideration is a complete review of the application by SSA (or by the DDS if applicants are appealing a disability decision). A

hearing gives applicants the opportunity to appear in person before an administrative law judge (ALJ) who

had no part in the original decision or the reconsideration. The Social Security Appeals Council may deny

a request for review if it believes the hearing decision was correct, or it may decide the case itself or

remand the case to the ALJ for further action. A Federal district court looks at cases when applicants disagree with the Appeal Council’s decision or denial of the request for review.2

SSI recipients must receive advance notice of any adverse action SSA plans to take against them and may

continue to receive monthly benefits if they appeal the adverse action. For nondisability appeals, recipients

qualify for benefit continuation at the reconsideration level if they file the appeal within 10 days of receipt

of the notice of adverse action. For appeals of medical cessations or determinations reopened and revised

due to medical reasons, recipients qualify for benefit continuation at the reconsideration and hearing levels

if they file the appeal and elect benefit continuation within 10 days of receipt of the initial or reconsideration determination.

7. Fees for Attorneys and Non-attorney Representatives

At any time, an individual may appoint a representative in any dealings with SSA. If such a representative

is an attorney, he/she must be in good standing, have the right to practice law before a court, not be disqualified or suspended from acting as a representative in dealings with SSA, and not be prohibited by any

law from acting as a representative. If the individual is not an attorney, he/she must meet qualifications

specified by SSA (e.g., be of good character and able to provide valuable service to claimants).

1 For disabled recipients who also have a drug addiction or alcoholism condition, the maximum permitted fee in 2011 is $72 a month (75 FR 74123).

2 SSA introduced a modification of this process in 10 States for disability applications filed October 1, 1999 and later. Under this revised process, applicants appeal initial disability denial decisions directly to the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR), thereby eliminating the reconsideration

step. The options for appeal beyond the ODAR level are unchanged.
21

2011 SSI Annual Report

Representatives must file a written request with SSA before they can charge or receive a fee for services

they provide. SSA decides the amount of the fee, if any, a representative may charge or receive. The representative may request authorization to charge and receive a fee under either a fee agreement or fee petition. The fee authorized under a fee agreement is the lesser of 25 percent of the past-due benefits or

$6,000. There is no limit on the amount of the fee under a fee petition; a reasonable fee is authorized for

specific services provided by the representative. If SSA is required to approve the fee, the representative

may not charge or receive more than the amount authorized. 

The SSI program has traditionally differed from the Social Security program in that we did not withhold

amounts from an individual’s SSI benefits to pay for representative fees. SSI claimants were responsible

for paying such fees directly to their representatives. However, beginning February 28, 2005, Congress

extended direct payment of both attorney and non-attorney representative fees to the SSI program.1 As in

the fee process for the Social Security program, we now charge representatives an assessment of the

smaller of 6.3 percent of each authorized fee withheld or the flat-rate cap of $83. We adjust the flat-rate

cap based on annual cost-of-living adjustments that we round down to the next lower dollar. 

Non-attorney representatives must meet specified prerequisites in order to be paid directly by SSA out of

SSI applicants’ past-due benefits. These prerequisites include having a bachelors’ degree or equivalent

qualifications from training or work experience; maintaining adequate liability insurance; passing a criminal background check; passing an examination given by SSA that tests relevant knowledge of the Social

Security Act and recent court decisions; and completing ongoing courses of continuing education.

8. Advance Payments 

The SSI program has procedures which help to respond to the immediate needs of new claimants. These

procedures are in addition to State and local programs designed to help those in need as they await decisions on their SSI status. 

a. Emergency Advance Payments 

A new claimant who faces a financial emergency, and for whom there is a strong likelihood of being found

eligible, may receive up to 1 month of SSI benefits; i.e., the Federal payment amount plus any applicable

State supplement. We recover the amount paid from later SSI payments (in full from the first payment or

in increments over no more than a 6-month period, depending upon the circumstances). However, if we

subsequently deny the claim because the claimant is not disabled or blind, we waive repayment. If we

deny the claim for other reasons, we treat the amount paid as an overpayment.

b. Presumptive Disability or Blindness 

A claimant applying for benefits based on disability or blindness may be paid up to 6 months’ benefits

when the available evidence reflects a high degree of probability that his/her impairment will meet the definition of disability or blindness and he/she is otherwise eligible. We do not treat these payments as overpayments if the individual is later determined not to be disabled or blind. If we disallow the claim for other

reasons, the amount paid would be an overpayment.

1 Public Law 108-203, enacted March 2, 2004, granted temporary extension of the attorney fee payment system to title XVI claims for a period of 5 years.

Public Law 111-142, enacted February 27, 2010, made this extension permanent.
2011 SSI Annual Report

22

G. STATE SUPPLEMENTATION

In designing the SSI program, Congress recognized that States,1 in many instances, may want to provide a

higher level of income maintenance than that provided by the Federal program. At the same time States

were given the option either to provide no supplementation to the Federal assistance payments or to supplement those payments based on their views of the needs of their citizens. Congress also mandated that

States not provide lower benefits under the Federal program than they had under the former State program.

The following paragraphs describe the various forms of State supplementation that currently exist. Table

III.H1 summarizes State-specific participation in these programs as well as other programs requiring State

and Federal coordination as discussed in section III.H.

1. Optional State Supplementary Payment Programs 

For individuals who first became eligible for SSI in 1974 or later, each State could supplement Federal

payments to whatever extent it found appropriate with respect to the needs of its citizens and resources of

the State. Currently, 44 States have optional State supplementary payment programs.

Some States provide supplementary payments to all individuals eligible for SSI benefits, while others limit

them to certain SSI recipients, such as the blind or residents of domiciliary-care facilities, or may extend

them to persons ineligible for SSI because of excess income. Congress significantly restricted States’ flexibility in setting supplementary payments, however, by the passalong provisions (see Passalong Provisions

section below).

2. Mandatory State Supplementary Payment Programs 

Congress requires2 States to maintain the December 1973 income levels of individuals who were transferred in 1974 from the former State adult assistance programs to the SSI program, except for Texas which

has a constitutional bar against mandatory State supplementation. Over the years, many individuals who

were converted to SSI from the State benefit rolls have died and others have had their incomes increase

above the December 1973 level. As a result, few individuals continue to receive mandatory State supplementary payments.

3. Administration of State Supplementary Payments 

A State may administer its supplementary program or enter into an agreement under which SSA will make

eligibility determinations and payments on behalf of the State. Under State administration, the State pays

its own program benefits and absorbs the full administrative costs. Under Federal administration, States

are required to pay SSA a fee for each supplementary payment issued. In fiscal year 2011, the fee is

$10.56 per payment issued. Fees are subject to change in succeeding fiscal years, based on increases in the

Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers.

States that administer their own supplementary payment programs to title XVI recipients establish their

own eligibility criteria for the supplementary payments. States with Federally-administered programs may

supplement the Federal benefit among a limited number of geographical and living arrangement variations

for title XVI recipients.3

1 References to State include, in addition to the 50 States, the District of Columbia. The applicable State supplementation provisions would also apply to the

Northern Mariana Islands if it began making State supplementary payments.

2 Requirement does not affect West Virginia, since, in 1973, SSI Federal benefit rates exceeded the applicable income standards under the State’s adult

assistance programs.

3 Includes, for this purpose, those eligible for title XVI benefits but for income.
23

2011 SSI Annual Report

4. Passalong Provisions

When the SSI program began in 1974, Congress did not require States to maintain their efforts with regard

to levels of State supplementary payments. However, in 1976 in reaction to States reducing their supplementary payment amounts when SSI payments were increased, Congress mandated that States pass along

SSI benefit increases resulting from cost-of-living adjustments. 

To meet the passalong requirement, a State may either maintain each State payment level from year-toyear—the “payment levels” method—or it may spend the same amount of money, in the aggregate, that it

spent for supplementary benefits in the 12-month period preceding the increase in the SSI benefit rate—

the “total expenditures” method. Currently, 42 States use the levels method and 8 use the expenditure

method. West Virginia has no optional supplementary plan and was not required to establish a mandatory

plan because Federal SSI income standards exceeded all payments made under the State’s adult assistance

programs in 1973. 

H. COORDINATION WITH OTHER PROGRAMS

SSI benefits are not the only form of assistance available to needy aged, blind, or disabled individuals.

Medicaid, food stamps, and temporary State assistance also are important in keeping individuals from sliding further into poverty. SSA plays a limited but important role in helping States with regard to administration of Medicaid and Food Stamp programs, and provisions in the SSI statute ensure that payments made

by States or under the Social Security program are not duplicated by SSI benefits. 

1. Windfall Offset 

If a person receives SSI payments and we later determine that person is entitled to retroactive Social Security benefits, we reduce such retroactive Social Security benefits by the amount of SSI payments the person would not have been eligible for had the Social Security benefits been paid in the month they were

due. Congress enacted this “windfall offset” to prevent windfall payments to individuals entitled to receive

Social Security and SSI payments for the same period.

2. Medicaid Determinations 

Most SSI recipients are categorically eligible for Medicaid. A State may either use SSI eligibility criteria

for determining Medicaid eligibility or use its own criteria as long as the criteria are no more restrictive

than the State’s January 1972 medical assistance standards. Forty States use SSI criteria and 11 States use

eligibility criteria more restrictive than those of the SSI program. 

States also may enter into agreements with SSA for SSA to make Medicaid eligibility determinations on

their behalf for as long as the eligibility requirements of the State’s Medicaid plans match those for the SSI

program. Under these agreements, SSA determines only when an individual is eligible for Medicaid; SSA

does not determine Medicaid ineligibility. SSA has Medicaid determination agreements with 33 States. 

The Act provides continued Medicaid eligibility for certain Social Security beneficiaries who lose SSI eligibility due to (1) entitlement to Social Security benefits or (2) a change in Social Security benefits resulting from:

 • Cost-of-living adjustments;

 • Actuarial increases in disabled widow(er)s benefits before age 60;

 • Changes in the definition of disability for widow(er)s benefits; or
2011 SSI Annual Report

24

 • Increases in or entitlement to childhood disability benefits.

3. Food Stamp Applications 

SSI recipients in all States, except California,1 may be eligible for food stamps. Under agreements entered

into by the Department of Agriculture and SSA, Social Security offices notify Social Security and SSI

applicants and recipients of their potential benefits under the Food Stamp Program and make food stamp

applications available to them.

The law also provides for Social Security offices to take food stamp applications from eligible or potentially eligible SSI households that are not already receiving food stamps and do not have a food stamp

application pending. Social Security offices forward the food stamp applications and any supporting documents to the local food stamp offices within one day of taking the application. The food stamp office

determines eligibility for food stamps. 

4. Interim Assistance Reimbursement 

SSA may enter into agreements under which States or local governments are reimbursed for basic needs

assistance provided during the period that either an eligible individual’s SSI application for benefits was

pending or we suspended and subsequently reinstated the individual’s SSI benefits.

Under these interim assistance reimbursement agreements, if the individual has given SSA written authorization, SSA first reimburses the State, then pays the authorized representative’s fee, and pays the remainder in installments to the recipient or his/her representative payee. In certain disabled children cases, SSA

pays the remainder in installments into special dedicated financial institution accounts for the children.

Thirty-eight States have interim assistance agreements with SSA. 

1 California “cashes out” food stamps and SSI recipients there receive a cash payment in their State supplementary payment in lieu of food stamps.
25

2011 SSI Annual Report

Table III.H1.—SSI State Supplementationa and Coordination with Other Programs

a See body of text for description of the various forms of State supplementation.

 United States and 

District of Columbia

Optional State program—

Administered by:

Method of mandatory 

passalong of benefit 

increases from 

cost-of-living adjustments

Medicaid eligibility 

determination— Interim 

assistance 

reimbursement 

agreement 

with SSA

Based on: Agreement 

with SSA 

to 

determine 

State eligibility

Federal 

(SSA)

Federal 

& State

“Payment

levels”

“Total

expenditures

”

Federal 

criteria

State

criteria

Alabama b

b State has no recipients receiving mandatory minimum State supplementation.

* * ** Alaska * * * * Arizona * * ** Arkansas c

c Mandatory minimum State supplementation program is Federally-administered. No optional program.

* * * California d

d Mandatory minimum State supplementation program is Federally-administered.

* * * ** Colorado * * * * * Connecticut b * * ** Delaware d * * * * * District of Columbia d * ** * * Florida b * * * * * Georgia d * * * ** Hawaii b * * * * Idaho * ** Illinois * * * * Indiana b * * ** Iowa d * * * * * Kansas c ** * Kentucky b * * * * * Louisiana d * * ** Maine * * * * * Maryland d * * * ** Massachusetts d * * * * * Michigan d * * * * * e

Minnesota b * * * * Mississippi c * ** Missouri * * * * Montana d * * * ** Nebraska * * * * Nevada b ** * * New Hampshire * * * * e

e State provides assistance only in initial application cases. No assistance provided during periods that SSI benefits are suspended or terminated.

New Jersey d * * * ** New Mexico * * * * * e

New York d ** * * * North Carolina * * * * * North Dakota b * * Ohio d * * * * Oklahoma * ** Oregon * * * * Pennsylvania d ** * * * Rhode Island b * * * * * e

South Carolina b * * ** South Dakota d * * * * Tennessee c * ** Texas f

f State does not have a mandatory minimum State supplementation program.

* * * * Utah b ** * * Vermont b * * * * * Virginia b * * ** Washington * * * * * West Virginia f * * Wisconsin * * * * * Wyoming * * **

Total number of States g

g Includes the District of Columbia.

29 8 7 42 8 40 11 33 38
2011 SSI Annual Report

26

IV. ESTIMATES OF PROGRAM RECIPIENTS AND FEDERAL EXPENDITURES

UNDER THE SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME PROGRAM, 2011-35

As section III explains, an individual must meet certain requirements related to his or her income and

resources to be eligible for SSI payments. In addition, all persons under age 65, and certain individuals age

65 or older, must be blind or disabled. Consequently, future SSI program expenditures will depend on a

variety of difficult-to-predict factors including the performance of national and local economies, distribution of personal income, the prevalence of disability in the general population, and the determination of

disability according to the definition in the Social Security Act. Nonetheless, for planning purposes we

must develop the best possible projections of future SSI program recipients and expenditures.

This section presents projections of program recipients and expenditures under the SSI program for a

period of 25 years. The projections are based on the intermediate demographic and economic assumptions

developed for 2011 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Federal Disability Insurance (OASDI) Trust Funds,1 and assume that the present statutory provisions and regulations under which the SSI program operates will not change during the projection period.

The current projection model starts with estimates of the general population by single year of age and gender. We project transitions into SSI payment status separately for: (1) new recipients resulting from an

application for program benefits and (2) returns to payment status from suspended status. We project

movements out of payment status separately for: (1) terminations due to death and (2) suspensions of payment for all other reasons.2 We reexamine the assumptions and methods the model uses each year in light

of recent experience and new information about future conditions and revise them if warranted.

A. DEMOGRAPHIC AND ECONOMIC ASSUMPTIONS

We first present select demographic and economic projections from the 2011 Trustees Report that we used

for the SSI projections in this SSI Annual Report. The single economic parameter that has the most direct

effect on the level of SSI benefits is the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (hereafter denoted as CPI),3 which is used for indexing the SSI Federal benefit rate. Sections V.A and

V.B of the Trustees Report present a detailed discussion of these demographic and economic projections.4

An important feature of the intermediate assumptions for the 2011 Trustees Report is a continuation of the

recent economic downturn, with a return to a sustainable path for the economy over the following several

years. The economic downturn appears to have generated a temporary large increase in applications for

SSI disability benefits and a consequent increase in projected SSI expenditures, although we expect the

level of applications to decline as the economy recovers.

The following two tables summarize the key parameters underlying the estimates in this report. Table

IV.A1 presents population projections by selected age subgroups which are consistent with the presentation of SSI recipient projections in the next section. Table IV.A2 presents a complete history of the cost-ofliving adjustment factors and Federal benefit rates since the inception of the program, along with projections of such amounts consistent with the economic assumptions underlying the SSI expenditure estimates

in section IV.C.

1 House Document 112-23, published May 13, 2011.

2 The two main reasons other than death for termination of SSI payments are: (1) failure to satisfy income and resource limitations of the SSI program;

and (2) recovery from a qualifying disability.

3 Historical values of the CPI are developed and published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

4 Ibid, Section V.A, Demographic Assumptions and Methods and Section V.B, Economic Assumptions and Methods.
27

2011 SSI Annual Report

Notes: 1. Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

2. Historical data are estimated and subject to revision.

Table IV.A1.—Historical and Projected Social Security Area Population based on the 

Intermediate Assumptions of the 2011 OASDI Trustees Report, as of July 1, 1974-2035

[In thousands]

Year

Age groups a

a Age as of last birthday.

Total

0-17 18-34 35-49 50-64 65-74 75 or older all ages

Historical data:

1974 .................. 70,933 59,817 36,397 32,754 13,793 8,875 222,568

1975 .................. 69,957 61,794 36,373 33,113 14,089 9,087 224,414

1976 .................. 68,953 63,718 36,489 33,395 14,390 9,351 226,295

1977 .................. 68,061 65,441 36,819 33,675 14,703 9,604 228,303

1978 .................. 67,280 67,022 37,356 33,925 15,036 9,844 230,464

1979 .................. 66,574 68,612 37,975 34,111 15,398 10,137 232,808

1980 .................. 66,060 70,179 38,540 34,257 15,747 10,449 235,231

1981 .................. 65,683 71,442 39,357 34,337 16,034 10,751 237,605

1982 .................. 65,411 72,196 40,739 34,307 16,324 11,075 240,052

1983 .................. 65,269 72,696 42,303 34,229 16,579 11,404 242,480

1984 .................. 65,284 73,095 43,810 34,151 16,813 11,717 244,870

1985 .................. 65,475 73,355 45,333 34,032 17,092 12,028 247,315

1986 .................. 65,757 73,510 46,915 33,881 17,409 12,337 249,809

1987 .................. 66,024 73,611 48,570 33,777 17,701 12,641 252,324

1988 .................. 66,292 73,696 50,261 33,759 17,942 12,946 254,897

1989 .................. 66,707 73,643 52,020 33,828 18,141 13,275 257,612

1990 .................. 67,545 73,281 53,807 33,939 18,367 13,622 260,562

1991 .................. 68,715 72,629 55,585 34,126 18,632 13,957 263,644

1992 .................. 69,874 71,848 57,288 34,532 18,859 14,291 266,692

1993 .................. 70,929 71,097 58,842 35,137 19,024 14,615 269,645

1994 .................. 71,853 70,360 60,418 35,777 19,127 14,938 272,472

1995 .................. 72,606 69,661 62,094 36,365 19,164 15,286 275,176

1996 .................. 73,195 69,102 63,521 37,198 19,136 15,649 277,800

1997 .................. 73,611 68,730 64,470 38,524 19,054 16,012 280,401

1998 .................. 73,858 68,550 65,263 40,027 18,932 16,348 282,977

1999 .................. 74,067 68,485 66,050 41,502 18,799 16,651 285,554

2000 .................. 74,354 68,510 66,634 42,991 18,720 16,930 288,139

2001 .................. 74,698 68,692 66,975 44,491 18,693 17,182 290,731

2002 .................. 74,986 69,006 67,114 46,053 18,712 17,405 293,276

2003 .................. 75,230 69,411 67,116 47,667 18,797 17,612 295,832

2004 .................. 75,451 69,793 67,089 49,338 18,954 17,834 298,460

2005 .................. 75,658 70,118 67,091 51,054 19,184 18,046 301,152

2006 .................. 75,886 70,545 67,026 52,758 19,524 18,242 303,980

2007 .................. 76,094 71,237 66,730 54,395 20,053 18,434 306,943

2008 .................. 76,202 72,185 66,232 55,943 20,731 18,590 309,882

2009 .................. 76,217 73,068 65,627 57,508 21,405 18,725 312,551

2010 .................. 76,292 73,761 64,945 59,138 22,023 18,873 315,032

Projected:

2011................... 76,515 74,400 64,276 60,538 22,821 19,042 317,592

2012 .................. 76,831 74,982 63,701 61,502 23,969 19,237 320,222

2013 .................. 77,230 75,494 63,244 62,313 25,183 19,474 322,937

2014 .................. 77,711 75,912 62,952 63,113 26,310 19,752 325,751

2015 .................. 78,257 76,238 62,922 63,744 27,431 20,067 328,659

2016 .................. 78,824 76,530 63,140 64,136 28,526 20,450 331,607

2017 .................. 79,372 76,834 63,493 64,327 29,561 20,953 334,540

2018 .................. 79,887 77,183 63,860 64,399 30,576 21,552 337,457

2019 .................. 80,402 77,539 64,155 64,433 31,668 22,157 340,354

2020 .................. 80,941 77,841 64,390 64,474 32,850 22,732 343,228

2021 .................. 81,467 78,129 64,678 64,427 33,906 23,469 346,075

2022 .................. 81,962 78,433 65,148 64,139 34,701 24,508 348,891

2023 .................. 82,436 78,712 65,839 63,634 35,431 25,620 351,672

2024 .................. 82,860 78,947 66,689 63,039 36,202 26,676 354,412

2025 .................. 83,220 79,155 67,624 62,410 36,963 27,737 357,110

2026 .................. 83,580 79,354 68,557 61,802 37,658 28,812 359,762

2027 .................. 84,002 79,533 69,391 61,287 38,237 29,914 362,364

2028 .................. 84,409 79,780 70,087 60,881 38,701 31,055 364,914

2029 .................. 84,754 80,137 70,623 60,627 39,028 32,240 367,410

2030 .................. 85,086 80,545 70,997 60,613 39,163 33,446 369,850

2031 .................. 85,404 81,004 71,271 60,827 39,075 34,653 372,233

2032 .................. 85,709 81,499 71,504 61,171 38,812 35,866 374,561

2033 .................. 86,002 82,008 71,741 61,533 38,495 37,054 376,834

2034 .................. 86,284 82,503 72,009 61,833 38,220 38,204 379,052

2035 .................. 86,556 82,970 72,283 62,086 38,001 39,323 381,219
2011 SSI Annual Report

28

Table IV.A2.—SSI Federal Benefit Rate Increases and Levels: Historical and Projected on the Basis of the Intermediate

Assumptions of the 2011 OASDI Trustees Report, 1974-2035

Year

Benefit rate

increase a

a Increases prior to 1984 were effective for the payment due on July 1 of the year. Increases shown for 1984 and later are effective for the payment due on

January 1 of the year.

Federal benefit rate

Individual Couple Essential person b

b A concept carried over from the former State assistance plans. Fewer than 50 of those cases currently remain.

Historical data:

Initial benefit paid January 1, 1974 c ...............

c SSA paid benefits in January 1974 using the Federal benefit rates established by Public Law 92-603, enacted October 30, 1972: $130.00 for individuals;

$195.00 for couples; and $65.00 for essential persons. SSA subsequently made retroactive payments to adjust initial payments to the higher Federal benefit

rates established by Public Law 93-233, enacted December 31, 1973.

— $140.00 $210.00 $70.00

1974....................................................... d 4.3%

d Ad hoc increases as specified in the law.

146.00 219.00 73.00

1975....................................................... 8.0 157.70 236.60 78.90

1976....................................................... 6.4 167.80 251.80 84.00

1977....................................................... 5.9 177.80 266.70 89.00

1978....................................................... 6.5 189.40 284.10 94.80

1979....................................................... 9.9 208.20 312.30 104.20

1980....................................................... 14.3 238.00 357.00 119.20

1981....................................................... 11.2 264.70 397.00 132.60

1982....................................................... 7.4 284.30 426.40 142.50

1983....................................................... d 7.0 304.30 456.40 152.50

1984....................................................... 3.5 314.00 472.00 157.00

1985....................................................... 3.5 325.00 488.00 163.00

1986....................................................... 3.1 336.00 504.00 168.00

1987....................................................... 1.3 340.00 510.00 170.00

1988....................................................... 4.2 354.00 532.00 177.00

1989....................................................... 4.0 368.00 553.00 184.00

1990....................................................... 4.7 386.00 579.00 193.00

1991....................................................... 5.4 407.00 610.00 204.00

1992....................................................... 3.7 422.00 633.00 211.00

1993....................................................... 3.0 434.00 652.00 217.00

1994....................................................... 2.6 446.00 669.00 223.00

1995....................................................... 2.8 458.00 687.00 229.00

1996....................................................... 2.6 470.00 705.00 235.00

1997....................................................... 2.9 484.00 726.00 242.00

1998....................................................... 2.1 494.00 741.00 247.00

1999....................................................... 1.3 500.00 751.00 250.00

2000....................................................... e 2.5

e Originally determined as 2.4 percent, but pursuant to Public Law 106-554, enacted December 21, 2000, is effectively now 2.5 percent.

f

 513.00

f SSA originally paid benefits in 2000 and through July 2001 based on Federal benefit rates of $512.00 and $530.00, respectively. Pursuant to Public Law

106-554, beginning in August 2001 SSA made monthly payments based on the higher $531 amount. SSA made lump-sum compensation payments based on

an adjusted benefit rate for months prior to August 2001.

769.00 257.00

2001....................................................... 3.5 f 531.00 796.00 266.00

2002....................................................... 2.6 545.00 817.00 273.00

2003....................................................... 1.4 552.00 829.00 277.00

2004....................................................... 2.1 564.00 846.00 282.00

2005....................................................... 2.7 579.00 869.00 290.00

2006....................................................... 4.1 603.00 904.00 302.00

2007....................................................... 3.3 623.00 934.00 312.00

2008....................................................... 2.3 637.00 956.00 319.00

2009....................................................... 5.8 674.00 1,011.00 338.00

2010....................................................... 0.0 674.00 1,011.00 338.00

2011....................................................... 0.0 674.00 1,011.00 338.00

Projected:

2012....................................................... 0.7 679.00 1,018.00 340.00

2013....................................................... 1.7 690.00 1,036.00 346.00

2014....................................................... 1.9 704.00 1,055.00 352.00

2015....................................................... 2.0 718.00 1,077.00 359.00

2016....................................................... 2.0 732.00 1,098.00 367.00

2017....................................................... 2.0 747.00 1,120.00 374.00

2018....................................................... 2.2 763.00 1,145.00 382.00

2019....................................................... 2.7 784.00 1,176.00 392.00

2020....................................................... 2.8 806.00 1,209.00 403.00

2021....................................................... 2.8 828.00 1,242.00 415.00

2022....................................................... 2.8 851.00 1,277.00 426.00

2023....................................................... 2.8 875.00 1,313.00 438.00

2024....................................................... 2.8 900.00 1,350.00 451.00

2025....................................................... 2.8 925.00 1,388.00 463.00

2026....................................................... 2.8 951.00 1,426.00 476.00

2027....................................................... 2.8 978.00 1,466.00 490.00

2028....................................................... 2.8 1,005.00 1,507.00 503.00

2029....................................................... 2.8 1,033.00 1,550.00 517.00

2030....................................................... 2.8 1,062.00 1,593.00 532.00

2031....................................................... 2.8 1,092.00 1,638.00 547.00

2032....................................................... 2.8 1,122.00 1,684.00 562.00

2033....................................................... 2.8 1,154.00 1,731.00 578.00

2034....................................................... 2.8 1,186.00 1,779.00 594.00

2035....................................................... 2.8 1,219.00 1,829.00 611.00
29

2011 SSI Annual Report

The adjustment to the monthly Federal benefit rate in January of each year reflects the increase in the CPI,

generally from the third quarter of the second prior calendar year to the third quarter of the prior calendar

year. This cost-of-living adjustment is identical to the adjustment applied to Social Security benefits under

the OASDI program after initial benefit eligibility. In previous years, the Federal benefit rate was subject

to occasional ad hoc increases, either in place of or in addition to the automatic adjustments. Table V.A1

presents a history of legislation affecting the Federal benefit rate. It is worth noting that the Federal benefit

rate did not increase in 2010 or 2011; table IV.A2 shows the increases for January 1, 2010 and January 1,

2011 as 0.0 percent. This unusual situation occurred because the CPI in both the third quarter of 2009 and

the third quarter of 2010 was below the actual level achieved in the third quarter of 2008. We assume that

the CPI in the third quarter of 2011 will be 0.7 percent higher than the CPI in the third quarter of 2008,

yielding an assumed Federal benefit rate increase of 0.7 percent for January 1, 2012.
2011 SSI Annual Report

30

B. NUMBERS OF SSI PROGRAM RECIPIENTS

This section presents projections of the numbers of persons receiving Federal SSI payments by category

and age group.1 The SSI recipient categories of (1) aged or (2) blind or disabled identify the criteria under

which the recipient established eligibility for SSI benefits. The following paragraphs discuss the recipient

categories in more detail.

 • Aged recipients establish their eligibility for SSI benefits by meeting the age-65-or-older requirement2 and other SSI eligibility requirements. In December 2010, 1.2 million aged individuals

received Federally-administered SSI payments. 

 • Blind or disabled recipients establish their eligibility for SSI benefits by meeting the definition of

blindness or disability and the applicable income and resource limits as well as any other SSI eligibility requirements. In December 2010, there were 6.7 million blind or disabled recipients of Federallyadministered SSI payments. These recipients can fall into two subcategories based on age: blind or

disabled adults (age 18 or older) and blind or disabled children (under age 18). 

 — Blind or disabled adults meet the definition of blindness or disability for individuals age 18 or

older and SSI income and resource limits. Students age 18 to 21 must meet the adult definition of

disability; they differ from other adults only in that they qualify for a special student earned

income exclusion. When blind or disabled adult recipients reach age 65, we generally continue

to classify them as blind or disabled adults (rather than aged). In December 2010, 5.5 million

blind or disabled individuals age 18 or older received Federally-administered SSI payments,

including 858 thousand disabled or blind recipients age 65 or older.

 — Blind or disabled children meet the definition of blindness or disability for individuals under age

18. These children are subject to parent-to-child deeming until they reach the age of 18. At age

18 these individuals continue to be eligible for SSI if they meet the definition of blindness or disability for individuals age 18 or older as well as other eligibility criteria. We reclassify those who

continue to be eligible after age 18 as blind or disabled adults. In December 2010, 1.2 million

blind or disabled individuals under age 18 received Federally-administered SSI payments.

Table IV.B1 presents historical and projected numbers of persons applying for SSI benefits, by calendar

year. Figure IV.B1 presents the same information in graphical form. Experience within the past decade

shows the number of applications growing fairly rapidly beginning in calendar year 2002, with the growth

continuing through calendar year 2005. The rate of growth in applications slowed significantly from 2005

to 2007, but started increasing again in 2008, with a noteworthy 14 percent increase in 2009, largely due to

the economic recession. The level of applications remained high in 2010 with a further 2 percent increase

over 2009. Two main factors contributed to the fairly rapid growth in applications from 2002 to 2004:

(1) the downturn in the economy that began early in 2001 and (2) implementation of the signature proxy

process3 that SSA introduced in June 2004. We presume that the current downturn caused the recent

1 We project recipient flows on a calendar-year-age basis, with activity throughout a given year tabulated according to age at the end of the calendar year.

Tabulations of recipients in current-payment status are provided as of December of each calendar year at which time calendar year of age and age last birthday are the same. However, the tabulations that reflect activity throughout the calendar year are summarized according to calendar year of age and will not

correspond precisely to tabulations summarized according to age last birthday. For example, applications for the 0-17 age group for a given calendar year

include applications only for those individuals who are under 18 at the end of the calendar year.

2 Individuals may apply for SSI benefits based on age as of the day preceding their 65th birthday.

3 The signature proxy process eases the application process by eliminating the requirement for a signed paper application from SSI applicants filing claims

via the telephone. Previously, some portion of those telephone applicants never followed through with a signed paper application and as a result were not

counted as received applications. Under the signature proxy process, most of those previously uncounted applications are now reported in SSA workload

totals. However, many of these “new” applications are never completed with the required financial or medical evidence resulting in an increase in the number of recorded denials, but not a corresponding increase in the numbers of new SSI recipients.
31

2011 SSI Annual Report

a Based on data reported in the Integrated Workload Management System (formerly known as the District Office Workload Report).

b “All” column estimated by the Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics using a 10-percent sample and published in the SSI Annual Statistical

Report.

c Includes conversions from State programs and applications received in 1973.

d Fewer than 500.

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components. Historical split among age groups is estimated on a calendar year of age basis.

Table IV.B1.—SSI Federally-Administered Applications,a Calendar Years 1974-2035

[In thousands]

Calendar year

Blind or disabled, by age group Aged, by age group Totals

0-17 18-34 35-49 50-64 65-74

75 or

older 65-74

75 or

older

Blind or

disabled Aged All

Historical data:

1974 b, c ... 125 590 626 1,303 158 20 1,434 1,496 2,822 2,931 5,752

1975 b....... 94 276 258 443 15 d 238 145 1,086 382 1,468

1976 ......... 82 260 250 384 8 d 175 80 984 254 1,239

1977 ......... 100 286 246 401 7 1 174 84 1,040 259 1,298

1978 ......... 94 276 256 413 7 d 170 88 1,046 258 1,304

1979 ......... 106 282 268 426 7 d 178 84 1,090 262 1,352

1980 ......... 122 310 272 438 8 1 187 89 1,151 276 1,427

1981 ......... 78 206 173 271 5 d 88 42 733 130 864

1982 ......... 88 246 206 278 11 1 93 48 830 141 971

1983 ......... 102 258 225 311 5 1 122 68 902 190 1,092

1984 ......... 103 267 247 321 7 d 178 108 944 286 1,230

1985 ......... 114 294 297 409 7 d 151 73 1,122 223 1,345

1986 ......... 122 316 334 426 7 1 150 81 1,205 231 1,437

1987 ......... 108 287 299 331 7 1 134 66 1,033 200 1,233

1988 ......... 114 282 301 317 7 1 131 69 1,021 200 1,221

1989 ......... 116 297 323 329 7 d 146 76 1,072 222 1,294

1990 ......... 149 335 380 356 6 d 156 71 1,226 227 1,454

1991 ......... 237 391 453 391 7 d 159 68 1,479 227 1,706

1992 ......... 339 453 522 407 8 d 163 64 1,728 226 1,955

1993 ......... 473 506 570 416 7 d 158 61 1,973 218 2,191

1994 ......... 517 492 571 402 6 d 136 52 1,989 188 2,177

1995 ......... 473 435 524 363 6 d 121 44 1,801 165 1,966

1996 ......... 431 393 500 345 9 1 108 44 1,678 153 1,831

1997 ......... 306 317 438 307 8 1 82 35 1,377 117 1,494

1998 ......... 318 317 453 331 9 1 96 39 1,428 136 1,563

1999 ......... 338 317 470 336 6 d 107 39 1,468 145 1,614

2000 ......... 337 321 486 341 6 d 102 39 1,493 140 1,633

2001 ......... 351 346 502 354 4 d 98 35 1,558 134 1,691

2002 ......... 385 388 550 384 4 d 105 38 1,711 142 1,853

2003 ......... 400 404 565 408 4 d 100 36 1,781 135 1,916

2004 ......... 420 438 604 452 4 d 101 37 1,919 138 2,057

2005 ......... 429 439 604 477 5 d 112 44 1,954 156 2,110

2006 ......... 415 437 584 484 4 d 109 41 1,925 150 2,075

2007 ......... 421 442 578 502 5 d 105 39 1,948 143 2,091

2008 ......... 434 482 593 535 5 d 109 38 2,048 147 2,195

2009 ......... 497 578 666 612 5 d 110 37 2,359 147 2,506

2010 ......... 503 599 666 645 5 1 110 38 2,419 148 2,567

Projected:

2011 ......... 497 566 658 659 7 d 115 38 2,388 152 2,541

2012 ......... 507 561 649 658 7 d 124 38 2,381 162 2,543

2013 ......... 478 521 595 615 6 d 130 38 2,216 169 2,385

2014 ......... 451 494 561 588 6 d 136 39 2,099 175 2,274

2015 ......... 439 482 549 578 6 d 142 40 2,054 181 2,235

2016 ......... 430 469 539 565 6 d 148 41 2,009 188 2,198

2017 ......... 427 462 536 557 6 d 153 42 1,989 196 2,185

2018 ......... 431 464 539 556 7 d 159 44 1,996 203 2,199

2019 ......... 442 475 550 566 7 d 164 45 2,040 209 2,249

2020 ......... 445 476 551 566 7 d 170 46 2,045 216 2,261

2021 ......... 447 478 554 564 7 d 174 48 2,050 222 2,272

2022 ......... 450 480 558 559 7 d 177 50 2,055 228 2,283

2023 ......... 452 482 565 553 8 d 181 52 2,060 233 2,293

2024 ......... 454 483 573 547 8 d 184 55 2,065 238 2,304

2025 ......... 456 484 581 541 8 d 187 57 2,071 244 2,314

2026 ......... 458 485 589 536 8 d 189 59 2,076 248 2,324

2027 ......... 460 486 596 533 8 d 191 61 2,082 251 2,334

2028 ......... 462 488 601 531 8 d 192 63 2,090 254 2,344

2029 ......... 464 490 605 531 8 d 192 65 2,098 257 2,355

2030 ......... 465 493 608 534 7 d 190 67 2,107 258 2,365

2031 ......... 467 496 611 537 7 d 187 70 2,117 257 2,374

2032 ......... 468 499 613 540 7 d 185 72 2,127 257 2,384

2033 ......... 470 502 615 543 7 d 183 74 2,137 257 2,394

2034 ......... 471 505 618 546 7 d 183 76 2,147 259 2,406

2035 ......... 472 508 620 550 7 d 184 78 2,157 261 2,419
2011 SSI Annual Report

32

large increase in applications. During the continued economic slowdown, we project higher levels of

unemployment, resulting in substantially more applications than the general trend suggests. We expect

fewer applications as the economy recovers. Some of the earlier additional applications will be cases that

would have applied in a later year, so, for a brief period, we expect fewer applications than the general

trend suggests. In the longer term, we estimate that applications will grow roughly in line with overall

population growth.

As part of our adjudication of these applications, we evaluate levels of income and resources available to

the applicants, as well as other eligibility factors including marital and citizenship status and living

arrangements. In addition, well over 90 percent of the applications are for disability benefits which require

the appropriate State DDS to evaluate the alleged impairment. Applicants may appeal an unfavorable disability determination through several administrative levels of appeal. If an applicant exhausts all administrative levels of appeal, he or she may carry the appeal to the Federal courts.1

Table IV.B2 and figure IV.B2 present historical and projected numbers of persons who start receiving SSI

payments as a result of this decision process. We count individuals as of the first month that they move

into SSI payment status. For this reason, we refer to these individuals as “new recipients” rather than

“awards.”2 From 2002 to 2004, growth in new recipients did not keep pace with the growth in applications, and from 2005 to 2007, the numbers of new recipients declined, even though the numbers of appli-

 Figure IV.B1.—SSI Federally-Administered Applications by Age Group, Calendar Years 1975-2035

[In thousands]

1 See section V.C for data on recent experience in the disability decision process.

2 In addition, these counts differ slightly from other similar totals identified as “awards” and published by the Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics

(ORES) in the Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin. The ORES totals are similar in concept to those used in this report, but differ

slightly due to the timing of the action being tabulated. For example, ORES does not count a disability benefit as being awarded until the disability decision

is made. In contrast, under the procedures used in this report, individuals first coming on the SSI rolls through a finding of presumptive disability would be

counted as a “new recipient” in the first month of presumptive disability payment.

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035

Calendar year 

35-49 

65-74 

50-64 

18-34 

0-17 

Historical Projected 

75 or older 
33

2011 SSI Annual Report

cations increased. Two main factors contributed to the slower growth for new recipients as compared to

applications. First, since 2001 the number of claims pending adjudication significantly increased. This

a Represents period in which first payment was made, not date of first eligibility for payments.

b Historical totals estimated based on 1-percent or 10-percent sample data.

c Totals for 1974 include recipients converted from previous State programs as well as new recipients to the SSI program during 1974. d Fewer than 500.

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components. Historical split among age groups is estimated on a calendar year of age basis.

Table IV.B2.—SSI Federally-Administered New Recipients, Calendar Years 1974-2035

[In thousands]

Calendar year a

Blind or disabled, by age group Aged, by age group Totals b

0-17 18-34 35-49 50-64 65-74

75 or

older 65-74

75 or

older

Blind or

disabled Aged All

Historical data:

1974 c ...... 63 390 381 925 141 18 1,211 1,268 1,919 2,479 4,398

1975......... 58 133 105 272 16 d 216 131 584 347 931

1976......... 43 105 88 207 9 d 147 70 452 218 669

1977......... 48 104 84 184 8 1 140 69 429 209 637

1978......... 43 92 76 154 6 d 127 66 370 193 563

1979......... 44 87 62 133 4 d 116 53 330 169 499

1980......... 41 92 61 142 4 d 125 59 341 184 524

1981......... 37 77 49 106 3 d 80 37 272 117 389

1982......... 38 63 51 90 4 d 72 31 245 103 348

1983......... 47 88 62 117 3 d 95 51 317 146 463

1984......... 47 109 78 142 4 d 131 78 380 209 589

1985......... 48 104 80 148 4 d 106 46 384 152 536

1986......... 55 127 109 153 5 d 110 51 449 161 610

1987......... 48 119 106 157 5 d 116 52 435 167 602

1988......... 50 101 108 146 5 1 112 56 412 167 579

1989......... 48 113 115 155 5 d 127 62 436 189 625

1990......... 76 136 134 182 5 d 149 66 533 215 748

1991......... 126 146 172 200 6 d 139 54 650 193 844

1992......... 221 199 221 233 6 d 133 48 881 181 1,062

1993......... 235 194 221 225 6 d 136 49 881 185 1,066

1994......... 204 164 207 215 6 d 116 42 796 157 953

1995......... 177 147 207 218 5 d 105 36 755 141 895

1996......... 145 134 193 203 6 1 93 35 681 128 809

1997......... 116 111 171 178 4 d 68 25 580 93 673

1998......... 135 117 181 194 7 1 78 30 634 108 742

1999......... 140 114 186 195 5 d 88 33 640 120 760

2000......... 145 112 180 191 5 d 84 31 633 115 748

2001......... 157 121 185 198 4 d 79 28 665 107 772

2002......... 171 128 195 212 4 d 82 29 710 111 821

2003......... 180 132 194 214 4 d 77 27 724 104 828

2004......... 183 138 202 231 4 d 78 27 757 105 862

2005......... 178 131 192 238 4 d 81 29 744 111 854

2006......... 175 128 190 243 3 d 81 28 739 109 849

2007......... 172 128 186 252 3 d 75 27 741 103 844

2008......... 183 146 204 289 4 d 79 26 825 105 930

2009......... 198 161 214 322 4 d 80 26 900 106 1,006

2010......... 205 173 221 346 4 d 80 26 949 106 1,055

Projected:

2011......... 207 171 227 372 6 d 86 26 983 112 1,095

2012......... 209 163 217 360 6 d 92 26 956 118 1,074

2013......... 201 154 202 341 6 d 98 27 903 125 1,029

2014......... 187 143 185 317 6 d 100 27 837 127 964

2015......... 181 139 181 308 6 d 104 28 814 132 946

2016......... 178 137 178 299 6 d 109 28 798 137 935

2017......... 177 137 177 293 6 d 113 30 790 143 933

2018......... 178 138 178 292 7 d 118 31 794 148 942

2019......... 186 143 185 303 7 d 124 32 824 156 981

2020......... 184 141 182 296 7 d 125 32 810 158 968

2021......... 185 142 182 295 7 d 128 34 811 162 973

2022......... 186 142 184 293 7 d 131 35 812 166 978

2023......... 186 143 186 290 7 d 133 37 813 170 982

2024......... 191 146 192 292 8 d 138 39 830 177 1,006

2025......... 189 144 192 284 8 d 138 40 816 178 993

2026......... 189 144 194 281 8 d 139 41 815 180 995

2027......... 190 144 196 279 7 d 139 43 816 182 998

2028......... 190 145 198 277 7 d 140 44 818 184 1,002

2029......... 191 146 199 277 7 d 140 46 820 186 1,006

2030......... 195 149 204 283 7 d 141 48 839 189 1,029

2031......... 193 147 202 279 7 d 137 49 828 185 1,013

2032......... 193 148 202 280 7 d 134 50 830 185 1,014

2033......... 193 149 203 281 7 d 133 52 833 185 1,018

2034......... 194 150 204 283 7 d 133 53 837 186 1,023

2035......... 194 151 204 284 7 d 133 54 841 187 1,028
2011 SSI Annual Report

34

growth was consistent with a longer lag time between application and the allowance decision. Second,

after the introduction of the signature proxy process, the number of denials for applications not meeting

the nonmedical criteria increased significantly, causing a permanent downward shift in the allowance rate.

Starting in 2008, however, the numbers of new recipients increased substantially. This increase was likely

attributable to: (1) the sharp increase in applications; (2) improvements in claims processing; and (3) an

initiative to accelerate the processing of cases pending adjudication. Consistent with the projected applications, we project the total number of new recipients to peak in 2011 and decline thereafter to a relative low

point by 2017. Over the longer term, we project the number of new recipients to increase gradually in line

with the projected growth in applications.

Some persons receiving SSI benefits in a year will stop receiving payments during the year because of

death or the loss of SSI eligibility. A recipient can lose eligibility in two ways: (1) a nonmedical redetermination; or (2) a continuing disability review (CDR).1 In a redetermination, we reexamine the recipient's

nonmedical factors of eligibility, including income and resources. In a CDR, we determine whether the

recipient continues to meet the Social Security Act's definition of disability. For example, disabled children, upon attainment of age 18, lose eligibility if they do not qualify for benefits under the disabled adult

eligibility criteria. We refer to the net reduction in the number of SSI recipients in current-payment status

during a period as the number of SSI terminations for that period. 

In the following tables, we have separated the numbers of persons moving out of payment status into terminations due to death (table IV.B3), and terminations for all other reasons (table IV.B4). Table IV.B5 and

figure IV.B3 present historical and projected numbers of total terminations by calendar year. The actual

number of terminations in 2010 continued at a fairly high level despite declining more than 3 percent from

2009 levels. The reduction in the number of terminations is due to a decline in the number of terminations

 Figure IV.B2.—SSI Federally-Administered New Recipients by Age Group, Calendar Years 1975-2035

[In thousands]

1 Some historical details on income and resource redeterminations and the results of continuing disability reviews are presented in section V.D. Section V.E

presents information on certain incentive programs intended to encourage disabled SSI recipients to return to work.

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035

Calendar year 

35-49 

65-74 

50-64 

18-34 

0-17 

75 or older 

Historical Projected 
35

2011 SSI Annual Report

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components. Historical split among age groups is estimated on a calendar year of age basis.

Table IV.B3.—SSI Federally-Administered Terminations Due to Deatha, Calendar Years 1974-2035

[In thousands]

Calendar year

Blind or disabled, by age group Aged, by age group Totals b

0-17 18-34 35-49 50-64 65-74

75 or

older 65-74

75 or

older

Blind or

disabled Aged All

Historical data:

1974 ......... c 3 8 34 7 2 40 97 55 137 192

1975 ......... 1 5 12 35 10 2 39 108 65 147 212

1976 ......... 2 5 9 36 12 1 34 103 64 137 201

1977 ......... 1 5 12 30 15 1 36 101 65 137 203

1978 ......... 2 5 8 34 16 2 31 95 67 126 193

1979 ......... 2 6 9 32 18 2 29 92 67 121 189

1980 ......... 3 5 9 31 22 1 27 100 71 127 198

1981 ......... 3 5 8 31 24 2 21 92 73 112 186

1982 ......... 3 4 8 28 21 2 16 80 65 96 161

1983 ......... 3 6 8 25 21 3 15 79 65 94 158

1984 ......... 3 4 9 29 18 5 13 83 67 96 163

1985 ......... 2 6 10 29 24 6 17 84 77 101 178

1986 ......... 2 8 12 28 22 8 15 83 80 98 178

1987 ......... 3 8 13 30 23 10 15 82 87 97 184

1988 ......... 5 8 14 31 25 12 16 81 95 97 191

1989 ......... 3 8 16 33 23 12 15 78 95 93 187

1990 ......... 4 9 18 36 22 14 16 75 103 92 194

1991 ......... 4 9 20 39 23 17 17 74 112 91 203

1992 ......... 4 11 22 38 22 15 16 69 111 84 195

1993 ......... 6 13 27 41 23 17 16 72 127 88 215

1994 ......... 6 14 27 41 23 17 16 69 127 85 212

1995 ......... 6 13 30 43 24 18 16 65 135 81 216

1996 ......... 7 12 30 44 24 18 16 67 135 83 218

1997 ......... 5 10 24 43 24 19 15 64 127 79 206

1998 ......... 5 9 24 43 25 20 14 64 127 78 205

1999 ......... 5 9 25 45 25 21 13 63 131 76 207

2000 ......... 5 8 27 46 25 21 12 61 132 73 205

2001 ......... 5 8 28 47 25 22 11 60 135 71 207

2002 ......... 5 8 28 49 24 21 11 58 135 70 205

2003 ......... 5 9 28 51 26 21 10 56 138 66 204

2004 ......... 5 8 27 52 25 22 10 56 140 65 205

2005 ......... 5 8 28 54 25 22 9 54 141 63 204

2006 ......... 5 8 27 55 25 22 9 54 143 62 205

2007 ......... 5 8 26 57 25 23 8 54 145 62 207

2008 ......... 5 8 25 60 25 21 8 53 144 62 206

2009 ......... 5 9 25 64 26 22 8 52 150 60 210

2010 ......... 4 8 22 63 26 22 8 50 146 58 204

Projected:

2011 ......... 5 9 22 68 26 23 7 50 153 57 210

2012 ......... 5 10 23 73 26 24 7 50 161 57 218

2013 ......... 5 10 23 76 27 25 7 50 165 57 223

2014 ......... 5 10 22 78 28 25 8 50 168 57 225

2015 ......... 5 10 22 79 29 26 8 50 170 58 227

2016 ......... 4 10 22 79 30 26 8 50 171 58 229

2017 ......... 4 10 22 78 31 26 8 50 172 58 230

2018 ......... 4 10 21 77 33 27 8 50 172 58 230

2019 ......... 4 10 21 76 34 27 9 50 173 58 231

2020 ......... 4 10 21 76 35 27 9 50 174 59 232

2021 ......... 4 10 21 75 37 28 9 50 174 59 234

2022 ......... 4 10 21 74 37 29 9 50 175 60 235

2023 ......... 4 10 21 72 38 30 10 51 175 61 236

2024 ......... 4 10 22 71 39 31 10 52 176 61 237

2025 ......... 4 10 22 70 39 32 10 52 177 62 239

2026 ......... 4 10 22 69 40 33 10 53 177 63 240

2027 ......... 4 10 22 68 40 34 10 54 178 64 242

2028 ......... 4 10 22 67 40 35 10 55 178 65 243

2029 ......... 4 10 22 66 40 37 10 56 179 66 245

2030 ......... 4 10 22 66 39 38 10 58 179 68 247

2031 ......... 4 10 22 66 39 40 10 59 180 69 249

2032 ......... 4 10 22 66 38 41 10 61 181 71 251

2033 ......... 4 10 22 66 37 42 10 62 181 72 253

2034 ......... 4 10 22 66 37 44 10 64 182 74 255

2035 ......... 3 10 22 66 36 45 9 66 182 75 257

a Terminations where the death of the SSI recipient was recorded in SSA administrative systems as of the first month of nonpayment of SSI benefits. b Historical totals estimated based on 1-percent or 10-percent sample data.

c Fewer than 500.
2011 SSI Annual Report

36

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components. Historical split among age groups is estimated on a calendar year of age basis.

for State recipients not receiving Federal benefits. The number of new SSI recipients concurrently eligible

for OASDI disability benefits who received SSI benefits only temporarily during the 5-month DI waiting

period contributed to the continuation in 2010 of the relatively high level of terminations. Our projected

terminations reflect the assumption that over time more resources will be available to SSA for processing

CDRs and nonmedical redeterminations.

Table IV.B4.—SSI Federally-Administered Terminations Due to Reasons Other Than Death, Calendar Years 1974-2035

[In thousands]

Calendar year

Blind or disabled, by age group Aged, by age group Totals a

a Historical totals estimated based on 1-percent or 10-percent sample data.

0-17 18-34 35-49 50-64 65-74

75 or

older 65-74

75 or

older

Blind or

disabled Aged All

Historical data:

1974 ......... 5 33 34 69 12 2 27 29 154 56 210

1975 ......... 7 50 44 104 15 2 88 91 221 180 401

1976 ......... 11 70 61 139 24 1 107 133 306 240 546

1977 ......... 13 65 56 110 19 1 76 92 265 168 433

1978 ......... 11 64 49 97 18 1 64 86 241 150 391

1979 ......... 12 59 43 96 23 1 58 85 234 144 378

1980 ......... 19 48 43 80 23 1 44 77 214 121 334

1981 ......... 17 43 39 72 21 1 49 86 192 134 326

1982 ......... 19 48 43 79 23 1 50 87 212 137 348

1983 ......... 18 43 36 63 14 1 25 61 175 86 261

1984 ......... 13 51 37 77 21 1 37 60 200 98 298

1985 ......... 11 42 37 68 13 2 23 54 172 77 249

1986 ......... 18 49 47 73 16 3 34 60 206 94 300

1987 ......... 19 51 48 75 17 3 32 57 214 89 302

1988 ......... 19 52 51 74 15 5 33 59 216 93 309

1989 ......... 19 55 52 72 16 4 33 58 218 91 308

1990 ......... 14 52 57 73 17 8 40 68 221 108 330

1991 ......... 20 50 70 84 18 5 33 58 248 91 339

1992 ......... 39 68 94 103 19 8 34 56 329 90 419

1993 ......... 34 73 97 106 22 8 37 55 340 92 433

1994 ......... 41 73 101 107 18 8 32 49 348 81 429

1995 ......... 47 81 111 115 20 7 32 48 382 80 461

1996 ......... 47 89 128 119 21 8 29 49 413 78 491

1997 ......... 128 105 147 115 18 8 24 40 522 64 586

1998 ......... 67 89 112 110 19 8 22 38 406 61 466

1999 ......... 119 111 120 116 20 9 24 43 495 68 563

2000 ......... 84 99 111 112 22 9 22 38 437 61 498

2001 ......... 65 95 111 118 20 9 22 38 418 60 478

2002 ......... 78 100 122 133 20 9 20 35 463 55 517

2003 ......... 72 95 122 135 20 9 20 36 453 56 509

2004 ......... 85 101 136 156 23 9 24 38 510 62 572

2005 ......... 64 101 129 157 20 8 15 30 479 45 524

2006 ......... 56 96 131 162 21 8 19 30 473 50 522

2007 ......... 46 108 124 160 20 8 18 29 466 48 513

2008 ......... 63 112 131 185 20 8 18 27 518 45 563

2009 ......... 61 124 141 214 27 10 25 37 576 63 639

2010 ......... 76 122 131 209 21 8 22 28 565 50 615

Projected:

2011 ......... 63 122 132 220 22 8 21 31 568 51 619

2012 ......... 60 120 120 206 21 9 22 28 535 50 585

2013 ......... 62 128 118 206 22 9 23 29 544 52 596

2014 ......... 68 132 120 214 24 9 23 29 568 53 621

2015 ......... 72 134 118 215 25 10 24 30 574 54 628

2016 ......... 88 135 116 212 26 11 24 31 588 56 644

2017 ......... 93 140 117 212 28 12 25 33 602 58 660

2018 ......... 86 143 118 211 29 12 26 34 600 60 660

2019 ......... 83 143 119 210 31 12 27 34 598 62 659

2020 ......... 80 146 120 209 32 12 28 34 600 62 662

2021 ......... 78 144 121 207 34 13 29 35 595 64 659

2022 ......... 76 144 122 204 35 13 30 36 593 66 659

2023 ......... 77 145 124 201 35 14 30 37 595 67 662

2024 ......... 77 146 126 198 36 14 31 38 598 69 667

2025 ......... 77 147 128 196 37 15 32 39 600 71 671

2026 ......... 77 148 130 194 37 15 32 40 602 73 674

2027 ......... 77 148 132 192 38 16 33 42 603 74 677

2028 ......... 78 148 133 190 38 17 33 43 604 76 680

2029 ......... 78 148 134 190 38 18 33 45 606 78 683

2030 ......... 78 149 135 190 38 18 33 46 609 79 688

2031 ......... 79 150 136 191 37 19 33 48 612 81 693

2032 ......... 79 150 137 192 37 20 33 49 614 82 697

2033 ......... 79 151 137 193 36 20 33 51 617 83 700

2034 ......... 80 152 138 194 36 21 32 53 620 85 704

2035 ......... 80 152 138 194 36 22 32 54 623 86 709
37

2011 SSI Annual Report

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components. Historical split among age groups is estimated on a calendar year of age basis.

Combining the number of persons coming on the SSI payment rolls during a year with the number of those

already receiving benefits at the beginning of the year, and subtracting the number leaving the rolls during

the year, yields the number of persons receiving Federally-administered SSI payments at the end of the

year. Table IV.B6 and figure IV.B4 present the number of individuals receiving Federal SSI payments,

who comprise the great majority of Federally-administered recipients. The number of Federal SSI recipients at the end of 2010 increased by about 3.1 percent over the corresponding number at the end of 2009

but is relatively close to what we projected in last year's report. 

Table IV.B5.—SSI Federally-Administered Terminations for All Reasons, Calendar Years 1974-2035

[In thousands]

Calendar year

Blind or disabled, by age group Aged, by age group Totals a

a Historical totals estimated based on 1-percent or 10-percent sample data.

0-17 18-34 35-49 50-64 65-74

75 or

older 65-74

75 or

older

Blind or

disabled Aged All

Historical data:

1974 ........ 5 36 42 103 19 4 67 126 209 193 402

1975 ........ 8 55 56 140 25 3 127 199 287 326 613

1976 ........ 13 75 71 174 35 3 141 236 371 377 748

1977 ........ 14 71 68 140 34 3 112 194 330 305 636

1978 ........ 14 70 58 130 34 3 94 181 308 276 584

1979 ........ 13 65 52 128 41 2 88 177 301 265 566

1980 ........ 22 53 52 111 45 2 70 177 284 248 532

1981 ........ 20 48 47 103 45 3 69 177 266 246 512

1982 ........ 21 52 51 107 43 2 65 168 277 233 510

1983 ........ 21 49 44 87 34 4 39 140 240 180 419

1984 ........ 16 55 46 106 39 6 50 144 267 194 461

1985 ........ 13 47 47 97 37 8 40 138 249 178 427

1986 ........ 21 58 59 101 38 11 48 143 287 192 478

1987 ........ 22 59 61 106 40 13 47 138 301 185 486

1988 ........ 24 60 65 105 39 18 49 140 311 189 500

1989 ........ 22 63 69 105 39 15 47 136 312 183 496

1990 ........ 18 61 75 109 39 22 56 144 324 200 524

1991 ........ 25 60 90 123 40 22 50 132 360 182 542

1992 ........ 42 78 115 140 41 23 50 125 440 175 614

1993 ........ 40 86 124 148 45 24 54 127 467 181 648

1994 ........ 47 87 128 148 41 24 48 118 475 166 642

1995 ........ 54 94 142 158 44 25 47 113 517 160 677

1996 ........ 54 101 158 163 45 27 45 116 548 161 710

1997 ........ 133 116 172 159 43 26 39 105 648 143 792

1998 ........ 73 98 136 153 44 29 36 102 533 138 671

1999 ........ 124 120 146 161 45 31 38 106 626 144 770

2000 ........ 89 107 138 159 46 29 35 99 569 134 703

2001 ........ 70 103 139 166 45 31 34 98 554 132 685

2002 ........ 83 108 150 182 44 30 31 93 598 124 722

2003 ........ 76 104 149 186 46 30 31 92 591 122 713

2004 ........ 90 109 163 208 48 31 34 93 650 127 777

2005 ........ 69 109 157 211 45 30 24 84 621 107 728

2006 ........ 61 104 158 217 46 31 28 84 615 112 727

2007 ........ 51 116 150 218 46 31 27 83 610 110 720

2008 ........ 68 120 155 245 45 29 26 80 663 106 769

2009 ........ 66 133 166 278 52 32 33 90 726 123 849

2010 ........ 80 130 153 272 46 30 29 79 712 108 820

Projected:

2011 ........ 68 131 154 288 48 31 28 80 721 108 829

2012 ........ 65 129 142 279 48 33 29 78 696 107 803

2013 ........ 67 137 141 282 49 34 30 79 710 109 819

2014 ........ 73 142 142 292 52 35 31 79 736 110 846

2015 ........ 77 144 140 293 54 36 32 80 744 112 855

2016 ........ 92 145 137 291 57 37 32 81 759 113 872

2017 ........ 98 150 139 290 59 38 33 83 774 116 889

2018 ........ 90 153 140 288 62 39 34 84 772 118 890

2019 ........ 87 153 141 286 65 39 36 84 770 120 891

2020 ........ 84 156 141 285 68 40 37 84 773 121 895

2021 ........ 82 154 142 281 70 40 38 85 769 123 893

2022 ........ 80 154 143 277 72 42 39 86 768 126 893

2023 ........ 81 155 145 273 74 43 40 88 770 128 898

2024 ........ 81 156 147 270 75 45 41 90 774 130 905

2025 ........ 81 157 150 266 76 46 42 91 777 133 910

2026 ........ 81 158 152 263 77 48 42 93 779 136 914

2027 ........ 81 157 154 260 78 50 43 96 780 138 919

2028 ........ 81 157 156 257 78 52 43 98 782 141 923

2029 ........ 82 158 157 256 78 54 43 101 784 144 928

2030 ........ 82 158 158 256 77 56 44 104 788 147 935

2031 ........ 83 159 158 257 76 59 43 107 792 150 942

2032 ........ 83 160 159 258 74 61 43 110 795 153 948

2033 ........ 83 161 160 259 73 63 42 113 798 155 954

2034 ........ 83 161 160 260 73 65 42 116 802 158 960

2035 ........ 83 162 161 260 72 67 41 120 805 161 966
2011 SSI Annual Report

38

 Figure IV.B3.—SSI Federally-Administered Terminations by Age Group, Calendar Years 1975-2035

[In thousands]

Table IV.B6.—SSI Recipients with Federal Benefits in Current-Payment Status as of December, 1974-2035

[In thousands]

Year

Blind or disabled, by age group Aged, by age group Totals

0-17 18-34 35-49 50-64 65-74

75 or

older 65-74

75 or

older

Blind or

disabled Aged All

Historical data:

1974 ......... 70 338 321 756 109 13 1,010 1,019 1,606 2,029 3,635

1975 ......... 106 395 352 838 164 14 963 1,062 1,869 2,025 3,893

1976 ......... 124 420 352 813 208 14 864 1,003 1,932 1,867 3,799

1977 ......... 147 442 358 800 249 16 785 980 2,013 1,765 3,778

1978 ......... 165 460 361 791 277 16 728 958 2,069 1,686 3,755

1979 ......... 176 472 359 764 307 16 656 938 2,094 1,593 3,687

1980 ......... 188 500 351 750 342 17 609 925 2,149 1,533 3,682

1981 ......... 194 514 349 720 366 17 541 888 2,160 1,430 3,590

1982 ......... 191 517 346 683 386 21 459 871 2,144 1,329 3,473

1983 ......... 198 555 366 692 412 28 449 890 2,250 1,339 3,590

1984 ......... 210 595 393 700 406 48 463 884 2,352 1,347 3,699

1985 ......... 226 634 426 717 402 72 462 860 2,477 1,322 3,799

1986 ......... 240 688 475 739 397 91 465 827 2,630 1,291 3,922

1987 ......... 249 717 524 756 392 113 464 804 2,751 1,268 4,019

1988 ......... 254 738 564 774 387 127 468 777 2,844 1,245 4,089

1989 ......... 263 757 613 799 382 145 488 760 2,959 1,247 4,206

1990 ......... 306 788 677 840 389 156 508 749 3,156 1,257 4,412

1991 ......... 395 833 769 897 390 166 542 736 3,451 1,279 4,730

1992 ......... 555 920 877 970 402 173 577 727 3,898 1,304 5,202

1993 ......... 721 990 979 1,034 410 179 604 720 4,312 1,324 5,636

1994 ......... 839 1,032 1,071 1,089 425 182 610 716 4,638 1,326 5,965

1995 ......... 915 1,058 1,150 1,134 435 188 601 713 4,880 1,315 6,194

1996 ......... 954 1,066 1,198 1,176 444 192 586 711 5,029 1,296 6,326

1997 ......... 878 1,039 1,196 1,198 457 193 547 704 4,960 1,251 6,212

1998 ......... 885 1,038 1,238 1,243 464 197 521 705 5,063 1,226 6,289

1999 ......... 845 1,005 1,274 1,278 474 195 499 704 5,072 1,203 6,275

2000 ......... 844 994 1,303 1,313 484 196 483 703 5,134 1,186 6,320

2001 ......... 879 995 1,329 1,353 493 196 461 703 5,245 1,165 6,410

2002 ......... 912 1,002 1,344 1,394 502 200 447 705 5,354 1,152 6,505

2003 ......... 956 1,023 1,353 1,436 511 204 430 703 5,482 1,133 6,614

2004 ......... 990 1,044 1,350 1,476 515 208 412 699 5,584 1,111 6,695

2005 ......... 1,034 1,065 1,347 1,523 522 215 408 705 5,706 1,113 6,819

2006 ......... 1,076 1,095 1,334 1,575 529 220 405 704 5,830 1,109 6,939

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035

Calendar year 

Historical Projected 

75 or older 

35-49 

65-74 

50-64 

18-34 

0-17 
39

2011 SSI Annual Report

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components. Historical split among age groups is estimated on a calendar year of age basis.

Historical data: (Cont.)

2007 ......... 1,119 1,124 1,316 1,634 540 228 397 704 5,960 1,101 7,061

2008 ......... 1,151 1,173 1,306 1,704 550 234 396 704 6,119 1,100 7,219

2009 ......... 1,198 1,229 1,302 1,793 559 241 396 704 6,322 1,101 7,423

2010 ......... 1,238 1,294 1,307 1,900 566 251 394 704 6,557 1,099 7,656

Projected:

2011 ......... 1,291 1,357 1,317 2,014 582 259 400 703 6,819 1,103 7,923

2012 ......... 1,347 1,410 1,330 2,115 603 267 409 703 7,071 1,111 8,183

2013 ......... 1,391 1,444 1,333 2,191 625 274 422 702 7,259 1,124 8,383

2014 ......... 1,413 1,461 1,319 2,227 654 280 437 701 7,354 1,138 8,492

2015 ......... 1,421 1,475 1,310 2,241 684 286 454 701 7,418 1,155 8,573

2016 ......... 1,407 1,489 1,307 2,240 717 290 475 700 7,449 1,175 8,624

2017 ......... 1,384 1,497 1,307 2,222 750 295 496 702 7,456 1,198 8,655

2018 ......... 1,369 1,506 1,309 2,200 786 300 518 706 7,470 1,224 8,694

2019 ......... 1,367 1,518 1,317 2,187 824 305 543 712 7,518 1,255 8,774

2020 ......... 1,365 1,522 1,321 2,171 862 310 567 720 7,551 1,288 8,838

2021 ......... 1,365 1,530 1,329 2,152 894 319 585 737 7,589 1,322 8,911

2022 ......... 1,367 1,539 1,344 2,126 923 331 597 761 7,631 1,358 8,989

2023 ......... 1,367 1,549 1,363 2,099 950 344 612 785 7,671 1,396 9,067

2024 ......... 1,368 1,559 1,389 2,075 973 359 628 810 7,723 1,438 9,162

2025 ......... 1,367 1,566 1,413 2,047 994 375 642 836 7,760 1,479 9,239

2026 ......... 1,368 1,569 1,435 2,021 1,010 391 655 865 7,795 1,519 9,314

2027 ......... 1,374 1,570 1,455 2,001 1,022 409 665 894 7,830 1,559 9,389

2028 ......... 1,379 1,574 1,470 1,985 1,029 428 672 926 7,865 1,598 9,463

2029 ......... 1,384 1,580 1,482 1,976 1,032 447 677 959 7,900 1,636 9,536

2030 ......... 1,393 1,589 1,493 1,981 1,028 466 682 993 7,950 1,675 9,625

2031 ......... 1,400 1,596 1,499 1,988 1,019 484 680 1,027 7,985 1,708 9,693

2032 ......... 1,406 1,602 1,505 1,997 1,007 502 676 1,062 8,018 1,737 9,756

2033 ......... 1,412 1,609 1,512 2,006 996 518 670 1,095 8,052 1,764 9,817

2034 ......... 1,417 1,615 1,519 2,013 988 534 663 1,127 8,087 1,790 9,877

2035 ......... 1,421 1,622 1,526 2,021 983 548 656 1,159 8,121 1,814 9,936

 Figure IV.B4.—SSI Recipients with Federal Benefits in Current-Payment Status, by Age Group, 

as of December, 1975-2035

[In thousands]

Table IV.B6.—SSI Recipients with Federal Benefits in Current-Payment Status as of December, 1974-2035 (Cont.)

[In thousands]

Year

Blind or disabled, by age group Aged, by age group Totals

0-17 18-34 35-49 50-64 65-74

75 or

older 65-74

75 or

older

Blind or

disabled Aged All

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

9,000

10,000

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035

Year 

35-49 

65-74 

50-64 

18-34 

0-17 

75 or older 

Historical Projected 
2011 SSI Annual Report

40

As figure IV.B4 illustrates, the implementation of Public Law 104-121 and Public Law 104-193 resulted in

a decline in the Federal recipient population from 1996 to 1997. From the end of 1997 through the end of

2000, the Federal SSI recipient population grew at an annual rate of less than 1 percent. From the end of

2000 to the end of 2009, the Federal SSI recipient population grew an average of 1.8 percent per year.

However, as noted above, the Federal recipient population grew 3.1 percent during 2010, and we project

the economic slowdown to result in continued rapid growth with year-to-year increases from the end of

2010 through the end of 2013 averaging approximately 3.1 percent. Beginning in 2014, the growth in the

projected numbers of Federal SSI recipients returns to a rate of about 1 percent per year over the remainder of the 25-year projection period. In order to place this projected growth in the context of overall population growth, table IV.B7 and figure IV.B5 present Federal SSI recipients as percentages of selected

Social Security Area population totals.

Table IV.B7.—SSI Recipients with Federal Benefits in Current-Payment Status as a Percentage of 

Selected Social Security Area Population Totals, as of December, 1974-2035

Year

Blind or disabled, by age group Aged, by age group Totals

0-17 18-34 35-49 50-64 65-74

75 or

older 65-74

75 or

older

Blind or

disableda Agedb Allc

Historical data:

1974 ........ 0.10 0.56 0.88 2.29 0.78 0.15 7.23 11.29 0.72 8.82 1.63

1975 ........ .15 .63 .97 2.52 1.15 .15 6.74 11.46 .83 8.60 1.73

1976 ........ .18 .65 .96 2.42 1.42 .14 5.93 10.51 .85 7.74 1.67

1977 ........ .22 .67 .97 2.36 1.67 .17 5.26 10.03 .88 7.15 1.65

1978 ........ .25 .68 .96 2.32 1.82 .16 4.77 9.55 .89 6.67 1.62

1979 ........ .27 .68 .94 2.23 1.97 .15 4.20 9.05 .90 6.13 1.58

1980 ........ .29 .71 .91 2.18 2.14 .16 3.82 8.68 .91 5.77 1.56

1981 ........ .30 .72 .87 2.09 2.26 .16 3.34 8.09 .91 5.26 1.50

1982 ........ .29 .71 .83 1.99 2.34 .19 2.78 7.70 .89 4.78 1.44

1983 ........ .30 .76 .85 2.02 2.46 .24 2.68 7.65 .92 4.72 1.47

1984 ........ .32 .81 .88 2.05 2.39 .40 2.73 7.40 .96 4.66 1.50

1985 ........ .35 .86 .92 2.11 2.32 .58 2.67 7.01 1.00 4.47 1.53

1986 ........ .37 .93 1.00 2.18 2.26 .73 2.64 6.58 1.05 4.28 1.56

1987 ........ .38 .97 1.06 2.24 2.20 .87 2.59 6.25 1.09 4.12 1.59

1988 ........ .38 1.00 1.10 2.29 2.14 .97 2.59 5.89 1.11 3.98 1.60

1989 ........ .40 1.03 1.16 2.36 2.09 1.07 2.67 5.61 1.14 3.92 1.63

1990 ........ .45 1.08 1.24 2.47 2.09 1.12 2.74 5.40 1.21 3.88 1.68

1991 ........ .57 1.15 1.36 2.61 2.08 1.17 2.88 5.18 1.30 3.87 1.79

1992 ........ .79 1.29 1.51 2.79 2.12 1.19 3.04 5.00 1.45 3.89 1.94

1993 ........ 1.01 1.40 1.64 2.91 2.14 1.20 3.16 4.84 1.59 3.89 2.08

1994 ........ 1.17 1.48 1.75 3.02 2.21 1.20 3.18 4.71 1.70 3.86 2.18

1995 ........ 1.26 1.53 1.83 3.09 2.27 1.21 3.13 4.59 1.77 3.78 2.24

1996 ........ 1.30 1.55 1.87 3.11 2.32 1.21 3.06 4.46 1.80 3.70 2.27

1997 ........ 1.20 1.52 1.85 3.05 2.40 1.18 2.87 4.32 1.76 3.54 2.21

1998 ........ 1.20 1.52 1.88 3.05 2.45 1.18 2.75 4.24 1.78 3.45 2.21

1999 ........ 1.14 1.47 1.92 3.02 2.53 1.15 2.66 4.16 1.77 3.37 2.19

2000 ........ 1.14 1.45 1.95 3.00 2.58 1.14 2.58 4.10 1.77 3.30 2.19

2001 ........ 1.18 1.45 1.98 2.99 2.63 1.13 2.46 4.04 1.80 3.22 2.20

2002 ........ 1.22 1.45 2.00 2.97 2.67 1.13 2.38 4.00 1.82 3.16 2.21

2003 ........ 1.28 1.47 2.02 2.96 2.70 1.14 2.27 3.95 1.85 3.09 2.23

2004 ........ 1.32 1.49 2.01 2.94 2.70 1.15 2.16 3.87 1.86 2.99 2.23

2005 ........ 1.37 1.52 2.01 2.93 2.70 1.18 2.11 3.86 1.89 2.96 2.26

2006 ........ 1.42 1.55 1.99 2.94 2.68 1.19 2.05 3.82 1.91 2.90 2.27

2007 ........ 1.48 1.57 1.98 2.96 2.65 1.22 1.95 3.78 1.93 2.82 2.29

2008 ........ 1.52 1.61 1.98 3.00 2.61 1.25 1.88 3.75 1.97 2.76 2.32

2009 ........ 1.58 1.67 1.99 3.07 2.57 1.28 1.82 3.72 2.02 2.71 2.37

2010 ........ 1.63 1.75 2.02 3.17 2.53 1.32 1.76 3.69 2.07 2.65 2.42

Projected:

2011 ........ 1.69 1.82 2.06 3.29 2.49 1.34 1.71 3.65 2.14 2.59 2.49

2012 ........ 1.76 1.87 2.10 3.41 2.45 1.37 1.66 3.61 2.20 2.52 2.55

2013 ........ 1.81 1.91 2.11 3.49 2.42 1.39 1.64 3.56 2.24 2.47 2.59

2014 ........ 1.82 1.92 2.10 3.51 2.43 1.40 1.62 3.50 2.25 2.43 2.60

2015 ........ 1.82 1.93 2.08 3.50 2.44 1.40 1.62 3.44 2.25 2.39 2.60

2016 ........ 1.79 1.94 2.06 3.48 2.46 1.39 1.63 3.37 2.24 2.36 2.59

2017 ........ 1.75 1.95 2.05 3.45 2.49 1.38 1.65 3.29 2.22 2.33 2.58

2018 ........ 1.72 1.95 2.04 3.41 2.52 1.36 1.66 3.21 2.21 2.30 2.57

2019 ........ 1.70 1.95 2.05 3.39 2.55 1.35 1.68 3.16 2.20 2.29 2.57

2020 ........ 1.69 1.95 2.05 3.36 2.57 1.34 1.69 3.11 2.19 2.27 2.57
41

2011 SSI Annual Report

In table IV.B7, we calculated the age group percentages using the corresponding population age group

totals. We computed the ratios for the separate recipient categories—total blind or disabled and total

aged—as percentages of differing base populations, the total Social Security Area population and the 65

and older Social Security population, respectively. As a result of this method of calculation, the percentage

for the total SSI recipient population is not the arithmetic sum of the percentages for the respective recipient categories. The percentage of the total Social Security Area population who were receiving Federal

SSI payments declined from 1975 through the early 1980s. In 1983, this percentage started increasing and

continued to increase through 1996. The percentage of the total population receiving Federal SSI payments declined in 1997, due to the implementation of Public Law 104-121 and Public Law 104-193, but

leveled out over the next few years. It has increased slightly over the past few years, and we expect it to

continue to increase through 2015 and then remain essentially level through the rest of the projection

period. Almost 80 percent of the increase in the percentage of the population receiving Federal SSI payments, from 2.42 in 2010 to 2.60 in 2035, is attributable to the changing age distribution in the population.

The various subcategories of Federal SSI recipients, however, follow significantly different growth patterns in relation to their respective population totals. The aged Federal SSI recipient population declines

steadily as a percentage of the 65 or older population throughout the historical period and most of the projection period, with the decline leveling off near the end of the projection period. In contrast, except for

decreases in the late 1990s due to the eligibility redeterminations and continuing disability reviews mandated by Public Law 104-193, the number of blind or disabled children receiving Federal SSI payments

increased steadily throughout the historical period as a percentage of the under age 18 population, with the

increase being quite steep in the early 1990s. The total blind or disabled Federal SSI recipient population

as a percentage of the total population remained fairly level until the early 1980s when it started increasing

and continued to increase through 1996. The proportion of the population receiving SSI blind or disabled

benefits declined slightly in the late 1990s due to the effects of welfare reform legislation, but resumed its

upward trend in 2000. That upward trend has continued through 2010, and we estimate it will continue

through 2014, reaching more than 2.2 percent of the total population. In the later years of the projection

period, the estimated proportion of the population receiving SSI blind or disabled benefits will gradually

decline due to: (1) a smaller proportion of the population becoming new recipients than during the current

economic slowdown; (2) the changing age distribution in the population; and (3) our assumption that SSA

will receive the resources necessary to process normal CDR and nonmedical redetermination workloads.

Projected data: (Cont.)

2021 ........ 1.68 1.96 2.05 3.34 2.60 1.32 1.70 3.06 2.19 2.26 2.57

2022 ........ 1.67 1.96 2.05 3.32 2.63 1.31 1.70 3.02 2.18 2.25 2.57

2023 ........ 1.66 1.97 2.06 3.31 2.65 1.31 1.71 2.98 2.17 2.25 2.57

2024 ........ 1.66 1.97 2.07 3.31 2.66 1.31 1.71 2.96 2.17 2.25 2.58

2025 ........ 1.65 1.98 2.07 3.29 2.66 1.32 1.72 2.94 2.17 2.25 2.58

2026 ........ 1.64 1.98 2.08 3.28 2.66 1.33 1.72 2.93 2.16 2.25 2.58

2027 ........ 1.64 1.97 2.08 3.28 2.65 1.34 1.72 2.92 2.15 2.25 2.58

2028 ........ 1.64 1.97 2.09 3.27 2.64 1.34 1.73 2.91 2.15 2.26 2.59

2029 ........ 1.64 1.97 2.09 3.26 2.63 1.35 1.73 2.91 2.14 2.27 2.59

2030 ........ 1.64 1.97 2.10 3.26 2.62 1.36 1.74 2.90 2.14 2.28 2.60

2031 ........ 1.64 1.97 2.10 3.26 2.61 1.37 1.74 2.90 2.14 2.29 2.60

2032 ........ 1.65 1.96 2.10 3.25 2.60 1.37 1.75 2.90 2.14 2.31 2.60

2033 ........ 1.65 1.96 2.10 3.25 2.59 1.37 1.74 2.89 2.13 2.31 2.60

2034 ........ 1.65 1.95 2.11 3.25 2.59 1.37 1.74 2.89 2.13 2.32 2.60

2035 ........ 1.65 1.95 2.11 3.25 2.59 1.37 1.73 2.89 2.13 2.33 2.60

a Blind or disabled recipients as a percentage of the total Social Security Area population.

b Aged recipients as a percentage of the 65 or older Social Security Area population.

c Total recipients as a percentage of the total Social Security Area population. Totals do not equal sums of components due to overlapping populations.

Table IV.B7.—SSI Recipients with Federal Benefits in Current-Payment Status as a Percentage of 

Selected Social Security Area Population Totals, as of December, 1974-2035 (Cont.)

Year

Blind or disabled, by age group Aged, by age group Totals

0-17 18-34 35-49 50-64 65-74

75 or

older 65-74

75 or

older

Blind or

disableda Agedb Allc
2011 SSI Annual Report

42

Table IV.B8 presents historical and projected numbers of individuals who receive only a Federally-administered State supplement.

 Figure IV.B5.—SSI Recipients with Federal Benefits in Current-Payment Status as a Percentage of 

Selected Social Security Area Population Age Groups, as of December, 1975-2035

Table IV.B8.—SSI Recipients with Federally-Administered State Supplementary Benefits Only,

in Current-Payment Status as of December, 1974-2035

[In thousands]

Year

Blind or disabled, by age group Aged, by age group Totals

0-17 18-34 35-49 50-64 65-74

75 or

older 65-74

75 or

older

Blind or

disabled Aged All

Historical data:

1974 ......... 1 12 20 57 13 1 138 120 104 257 361

1975 ......... 1 15 25 74 21 2 144 138 139 282 421

1976 ......... 1 14 27 87 26 2 134 146 156 280 437

1977 ......... 1 16 27 94 35 2 136 150 174 286 460

1978 ......... 1 16 26 93 41 2 127 155 180 282 462

1979 ......... 1 18 25 89 49 2 121 157 184 278 462

1980 ......... 2 20 26 82 52 2 112 162 185 274 460

1981 ......... 1 19 26 75 58 2 94 155 181 248 429

1982 ......... 1 18 23 68 53 2 82 137 165 219 384

1983 ......... 1 17 19 50 44 4 65 111 136 176 312

1984 ......... 1 18 23 50 47 7 68 116 147 184 331

1985 ......... 1 21 28 53 45 8 67 115 157 182 339

1986 ......... 1 23 31 55 45 11 66 116 166 182 348

1987 ......... 1 26 36 60 43 12 72 115 178 187 366

1988 ......... 1 26 42 59 44 14 74 114 187 188 375

1989 ......... 2 28 45 60 45 16 76 115 195 192 387

1990 ......... 2 31 54 60 44 17 82 116 208 197 405

1991 ......... 2 29 54 59 42 17 78 108 203 186 389

1992 ......... 2 29 55 59 37 16 70 97 197 167 364

1993 ......... 2 29 58 59 34 15 64 88 197 151 348

1994 ......... 2 28 59 56 32 14 59 81 192 139 331

1995 ......... 3 25 59 56 32 14 54 77 188 131 320

1996 ......... 2 21 54 53 29 13 49 68 172 116 288

1997 ......... 2 20 55 53 29 13 46 65 172 111 283

1998 ......... 2 18 54 55 28 13 43 63 171 106 277

1999 ......... 2 18 57 58 28 13 43 62 177 105 282

2000 ......... 2 17 57 60 29 13 42 61 179 103 282

2001 ......... 2 17 56 62 29 12 41 59 179 100 278

2002 ......... 3 17 57 64 30 12 42 58 183 100 283

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035

Year 

0-17

18-34

35-49

50-64

65-74

75 or older

Total

Historical Projected 
43

2011 SSI Annual Report

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components. Historical split among age groups is estimated on a calendar year of age basis.

Table IV.B9 displays the combined numbers of persons receiving either a Federal SSI payment or a Federally-administered State supplement.

Certain noteworthy patterns appear in the numbers of SSI recipients in the recent past and projections of

such numbers for the near future. The total number of SSI recipients increased rapidly in the early 1990s

due to the growth in the numbers of disabled adults and children. The growth in the numbers of children

receiving SSI resulted in large part from the Supreme Court decision in the case of Sullivan v. Zebley,

which greatly expanded the criteria used for determining disability for children. The growth in

the numbers of disabled adults is a more complicated phenomenon. Extensive research conducted under

contract to SSA and the Department of Health and Human Services suggests that this growth was the

result of a combination of factors including: (1) demographic trends; (2) a downturn in the economy in the

late 1980s and early 1990s; (3) long-term structural changes in the economy; and (4) changes in other support programs (in particular, the reduction or elimination of general assistance programs in certain States).

The current economic downturn, the economic downturn in the early 2000s, and welfare reform legislation

have contributed to the more recent, relatively modest changes in program participation.

Historical data: (Cont.)

2003 ......... 3 18 58 67 30 12 42 58 188 100 288

2004 ......... 3 18 58 70 31 12 43 58 193 100 293

2005 ......... 3 18 56 73 31 12 44 58 193 102 295

2006 ......... 3 18 55 76 32 12 45 58 194 103 297

2007 ......... 2 18 53 77 32 12 46 57 195 103 298

2008 ......... 3 18 52 80 34 12 46 57 198 103 301

2009 ......... 2 16 43 69 29 11 38 48 168 85 254

2010 ......... 2 16 42 71 29 11 37 48 171 85 257

Projected:

2011 ......... 2 16 41 73 29 11 38 47 172 84 256

2012 ......... 2 18 42 77 31 11 40 48 180 88 268

2013 ......... 2 19 42 80 33 11 42 48 187 91 277

2014 ......... 2 19 42 83 35 12 45 49 192 94 286

2015 ......... 2 20 43 85 37 12 47 50 199 97 296

2016 ......... 2 21 44 88 39 12 50 51 207 101 307

2017 ......... 3 22 45 91 41 13 52 53 215 105 321

2018 ......... 3 23 47 93 44 13 55 55 224 110 333

2019 ......... 3 24 48 95 47 14 58 56 229 114 344

2020 ......... 3 24 48 95 49 14 60 58 233 119 352

2021 ......... 3 24 49 95 51 15 62 60 237 123 359

2022 ......... 3 24 50 94 53 15 64 63 239 127 366

2023 ......... 3 24 50 93 55 16 65 66 241 131 373

2024 ......... 3 24 51 92 57 17 67 69 244 136 379

2025 ......... 3 24 52 91 58 18 68 71 246 140 385

2026 ......... 3 24 53 90 59 18 70 74 247 144 391

2027 ......... 3 24 54 89 60 19 71 77 249 147 396

2028 ......... 3 24 54 88 60 20 71 80 250 151 401

2029 ......... 3 25 55 87 60 21 72 82 251 154 406

2030 ......... 3 25 55 87 60 22 72 86 252 158 410

2031 ......... 3 25 56 88 59 23 72 89 253 161 414

2032 ......... 3 25 56 88 59 24 72 91 254 163 418

2033 ......... 3 25 56 89 58 25 71 94 256 165 421

2034 ......... 3 25 56 89 57 26 70 97 257 167 424

2035 ......... 3 25 57 89 57 26 70 100 257 169 427

Table IV.B8.—SSI Recipients with Federally-Administered State Supplementary Benefits Only,

in Current-Payment Status as of December, 1974-2035 (Cont.)

[In thousands]

Year

Blind or disabled, by age group Aged, by age group Totals

0-17 18-34 35-49 50-64 65-74

75 or

older 65-74

75 or

older

Blind or

disabled Aged All
2011 SSI Annual Report

44

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components. Historical split among age groups is estimated on a calendar year of age basis.

Table IV.B9.—SSI Recipients with Federally-Administered Benefits in Current-Payment Status 

as of December, 1974-2035

[In thousands]

Year

Blind or disabled, by age group Aged, by age group Totals

0-17 18-34 35-49 50-64 65-74

75 or

older 65-74

75 or

older

Blind or

disabled Aged All

Historical data:

1974 ......... 71 349 341 813 122 14 1,148 1,138 1,710 2,286 3,996

1975 ......... 107 410 378 911 185 16 1,107 1,200 2,007 2,307 4,314

1976 ......... 125 434 379 900 234 15 999 1,149 2,088 2,148 4,236

1977 ......... 147 458 385 893 284 18 921 1,130 2,187 2,051 4,238

1978 ......... 166 476 387 884 319 17 855 1,113 2,249 1,968 4,217

1979 ......... 177 490 384 852 357 17 777 1,095 2,278 1,872 4,150

1980 ......... 190 521 377 833 393 20 721 1,086 2,334 1,808 4,142

1981 ......... 195 533 375 795 424 19 635 1,043 2,341 1,678 4,019

1982 ......... 192 535 369 751 439 23 541 1,008 2,309 1,549 3,858

1983 ......... 198 572 386 742 456 32 514 1,001 2,386 1,515 3,901

1984 ......... 212 613 417 751 453 54 531 999 2,499 1,530 4,029

1985 ......... 227 655 454 769 447 80 530 975 2,634 1,504 4,138

1986 ......... 241 711 506 794 442 102 531 942 2,796 1,473 4,269

1987 ......... 251 743 560 816 436 124 536 920 2,930 1,455 4,385

1988 ......... 255 764 606 833 431 142 543 891 3,030 1,433 4,464

1989 ......... 265 785 658 859 427 160 564 875 3,154 1,439 4,593

1990 ......... 309 819 731 900 432 172 589 865 3,363 1,454 4,817

1991 ......... 397 863 823 956 432 183 620 845 3,654 1,465 5,118

1992 ......... 556 949 932 1,029 440 189 647 824 4,095 1,471 5,566

1993 ......... 723 1,019 1,036 1,093 445 194 667 808 4,509 1,475 5,984

1994 ......... 841 1,060 1,130 1,146 457 196 669 797 4,830 1,466 6,296

1995 ......... 917 1,083 1,209 1,190 467 202 656 790 5,068 1,446 6,514

1996 ......... 955 1,087 1,252 1,229 472 205 634 778 5,201 1,413 6,614

1997 ......... 880 1,059 1,251 1,252 486 205 593 770 5,133 1,362 6,495

1998 ......... 887 1,056 1,292 1,298 492 209 564 768 5,234 1,332 6,566

1999 ......... 847 1,024 1,331 1,336 503 208 543 765 5,249 1,308 6,557

2000 ......... 847 1,011 1,360 1,373 513 209 525 764 5,312 1,289 6,602

2001 ......... 882 1,012 1,385 1,415 522 209 502 762 5,424 1,264 6,688

2002 ......... 915 1,019 1,401 1,458 532 212 489 763 5,536 1,252 6,788

2003 ......... 959 1,040 1,410 1,503 541 216 471 761 5,670 1,233 6,902

2004 ......... 993 1,062 1,408 1,546 546 221 455 756 5,777 1,211 6,988

2005 ......... 1,036 1,083 1,404 1,596 553 228 452 763 5,900 1,214 7,114

2006 ......... 1,079 1,113 1,388 1,651 560 232 450 762 6,024 1,212 7,236

2007 ......... 1,121 1,142 1,369 1,711 572 240 443 761 6,155 1,205 7,360

2008 ......... 1,154 1,191 1,358 1,784 584 246 442 761 6,317 1,203 7,521

2009 ......... 1,200 1,244 1,345 1,862 588 252 434 752 6,491 1,186 7,677

2010 ......... 1,239 1,311 1,350 1,971 595 262 432 752 6,728 1,184 7,912

Projected:

2011 ......... 1,292 1,373 1,358 2,087 611 269 438 750 6,991 1,188 8,179

2012 ......... 1,348 1,427 1,372 2,191 634 278 449 750 7,252 1,199 8,451

2013 ......... 1,393 1,462 1,375 2,271 658 286 465 751 7,445 1,215 8,661

2014 ......... 1,415 1,480 1,361 2,309 689 292 482 751 7,546 1,232 8,778

2015 ......... 1,423 1,495 1,353 2,327 721 298 501 751 7,617 1,252 8,869

2016 ......... 1,409 1,510 1,351 2,328 756 302 525 751 7,656 1,276 8,932

2017 ......... 1,387 1,520 1,352 2,313 792 308 549 755 7,672 1,303 8,975

2018 ......... 1,372 1,529 1,356 2,293 830 313 573 761 7,694 1,334 9,027

2019 ......... 1,370 1,542 1,365 2,282 870 319 601 769 7,747 1,370 9,117

2020 ......... 1,368 1,546 1,370 2,266 911 324 628 779 7,784 1,406 9,190

2021 ......... 1,368 1,554 1,378 2,247 946 333 648 797 7,826 1,445 9,271

2022 ......... 1,369 1,564 1,393 2,220 977 347 661 825 7,870 1,485 9,355

2023 ......... 1,369 1,573 1,413 2,192 1,005 360 677 851 7,912 1,527 9,439

2024 ......... 1,371 1,584 1,440 2,167 1,030 376 695 879 7,967 1,574 9,541

2025 ......... 1,369 1,590 1,465 2,138 1,052 392 711 908 8,006 1,618 9,625

2026 ......... 1,371 1,594 1,488 2,111 1,069 410 724 938 8,043 1,663 9,705

2027 ......... 1,377 1,594 1,508 2,090 1,081 429 735 971 8,079 1,706 9,785

2028 ......... 1,381 1,599 1,525 2,073 1,089 448 744 1,005 8,115 1,749 9,864

2029 ......... 1,387 1,604 1,536 2,063 1,092 468 749 1,042 8,151 1,791 9,942

2030 ......... 1,396 1,614 1,548 2,068 1,088 488 754 1,079 8,202 1,833 10,036

2031 ......... 1,403 1,621 1,555 2,075 1,078 507 753 1,116 8,238 1,869 10,107

2032 ......... 1,409 1,627 1,561 2,085 1,065 526 747 1,153 8,273 1,900 10,173

2033 ......... 1,415 1,634 1,568 2,095 1,054 543 741 1,189 8,308 1,930 10,237

2034 ......... 1,420 1,641 1,576 2,102 1,046 559 733 1,224 8,343 1,957 10,300

2035 ......... 1,424 1,647 1,583 2,110 1,040 574 725 1,258 8,379 1,984 10,362
45

2011 SSI Annual Report

C. FEDERAL PAYMENTS UNDER SSI

To estimate future amounts of Federal expenditures under SSI, we first modify the projected Federal benefit rates (table IV.A2) to reflect actual payment levels, taking into account historical and projected levels of

adjustments for other actual or deemed income. We combine these actual payment levels with the projected numbers of persons receiving Federal SSI payments to generate estimates of the amounts of Federal

SSI payments. Table IV.C1 shows historical amounts of such payments by calendar year. We compute

these payment amounts on a cash-flow basis, which is consistent with the concepts used to define SSI

obligations for the Federal Budget. As a result, for months after January 1978, when SSI payments are due

on the first of the month and the first of the month falls on a weekend or Federal holiday, we tabulate these

payments in the previous month.1

a Total historical payments for 1974-77 agree with those presented in the Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin. Total historical payments for 1978-83 are estimated.

b Includes 13 months of payments since payments due on January 1, 1978 and January 1, 1979 were both paid in calendar year 1978.

c Payments for 2008 include $1.4 billion for SSI checks mailed in late December 2008, but reported by the Department of the Treasury in January 2009.

These checks are normally reported in December.

d Partially estimated.

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components. Historical split among age groups is estimated on a calendar year of age basis.

Since we use this cash-flow concept, payments in table IV.C1 differ from similar amounts in other Social

Security Administration publications, such as the Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin, in two main ways. First, tabulations of payments in the Annual Statistical Supplement group pay1 Public Law 95-216, the Social Security Amendments of 1977, enacted December 20, 1977, requires that SSI payments, which are normally due on the

first of the month, be delivered early when the normal delivery date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or Federal holiday. 

Table IV.C1.—SSI Federal Payments in Current Dollars,a Calendar Years 1974-2011

[In millions]

Calendar 

year

Blind or disabled, by age group Aged, by age group Totals

0-17 18-34 35-49 50-64 65-74

75 or

older 65-74

75 or

older

Blind or

disabled Aged All

1974........... $40 $438 $452 $968 $135 $17 $825 $958 $2,050 $1,783 $3,833

1975............ 128 537 499 1,099 190 17 812 1,031 2,471 1,843 4,314

1976............ 176 605 541 1,147 241 17 762 1,023 2,727 1,785 4,512

1977............ 227 671 579 1,174 298 17 721 1,016 2,966 1,737 4,703

1978 b ......... 302 781 655 1,312 381 18 736 1,111 3,449 1,847 5,296

1979........... 340 809 650 1,296 429 21 667 1,093 3,546 1,760 5,306

1980............ 397 931 731 1,420 544 28 642 1,230 4,051 1,872 5,923

1981............ 458 1,079 821 1,542 654 32 643 1,320 4,586 1,963 6,549

1982............ 512 1,211 883 1,590 704 38 630 1,364 4,937 1,994 6,931

1983............ 574 1,372 985 1,704 774 58 624 1,440 5,466 2,064 7,530

1984............ 659 1,576 1,128 1,835 836 102 670 1,512 6,136 2,182 8,318

1985............ 736 1,709 1,250 1,924 833 160 699 1,499 6,611 2,198 8,809

1986............ 831 1,929 1,452 2,043 848 209 731 1,479 7,312 2,210 9,522

1987............ 900 2,081 1,618 2,157 846 259 765 1,444 7,860 2,210 10,069

1988............ 955 2,228 1,818 2,303 874 304 814 1,449 8,481 2,263 10,744

1989............ 1,025 2,431 2,048 2,481 936 366 881 1,479 9,286 2,361 11,647

1990............ 1,201 2,660 2,395 2,792 969 407 987 1,532 10,423 2,519 12,943

1991............ 1,678 3,129 2,966 3,305 1,060 463 1,169 1,637 12,601 2,806 15,407

1992............ 3,154 3,900 3,577 3,790 1,124 487 1,303 1,690 16,033 2,993 19,026

1993............ 3,909 4,465 4,164 4,188 1,208 513 1,471 1,759 18,447 3,230 21,677

1994............ 4,167 4,504 4,666 4,533 1,274 538 1,566 1,814 19,682 3,380 23,063

1995............ 4,657 4,777 5,155 4,896 1,357 565 1,599 1,900 21,407 3,499 24,906

1996............ 4,947 5,004 5,614 5,298 1,427 590 1,643 1,977 22,880 3,621 26,501

1997............ 4,920 5,031 5,564 5,410 1,505 614 1,586 2,046 23,044 3,632 26,675

1998............ 4,965 5,150 5,901 5,777 1,588 635 1,542 2,136 24,017 3,678 27,695

1999............ 4,835 5,132 6,185 6,037 1,660 654 1,503 2,206 24,503 3,709 28,212

2000............ 4,789 5,121 6,404 6,293 1,717 675 1,470 2,309 24,999 3,779 28,778

2001............ 5,104 5,354 6,817 6,783 1,838 713 1,470 2,454 26,608 3,924 30,532

2002............ 5,353 5,484 7,048 7,131 1,909 738 1,433 2,520 27,663 3,953 31,616

2003............ 5,686 5,715 7,243 7,532 1,984 771 1,408 2,601 28,932 4,009 32,941

2004............ 6,036 5,954 7,384 7,943 2,054 809 1,366 2,657 30,179 4,023 34,202

2005............ 6,488 6,291 7,624 8,437 2,148 871 1,358 2,778 31,859 4,136 35,995

2006............ 6,948 6,656 7,760 8,943 2,235 924 1,413 2,895 33,467 4,308 37,775

2007............ 7,346 7,067 7,871 9,539 2,333 981 1,406 2,970 35,137 4,376 39,514

2008 c ......... 7,831 7,623 8,172 10,387 2,459 1,051 1,438 3,078 37,523 4,516 42,040

2009 c ......... 8,635 8,493 8,618 11,556 2,644 1,153 1,528 3,277 41,099 4,805 45,904

2010............ 9,020 9,013 8,735 12,283 2,689 1,213 1,521 3,294 42,953 4,815 47,767

2011 d ......... 9,338 9,422 8,739 12,990 2,763 1,259 1,516 3,284 44,510 4,800 49,311
2011 SSI Annual Report

46

ments by the month the payment is due, while table IV.C1 groups payments by the month in which we

actually make the payments. In particular, since January 1 of each year is a Federal holiday, SSI payments

due on January 1 of years 1979 and later are actually paid in December of the previous year. For example,

the calendar year 2010 payment amounts shown in table IV.C1 reflect payments made in January-December, 2010, and include the payments due on January 1, 2011 (which were actually paid in December 2010),

but not the payments due on January 1, 2010 (which were actually paid in December 2009). Second,

beginning in 1991, SSA remitted overpayment recoveries directly to the Department of the Treasury and

did not use them to reduce SSI obligations as accounted for in the Federal Budget. Tabulations in the

Annual Statistical Supplement continue to report benefit payment amounts which are reduced by such

overpayment recoveries.

a Payment due on October 1 of fiscal year paid in previous fiscal year.

b Partially estimated.

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components. Historical split among age groups is estimated on a calendar year of age basis.

Table IV.C2 presents corresponding amounts of SSI outlays on a fiscal year basis for fiscal years1 1978-

2010. We omit fiscal years prior to 1978 since SSI payment amounts are not readily available on a fiscal

year basis for these years. As with the calendar year figures, we show these fiscal year amounts on a cashflow basis. Consequently, fiscal years 1979 and later may contain 11, 12, or 13 months of payments,

depending on whether October 1 of the current and succeeding fiscal years falls on a weekend.2 Fiscal

year 1978 contains 13 months of payments.

Table IV.C2.—SSI Federal Payments in Current Dollars, Fiscal Years 1978-2011

[In millions]

Fiscal

year

Blind or disabled, by age group Aged, by age group Totals

0-17 18-34 35-49 50-64 65-74

75 or

older 65-74

75 or

older

Blind or

disabled Aged All

1978............ $206 $740 $668 $1,438 $312 $22 $772 $1,076 $3,386 $1,848 $5,234

1979 a ......... 226 711 620 1,265 331 20 656 954 3,172 1,610 4,782

1980............ 372 877 698 1,360 506 26 629 1,184 3,840 1,813 5,653

1981............ 442 1,039 797 1,508 625 31 647 1,307 4,442 1,954 6,396

1982............ 499 1,181 861 1,570 693 36 640 1,356 4,840 1,996 6,836

1983............ 596 1,416 1,024 1,783 806 56 660 1,510 5,680 2,170 7,850

1984 a ......... 588 1,411 1,005 1,665 760 85 613 1,391 5,514 2,004 7,517

1985............ 713 1,662 1,215 1,895 828 145 691 1,502 6,459 2,193 8,652

1986............ 800 1,864 1,386 1,995 840 196 723 1,487 7,080 2,209 9,290

1987............ 880 2,030 1,565 2,119 845 242 755 1,448 7,681 2,203 9,884

1988............ 1,009 2,356 1,898 2,425 932 316 860 1,559 8,935 2,419 11,354

1989 a ......... 1,012 2,378 1,997 2,452 910 345 862 1,473 9,094 2,335 11,430

1990 a ......... 1,039 2,378 2,115 2,479 876 362 879 1,394 9,247 2,273 11,521

1991............ 1,519 2,975 2,772 3,141 1,032 447 1,120 1,608 11,886 2,728 14,614

1992............ 2,684 3,621 3,398 3,653 1,099 476 1,269 1,680 14,932 2,949 17,881

1993............ 3,817 4,377 3,977 4,033 1,175 502 1,420 1,730 17,880 3,150 21,029

1994............ 4,328 4,771 4,866 4,756 1,344 569 1,659 1,930 20,635 3,588 24,223

1995 a ......... 4,554 4,719 5,031 4,822 1,341 560 1,596 1,884 21,027 3,480 24,507

1996 a ......... 4,543 4,595 5,123 4,830 1,305 540 1,510 1,808 20,936 3,317 24,254

1997............ 4,933 5,004 5,529 5,340 1,478 606 1,602 2,027 22,890 3,629 26,519

1998............ 4,915 5,114 5,816 5,688 1,567 630 1,548 2,110 23,729 3,658 27,387

1999............ 4,901 5,152 6,123 5,975 1,638 648 1,506 2,180 24,438 3,685 28,123

2000............ 5,152 5,500 6,827 6,692 1,822 718 1,599 2,453 26,710 4,052 30,763

2001 a ......... 4,597 4,869 6,170 6,125 1,670 652 1,352 2,236 24,083 3,588 27,671

2002............ 5,290 5,456 6,998 7,041 1,889 731 1,444 2,500 27,405 3,944 31,349

2003............ 5,558 5,623 7,170 7,390 1,957 759 1,417 2,572 28,456 3,989 32,445

2004............ 5,910 5,868 7,327 7,797 2,031 796 1,380 2,638 29,729 4,018 33,748

2005............ 6,856 6,669 8,150 8,928 2,282 916 1,463 2,945 33,800 4,409 38,208

2006 a ......... 6,832 6,560 7,739 8,813 2,207 908 1,404 2,863 33,060 4,267 37,327

2007 a ......... 6,659 6,427 7,207 8,630 2,135 895 1,297 2,731 31,952 4,028 35,981

2008............ 7,651 7,411 8,063 10,106 2,416 1,027 1,419 3,035 36,673 4,454 41,127

2009 ........... 8,389 8,241 8,493 11,208 2,598 1,126 1,505 3,233 40,056 4,737 44,793

2010............ 8,899 8,846 8,710 12,057 2,674 1,194 1,524 3,289 42,379 4,813 47,192

2011 b ......... 9,923 9,982 9,373 13,694 2,930 1,334 1,630 3,520 47,236 5,150 52,386

1 Fiscal years 1977 and later cover the 12-month period ending September 30. For example, fiscal year 2010 payments include payments made from October 1, 2009 through September 30, 2010.

2 Generally, for fiscal years 1979 and later, the number of months of payments included in the fiscal year is:

11 months if October 1 of the current, but not the succeeding fiscal year falls on a weekend;

12 months if October 1 of both the current and succeeding fiscal years falls during the week (all payments made in the fiscal year due);

12 months if October 1 of both the current and succeeding fiscal years falls on a weekend (both payments due on October 1 paid in preceding fiscal year);

and

13 months if October 1 of the succeeding, but not current, fiscal year falls on a weekend.
47

2011 SSI Annual Report

The declining value of the dollar due to inflation can make it difficult to make meaningful comparisons of

dollar amounts over longer periods of time. For this reason, it is desirable to have some means of removing inflation from the 25-year projections of SSI expenditures. The CPI, which we discuss in section IV.A,

is an appropriate means of standardizing projected SSI costs over time. Table IV.C3 presents constant-dollar values of Federal SSI benefit payments (those adjusted by the CPI) for both the historical period, calendar years 1974-2010, and the full 25-year projection period, 2011-35. We present this same information in

graphical form in figure IV.C1. We base the projections of the CPI used for this standardization on the

intermediate economic assumptions of the 2011 OASDI Trustees Report.

The future growth in the “constant dollar” estimates is primarily attributable to the underlying growth in

the U.S. population (table IV.A1). However, the projected growth in the number of SSI recipients as a percent of the population (table IV.B7) also contributes to the growth. A notable aspect of this time series of

constant dollar estimates is the rather sharp level increase from 2008 to 2009 in these amounts. This level

shift is the result of the combination of the spike in the CPI for the third quarter of calendar year 2008,

which caused the large 5.8 percent benefit rate increase for 2009, and the subsequent drop in the CPI for

2009.

 Figure IV.C1.—SSI Federal Payments, by Age Group, in Constant 2011 Dollars, Calendar Years 1975-2035

[In billions]

$0

$10

$20

$30

$40

$50

$60

$70

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035

Constant 2011 dollars -- billions . 

Calendar year 

35-49 

65-74 

50-64 

18-34 

0-17 

75 or older 

Historical Projected 
2011 SSI Annual Report

48

a The adjusted CPI is the CPI-W indexed to calendar year 2011. Projections of the adjusted CPI are based on the intermediate economic assumptions of the

2011 OASDI Trustees Report.

b Payment amounts include 13 months of payments since payments due on January 1, 1978 and January 1, 1979 were both paid in calendar year 1978.

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components. Historical split among age groups is estimated on a calendar year of age basis.

Table IV.C3.—SSI Federal Payments in Constant 2011 Dollars, Calendar Years 1974-2035

[Payment amounts in millions]

Calendar year

Adjusteda

CPI 

Blind or disabled, by age group Aged, by age group Totals

0-17 18-34 35-49 50-64 65-74

75 or

older 65-74

75 or

older

Blind or

disabled Aged All

Historical data:

1974............ 22.90 $176 $1,911 $1,973 $4,229 $591 $76 $3,603 $4,183 $8,955 $7,786 $16,741

1975............ 24.99 514 2,149 1,996 4,396 760 70 3,250 4,124 9,885 7,374 17,259

1976............ 26.42 665 2,291 2,048 4,341 913 64 2,883 3,873 10,322 6,756 17,078

1977............ 28.14 809 2,384 2,057 4,174 1,058 62 2,564 3,609 10,543 6,173 16,716

1978 b......... 30.28 999 2,579 2,162 4,333 1,260 60 2,430 3,670 11,392 6,100 17,492

1979............ 33.73 1,008 2,399 1,928 3,842 1,273 62 1,976 3,241 10,512 5,217 15,729

1980............ 38.29 1,037 2,431 1,910 3,708 1,421 73 1,677 3,212 10,581 4,889 15,470

1981............ 42.21 1,086 2,556 1,945 3,654 1,550 75 1,523 3,128 10,865 4,651 15,516

1982............ 44.74 1,145 2,706 1,973 3,553 1,573 85 1,408 3,049 11,036 4,457 15,493

1983............ 46.10 1,244 2,976 2,137 3,696 1,679 125 1,354 3,123 11,858 4,477 16,334

1984............ 47.67 1,383 3,306 2,366 3,849 1,753 213 1,406 3,172 12,871 4,577 17,448

1985............ 49.36 1,490 3,461 2,532 3,898 1,688 324 1,416 3,036 13,393 4,452 17,845

1986............ 50.13 1,658 3,849 2,897 4,075 1,691 417 1,458 2,950 14,587 4,408 18,995

1987............ 51.93 1,732 4,006 3,115 4,153 1,629 499 1,474 2,781 15,135 4,255 19,389

1988............ 54.00 1,769 4,126 3,366 4,264 1,619 563 1,508 2,683 15,708 4,191 19,899

1989............ 56.60 1,812 4,295 3,618 4,383 1,654 646 1,557 2,614 16,408 4,171 20,578

1990............ 59.58 2,015 4,465 4,020 4,687 1,626 682 1,657 2,571 17,496 4,229 21,724

1991............ 61.98 2,707 5,048 4,785 5,332 1,711 746 1,886 2,642 20,330 4,527 24,857

1992............ 63.79 4,944 6,115 5,608 5,942 1,762 764 2,043 2,650 25,135 4,692 29,827

1993............ 65.59 5,960 6,807 6,349 6,385 1,842 782 2,243 2,681 28,126 4,924 33,051

1994............ 67.24 6,197 6,698 6,939 6,742 1,895 801 2,329 2,697 29,271 5,027 34,298

1995............ 69.14 6,736 6,908 7,456 7,081 1,962 818 2,313 2,748 30,961 5,061 36,022

1996............ 71.17 6,951 7,032 7,889 7,444 2,006 829 2,309 2,778 32,150 5,088 37,238

1997............ 72.74 6,763 6,915 7,649 7,437 2,068 844 2,180 2,812 31,678 4,992 36,670

1998............ 73.71 6,735 6,987 8,006 7,837 2,154 862 2,092 2,897 32,581 4,990 37,571

1999............ 75.36 6,416 6,809 8,206 8,011 2,203 867 1,994 2,928 32,512 4,922 37,434

2000............ 77.98 6,142 6,567 8,213 8,070 2,202 866 1,885 2,961 32,060 4,847 36,906

2001............ 80.11 6,371 6,683 8,509 8,467 2,294 890 1,835 3,063 33,213 4,898 38,112

2002............ 81.20 6,593 6,754 8,680 8,782 2,351 908 1,765 3,103 34,067 4,868 38,935

2003............ 83.02 6,849 6,884 8,725 9,073 2,390 929 1,696 3,133 34,851 4,829 39,680

2004............ 85.18 7,087 6,990 8,669 9,325 2,411 950 1,604 3,119 35,432 4,724 40,155

2005............ 88.17 7,358 7,135 8,647 9,568 2,436 988 1,540 3,151 36,133 4,691 40,824

2006............ 91.02 7,632 7,313 8,526 9,826 2,456 1,015 1,552 3,181 36,769 4,733 41,502

2007............ 93.62 7,847 7,549 8,408 10,190 2,492 1,048 1,502 3,173 37,533 4,675 42,208

2008............ 97.44 8,030 7,824 8,386 10,662 2,526 1,080 1,474 3,162 38,507 4,636 43,143

2009............ 96.79 8,922 8,775 8,904 11,940 2,731 1,192 1,579 3,386 42,465 4,964 47,429

2010............ 98.78 9,131 9,124 8,843 12,435 2,722 1,228 1,539 3,335 43,483 4,874 48,357

Projected:

2011............ 100.00 9,338 9,422 8,739 12,990 2,763 1,259 1,516 3,284 44,510 4,800 49,311

2012............ 101.66 9,712 9,718 8,756 13,521 2,864 1,306 1,537 3,288 45,876 4,825 50,701

2013............ 103.59 10,083 9,947 8,773 13,988 2,977 1,350 1,583 3,299 47,117 4,882 51,999

2014............ 105.62 10,311 10,080 8,711 14,243 3,131 1,390 1,644 3,319 47,867 4,963 52,830

2015............ 107.73 10,454 10,182 8,679 14,357 3,291 1,430 1,714 3,342 48,393 5,056 53,449

2016............ 109.89 10,435 10,282 8,673 14,353 3,464 1,464 1,797 3,360 48,672 5,157 53,830

2017............ 112.26 10,291 10,354 8,693 14,255 3,645 1,505 1,879 3,390 48,742 5,269 54,011

2018............ 115.18 10,166 10,382 8,692 14,062 3,820 1,537 1,960 3,413 48,659 5,373 54,033

2019............ 118.40 10,141 10,460 8,761 13,978 4,023 1,574 2,056 3,457 48,937 5,513 54,449

2020............ 121.72 10,160 10,507 8,813 13,893 4,229 1,611 2,159 3,512 49,213 5,671 54,884

2021............ 125.13 10,165 10,553 8,877 13,778 4,408 1,670 2,231 3,601 49,453 5,832 55,284

2022............ 128.63 10,189 10,621 8,994 13,629 4,574 1,750 2,279 3,729 49,758 6,008 55,766

2023............ 132.23 10,212 10,708 9,153 13,482 4,734 1,833 2,340 3,855 50,121 6,195 56,317

2024............ 135.93 10,235 10,798 9,349 13,352 4,882 1,930 2,406 3,991 50,546 6,397 56,943

2025............ 139.74 10,244 10,854 9,526 13,191 5,010 2,029 2,467 4,134 50,855 6,601 57,456

2026............ 143.65 10,239 10,867 9,679 13,025 5,107 2,132 2,522 4,288 51,047 6,810 57,857

2027............ 147.67 10,235 10,840 9,793 12,873 5,170 2,239 2,568 4,455 51,150 7,022 58,173

2028............ 151.81 10,220 10,833 9,879 12,745 5,211 2,348 2,602 4,627 51,235 7,230 58,465

2029............ 156.06 10,214 10,839 9,937 12,664 5,230 2,464 2,626 4,811 51,349 7,437 58,786

2030............ 160.43 10,231 10,867 9,992 12,667 5,214 2,579 2,647 4,999 51,550 7,645 59,196

2031............ 164.92 10,252 10,892 10,027 12,700 5,172 2,691 2,652 5,194 51,734 7,846 59,580

2032............ 169.54 10,264 10,908 10,050 12,742 5,112 2,801 2,640 5,392 51,876 8,032 59,908

2033............ 174.29 10,279 10,933 10,090 12,791 5,064 2,906 2,622 5,588 52,062 8,211 60,273

2034............ 179.17 10,283 10,954 10,126 12,821 5,026 3,007 2,596 5,781 52,217 8,377 60,594

2035............ 184.18 10,287 10,976 10,161 12,857 5,001 3,103 2,567 5,970 52,385 8,538 60,922
49

2011 SSI Annual Report

Although we do not prepare detailed projections of the SSI State supplementary payments that SSA

administers, we present historical information on the amounts of such supplements in Table IV.C4 for two

broad recipient categories. These amounts are consistent with tabulations in the Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin.

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

Previously, this report included historical information on State-administered State supplementary payments, but complete data for all States is now generally not available. The Social Security Administration

publication, State Assistance Programs for SSI Recipients1 provides information on selected characteristics of State assistance programs for SSI recipients.

Table IV.C4.—SSI Federally-Administered State Supplementary Payments

in Current Dollars, Calendar Years 1974-2010

[In millions]

Calendar year Aged

Blind or

disabled Total

1974 ................................................ $631 $632 $1,264

1975 ................................................ 674 729 1,403

1976 ................................................ 635 753 1,388

1977 ................................................ 627 804 1,431

1978 ................................................ 636 855 1,491

1979 ................................................ 661 928 1,590

1980 ................................................ 757 1,091 1,848

1981 ................................................ 731 1,108 1,839

1982 ................................................ 694 1,104 1,798

1983 ................................................ 645 1,066 1,711

1984 ................................................ 645 1,148 1,792

1985 ................................................ 694 1,278 1,973

1986 ................................................ 759 1,484 2,243

1987 ................................................ 849 1,714 2,563

1988 ................................................ 873 1,798 2,671

1989 ................................................ 954 2,001 2,955

1990 ................................................ 1,038 2,201 3,239

1991 ................................................ 999 2,232 3,231

1992 ................................................ 1,023 2,412 3,435

1993 ................................................ 934 2,336 3,270

1994 ................................................ 876 2,240 3,116

1995 ................................................ 864 2,253 3,118

1996 ................................................ 833 2,155 2,988

1997 ................................................ 824 2,090 2,913

1998 ................................................ 838 2,165 3,003

1999 ................................................ 921 2,380 3,301

2000 ................................................ 943 2,439 3,381

2001 ................................................ 956 2,505 3,460

2002 ................................................ 1,051 2,768 3,820

2003 ................................................ 1,098 2,906 4,005

2004 ................................................ 1,133 3,045 4,178

2005 ................................................ 1,128 3,050 4,178

2006 ................................................ 1,147 3,006 4,153

2007 ................................................ 1,187 3,133 4,320

2008 ................................................ 1,198 3,187 4,385

2009 ................................................ 1,070 2,894 3,964

2010 ................................................ 924 2,665 3,589

1 Publication No. 13-11975, prepared by the Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics, is available on the internet at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/

policy/docs/progdesc/ssi_st_asst/.
2011 SSI Annual Report

50

D. FEDERAL SSI PAYMENTS AS A PERCENTAGE OF GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT

A comparison of estimated annual SSI program costs to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)1 is an appropriate relative measure of program costs that produces an inflation-independent measure of the cost of the

SSI program. Displaying Federal SSI payments as a percentage of GDP provides a useful perspective on

the proportion of the total output of the U.S. economy needed to provide Federal SSI benefits. As table

IV.D1 and figure IV.D1 show, we project the total cost of the SSI program relative to GDP to be relatively

constant through 2013 and decline thereafter.

Table IV.D1 and figure IV.D1 present historical and projected Federal expenditures under the SSI program

as a percentage of GDP. Although SSI program costs were comparatively higher in the first few years of

the program, total Federal SSI payments during the 1980s were relatively constant as a percentage of GDP

(0.21 percent). During the early 1990s, SSI grew rather rapidly (to 0.34 percent of GDP in 1996) due to a

combination of factors (see section IV.B). Following legislation enacted in 19962, the cost of SSI

decreased as a percentage of GDP beginning in 1997 and continuing through 2000. The share of GDP

devoted to Federal SSI expenditures increased slightly after 2000, partly because of a slowdown in economic growth over that period, but resumed its very gradual downward trend from 2002 to 2007 due to

relatively slower growth in the number of SSI recipients. Beginning in 2008, however, this trend reversed

due to an increase in program recipients and a temporary decline in nominal GDP during the economic

recession. As the economy recovers, we project the gradual downward trend to resume. This ultimate

trend is the net effect of two factors. First, we project that Federal SSI expenditures, after adjusting for

growth in prices, will show slightly higher growth than the population. This follows from our estimate that

the SSI recipient population will grow as a percentage of the overall U.S. population (see section IV.C).

Second, using the 2011 Trustees Report intermediate assumptions, we project that the effect of the real

growth in GDP following the current economic downturn will be greater than the effect of projected

increases in SSI recipients. Accordingly, we project that Federal SSI payments will decline as a percentage

of GDP over the remainder of the projection period, reaching 0.24 percent of GDP by 2035.

1 The total value of goods and services produced in the United States.

2 Public Law 104-121 and Public Law 104-193.

 Figure IV.D1.—SSI Federal Payments, by Age Group, as a Percentage of GDP, Calendar Years 1975-2035

0.00%

0.10%

0.20%

0.30%

0.40%

0.50%

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035

Calendar year 

35-49 

65-74 

50-64 

18-34 

0-17 

75 or older 

Historical Projected 
51

2011 SSI Annual Report

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components. Historical GDP amounts subject to revision.

Table IV.D1.—SSI Federal Payments as a Percentage of GDP, Calendar Years 1974-2035 

Calendar 

year

GDP a

(In billions)

a Projected values based on the intermediate economic assumptions of the 2011 OASDI Trustees Report.

Blind or disabled, by age group Aged, by age group Totals

0-17 18-34 35-49 50-64 65-74

75 or

older 65-74

75 or

older

Blind or

disabled Aged All

Historical data:

1974 ........ $1,499 0.003 0.029 0.030 0.065 0.009 0.001 0.055 0.064 0.137 0.119 0.256

1975 ........ 1,638 .008 .033 .030 .067 .012 .001 .050 .063 .151 .113 .263

1976 ........ 1,825 .010 .033 .030 .063 .013 .001 .042 .056 .149 .098 .247

1977 ........ 2,030 .011 .033 .029 .058 .015 .001 .036 .050 .146 .086 .232

1978 ........ 2,294 .013 .034 .029 .057 .017 .001 .032 .048 .150 .081 .231

1979 ........ 2,562 .013 .032 .025 .051 .017 .001 .026 .043 .138 .069 .207

1980 ........ 2,788 .014 .033 .026 .051 .020 .001 .023 .044 .145 .067 .212

1981 ........ 3,127 .015 .035 .026 .049 .021 .001 .021 .042 .147 .063 .209

1982 ........ 3,253 .016 .037 .027 .049 .022 .001 .019 .042 .152 .061 .213

1983 ........ 3,535 .016 .039 .028 .048 .022 .002 .018 .041 .155 .058 .213

1984 ........ 3,931 .017 .040 .029 .047 .021 .003 .017 .038 .156 .056 .212

1985 ........ 4,217 .017 .041 .030 .046 .020 .004 .017 .036 .157 .052 .209

1986 ........ 4,460 .019 .043 .033 .046 .019 .005 .016 .033 .164 .050 .213

1987 ........ 4,736 .019 .044 .034 .046 .018 .005 .016 .030 .166 .047 .213

1988 ........ 5,100 .019 .044 .036 .045 .017 .006 .016 .028 .166 .044 .211

1989 ........ 5,482 .019 .044 .037 .045 .017 .007 .016 .027 .169 .043 .212

1990 ........ 5,801 .021 .046 .041 .048 .017 .007 .017 .026 .180 .043 .223

1991 ........ 5,992 .028 .052 .050 .055 .018 .008 .020 .027 .210 .047 .257

1992 ........ 6,342 .050 .061 .056 .060 .018 .008 .021 .027 .253 .047 .300

1993 ........ 6,667 .059 .067 .062 .063 .018 .008 .022 .026 .277 .048 .325

1994 ........ 7,085 .059 .064 .066 .064 .018 .008 .022 .026 .278 .048 .326

1995 ........ 7,415 .063 .064 .070 .066 .018 .008 .022 .026 .289 .047 .336

1996 ........ 7,838 .063 .064 .072 .068 .018 .008 .021 .025 .292 .046 .338

1997 ........ 8,332 .059 .060 .067 .065 .018 .007 .019 .025 .277 .044 .320

1998 ........ 8,793 .056 .059 .067 .066 .018 .007 .018 .024 .273 .042 .315

1999 ........ 9,354 .052 .055 .066 .065 .018 .007 .016 .024 .262 .040 .302

2000 ........ 9,951 .048 .051 .064 .063 .017 .007 .015 .023 .251 .038 .289

2001 ........ 10,286 .050 .052 .066 .066 .018 .007 .014 .024 .259 .038 .297

2002 ........ 10,642 .050 .052 .066 .067 .018 .007 .013 .024 .260 .037 .297

2003 ........ 11,142 .051 .051 .065 .068 .018 .007 .013 .023 .260 .036 .296

2004 ........ 11,868 .051 .050 .062 .067 .017 .007 .012 .022 .254 .034 .288

2005 ........ 12,638 .051 .050 .060 .067 .017 .007 .011 .022 .252 .033 .285

2006 ........ 13,399 .052 .050 .058 .067 .017 .007 .011 .022 .250 .032 .282

2007 ........ 14,062 .052 .050 .056 .068 .017 .007 .010 .021 .250 .031 .281

2008 ........ 14,369 .054 .053 .057 .072 .017 .007 .010 .021 .261 .031 .293

2009 ........ 14,119 .061 .060 .061 .082 .019 .008 .011 .023 .291 .034 .325

2010 ........ 14,654 .062 .062 .060 .084 .018 .008 .010 .022 .293 .033 .326

Projected:

2011 ........ 15,231 .061 .062 .057 .085 .018 .008 .010 .022 .292 .032 .324

2012 ........ 15,949 .062 .062 .056 .086 .018 .008 .010 .021 .292 .031 .323

2013 ........ 16,807 .062 .061 .054 .086 .018 .008 .010 .020 .290 .030 .320

2014 ........ 17,719 .061 .060 .052 .085 .019 .008 .010 .020 .285 .030 .315

2015 ........ 18,626 .060 .059 .050 .083 .019 .008 .010 .019 .280 .029 .309

2016 ........ 19,496 .059 .058 .049 .081 .020 .008 .010 .019 .274 .029 .303

2017 ........ 20,366 .057 .057 .048 .079 .020 .008 .010 .019 .269 .029 .298

2018 ........ 21,312 .055 .056 .047 .076 .021 .008 .011 .018 .263 .029 .292

2019 ........ 22,297 .054 .056 .047 .074 .021 .008 .011 .018 .260 .029 .289

2020 ........ 23,315 .053 .055 .046 .073 .022 .008 .011 .018 .257 .030 .287

2021 ........ 24,388 .052 .054 .046 .071 .023 .009 .011 .018 .254 .030 .284

2022 ........ 25,509 .051 .054 .045 .069 .023 .009 .011 .019 .251 .030 .281

2023 ........ 26,683 .051 .053 .045 .067 .023 .009 .012 .019 .248 .031 .279

2024 ........ 27,915 .050 .053 .046 .065 .024 .009 .012 .019 .246 .031 .277

2025 ........ 29,190 .049 .052 .046 .063 .024 .010 .012 .020 .243 .032 .275

2026 ........ 30,523 .048 .051 .046 .061 .024 .010 .012 .020 .240 .032 .272

2027 ........ 31,933 .047 .050 .045 .060 .024 .010 .012 .021 .237 .032 .269

2028 ........ 33,406 .046 .049 .045 .058 .024 .011 .012 .021 .233 .033 .266

2029 ........ 34,937 .046 .048 .044 .057 .023 .011 .012 .021 .229 .033 .263

2030 ........ 36,547 .045 .048 .044 .056 .023 .011 .012 .022 .226 .034 .260

2031 ........ 38,259 .044 .047 .043 .055 .022 .012 .011 .022 .223 .034 .257

2032 ........ 40,053 .043 .046 .043 .054 .022 .012 .011 .023 .220 .034 .254

2033 ........ 41,926 .043 .045 .042 .053 .021 .012 .011 .023 .216 .034 .251

2034 ........ 43,888 .042 .045 .041 .052 .021 .012 .011 .024 .213 .034 .247

2035 ........ 45,934 .041 .044 .041 .052 .020 .012 .010 .024 .210 .034 .244
2011 SSI Annual Report

52

E. THE SSI PROGRAM’S SHARE OF SSA’S ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS 

AND BENEFICIARY SERVICES COSTS

The Social Security Administration administers the SSI program, but unlike the OASDI program, general

revenues fund the SSI program. When the SSI program began in 1972, the agency's existing field office

network and its automated data processing capabilities made it uniquely qualified to administer the program. Since the administration of the SSI and OASDI programs is integrated, it is more practical to fund

them from a single source. The trust funds and the general fund pay their appropriate share of administrative expenses into SSA's Limitation on Administrative Expenses (LAE) account, which funds the total

operating expenses of the agency. A Government Accountability Office approved method of cost analysis

determines the appropriate share of administrative expenses borne by each funding source, and a final settlement of costs occurs by the end of the subsequent fiscal year. If necessary, section 201(g)(1) of the

Social Security Act provides that the Social Security trust funds may finance SSI administrative expenses,

including Federal administration of State supplementation payments. General revenues subsequently reimburse the trust funds, including any interest lost.

The SSI program also provides beneficiary services to recipients through State Vocational Rehabilitation

(VR) agencies and Employment Networks for VR services and payments under the Ticket to Work program. VR strives to help individuals with disabilities achieve and sustain productive, self-supporting work

activity.

Table IV.E1.—Selected SSI Costs, Fiscal Years 1978-2011

[Outlays in millions] 

Fiscal year

SSI Administrative

expenses a

a Includes user fees charged to participating States to reimburse SSA for the costs of administering their

SSI State Supplementation program.

Beneficiary

services b

b Payments for referral and monitoring services for Drug Addicts and Alcoholics are included through

December 1996; these payments were terminated effective January 1997. 

1978.................................................................. $539 $31.6

1979.................................................................. 611 57.0

1980.................................................................. 668 33.1

1981.................................................................. 717 37.3

1982.................................................................. 780 12.0

1983.................................................................. 846 8.0

1984.................................................................. 864 c 84.0

c Reflects a one-time payment to State VR agencies for prior year expenses.

1985.................................................................. 956 3.0

1986.................................................................. 1,023 7.2

1987.................................................................. 977 9.5

1988.................................................................. 976 12.9

1989.................................................................. 1,052 20.0

1990.................................................................. 1,075 28.3

1991.................................................................. 1,230 33.1

1992.................................................................. 1,426 36.0

1993.................................................................. 1,468 32.3

1994.................................................................. 1,780 33.8

1995.................................................................. 1,978 48.2

1996.................................................................. 1,953 71.8

1997.................................................................. 2,055 77.3

1998.................................................................. 2,304 46.0

1999.................................................................. 2,493 52.0

2000.................................................................. 2,321 53.7

2001.................................................................. 2,397 43.9

2002.................................................................. 2,522 54.0

2003.................................................................. 2,656 37.0

2004.................................................................. 2,806 38.6

2005.................................................................. 2,795 30.4

2006.................................................................. 2,916 38.9

2007.................................................................. 2,857 36.1

2008.................................................................. 2,820 45.1

2009.................................................................. 3,316 48.6

2010.................................................................. 3,629 46.1

2011 (estimated) .............................................. 3,713 40.0
53

2011 SSI Annual Report

V. APPENDICES

A. HISTORY OF PROVISIONS

Act

1. Basic Eligibility Requirements

1972

Public Law 92-603, 

enacted October 30

An individual may qualify for payments on the basis of age, blindness, or disability.

Aged: Any person aged 65 or older.

Blind: Any person with 20/200 or less vision in the better eye with the use of a

correcting lens, or with tunnel vision of 20 degrees or less. An individual transferred from a State Aid to the Blind (AB) program to SSI is eligible if he/she

received such State aid in December 1973 and continues to meet the October

1972 State definition of blindness.

Disabled: Any person unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by

reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment expected

to result in death or that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous

period of at least 12 months. For a child under age 18, eligibility is based on disability of severity comparable with that of an adult. An individual transferred

from a State Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled (APTD) program to

SSI is also eligible if he/she received such State aid in December 1973 and continues to meet the October 1972 State definition of disability.

1973

Public Law 93-233, 

enacted December 31

Only persons who had received APTD before July 1973 and were on the rolls in

December 1973 may receive SSI on the basis of the State definition of disability; those who became eligible for State aid from July to December 1973 must

meet the Federal definition of disability.

1980

Public Law 96-265, 

enacted June 9

A disabled recipient who loses Federal SSI eligibility because of earnings at the

substantial gainful activity level may continue to receive a special benefit under

section 1619 and retain eligibility for Medicaid under title XIX of the Social

Security Act. This special benefit status may continue as long as the recipient

has the disabling impairment and meets all nondisability SSI eligibility criteria.

States have the option of supplementing this special benefit.

This provision of the law was in effect from January 1, 1981, through December

31, 1983. Beginning in January 1984, under a 1-year demonstration project, this

provision was continued for persons already eligible for either regular SSI payments or special monthly benefits.

1984

Public Law 98-460, 

enacted October 9 

The special benefit and Medicaid provisions of the 1980 legislation were

extended through June 30, 1987 (retroactive to January 1, 1984).

1986

Public Law 99-643, 

enacted November 10

The special benefit and Medicaid provisions of the 1980 amendments are made

permanent. The provisions were amended effective July 1, 1987, with significant modifications to simplify administration and to allow free movement

between regular SSI disability payments and either the special cash benefit or

Medicaid eligibility under section 1619. The distinction between a disabled person eligible for regular SSI payments and one eligible for 1619(a) is that the latter has several months with gross earnings above the SGA level. Previously,

section 1619(a) status required completion of a trial work period and the determination that the work was SGA.
2011 SSI Annual Report

54

Act

1996

Public Law 104-193, 

enacted August 22

For individuals under age 18, the “comparable severity” standard is eliminated

and replaced with a requirement that a child be considered disabled if he/she has

a medically determinable impairment that results in “marked and severe functional limitations,” and meets the existing statutory duration requirement. The

law also eliminates references to “maladaptive behaviors” from the personal/

behavioral domain of the mental disorders in the Listing of Impairments for

children, and discontinues the use of individualized functional assessments for

children.

SSI eligibility is prohibited for an individual in any month during which such an

individual is a fugitive felon, fleeing prosecution for a felony, or violating State

or Federal conditions of probation or parole. 1 In addition, SSI eligibility is prohibited for 10 years for those convicted of fraudulently claiming residence to

obtain benefits simultaneously in two or more States. 2

2006

Public Law 109-171, 

enacted February 8

Requires the Commissioner to conduct reviews of a specific percentage of SSI

initial disability and blindness cases involving individuals aged 18 or older that

are allowed by the State DDS. The provision is phased in as follows—for fiscal

year 2006, the Commissioner is required to review 20 percent of DDS allowances; in fiscal year 2007, the requirement is 40 percent; and, for fiscal years

2008 and thereafter, 50 percent of all DDS allowances are required to be

reviewed. These reviews are to be made before the allowance decision is implemented.

2. Other Eligibility Provisions

a. Citizenship and U.S. Residency

1972

Public Law 92-603, 

enacted October 30

The individual must reside within one of the 50 States or the District of Columbia and be a citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence or

permanently residing in the United States under color of law. Persons living outside the United States for an entire calendar month lose their eligibility for such

a month.

1976

Public Law 94-241, 

enacted March 24

Eligibility for SSI is extended to residents of the Northern Mariana Islands,

effective January 9, 1978.

1980

Public Law 96-265, 

enacted June 9

The income and resources of the immigration sponsors of aliens applying for

SSI are considered in determining eligibility for and the amount of payment.

After allowances for the needs of the sponsor and his/her family, the remainder

is deemed available for the support of the alien applicant for a 3-year period

after admission to the United States for permanent residence. This provision

does not apply to those who become blind or disabled after admission, to refu1 In 2009, the agency entered into a nationwide class action settlement that limits the felony crime offense codes upon

which fugitive felon non-payments may be based under this statute. In 2010, the agency stopped parole and probation

violator non-payments for residents of New York, Connecticut, and Vermont pursuant to a Second Circuit Court of

Appeals decision in a pending proposed nationwide class action suit.

2 This last provision was repealed in 1999 by Public Law 106-169 and replaced with a provision providing for nonpayment of benefits for up to 24 months for knowingly making false or misleading statements regarding material

facts.
55

2011 SSI Annual Report

Act

gees, or to persons granted political asylum. (See section 2.g. for subsequent

changes to sponsor-to-alien deeming provisions.)

1989

Public Law 101-239, 

enacted December 19

SSI eligibility is continued for a disabled or blind child who was receiving SSI

benefits while living in the United States and is now living with a parent who is

a member of the U.S. Armed Forces assigned to permanent duty ashore outside

the United States, but not where the parent is stationed in Puerto Rico or the territories and possessions of the United States.

1993

Public Law 103-66, 

enacted August 10

Above provision made applicable where the parent is a member of the U.S.

Armed Forces and stationed in Puerto Rico or the territories and possessions of

the United States.

1996

Public Law 104-193, 

enacted August 22

Prohibits SSI eligibility for anyone who is not a U.S. citizen or national unless

they are in a “qualified alien” category and meet one of certain exceptions such

as lawful permanent residents who earn or can be credited with 40 qualifying

quarters of earnings, certain refugee type categories eligible for up to 5 years of

time limited eligibility, or active duty U.S. military or veterans and their spouses

and children. Extends eligibility for aliens receiving SSI as of August 22, 1996

(the enactment date of the law) for 1 year after the enactment date for those

aliens found ineligible under the new standards.

Public Law 104-208, 

enacted September 30

Amends Public Law 104-193 to add to the list of “qualified aliens” certain noncitizens (and their children) who have been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty by a spouse or parent or a member of the spouse’s or parent’s family living

in the same household.

1997

Public Law 105-18, 

enacted June 12

Extends eligibility for aliens receiving SSI as of August 22, 1996, until September 30, 1997, for those found ineligible under the new alien standards of Public

Law 104-193.

Public Law 105-33, 

enacted August 5

Further amends Public Law 104-193 to add Cuban and Haitian entrants, and the

child of a parent who has been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty, to the

list of qualified aliens. Provides that Cuban and Haitian entrants and Amerasian

immigrants qualify for time limited eligibility, and increases the time limit from

5 to 7 years for all time-limited categories. Additional exceptions are added for

qualified aliens: (1) lawfully residing in the United States and receiving SSI

benefits on August 22, 1996; and (2) lawfully residing in the United States on

August 22, 1996 and meeting the definition of blind or disabled in the Social

Security Act.

Certain noncitizen American Indians are excepted from the alien nonpayment

provisions of Public Law 104-193. Extends eligibility for “nonqualified aliens”

receiving SSI as of August 22, 1996, until September 30, 1998.

1998

Public Law 105-306, 

enacted October 28

Permanently extends eligibility of all remaining “nonqualified aliens” who

were receiving SSI benefits when Public Law 104-193 was enacted on

August 22, 1996.
2011 SSI Annual Report

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Act

2000

Public Law 106-386, 

enacted October 28

Noncitizens may be eligible for SSI to the same extent as refugees, if they have

been certified by the Department of Health and Human Services to be victims of

“severe forms of trafficking in persons.”

2004

Public Law 108-203, 

enacted March 2

Extends SSI eligibility to blind or disabled children who are U.S. citizens living

with a parent assigned to permanent U.S. military duty outside of the United

States, and who were not receiving SSI benefits while in the United States. Previously, only blind or disabled children who received an SSI benefit for the

month before the parent reported for permanent duty abroad were eligible.

Effective April 2004 for applications filed after enactment.

2007

Public Law 110-161, 

enacted December 26

Provides certain Iraqi and Afghan aliens with special immigrant status, as

described in section 101(a)(27) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. As special immigrants, these Iraqi and Afghan aliens are eligible for resettlement assistance, entitlement programs, and other benefits available to refugees admitted

under section 207 of such Act (admission of refugees in emergency situations)

for a period not to exceed 6 months.

2008

Public Law 110-181, 

enacted January 28

Provides certain Iraqi aliens who have provided service to the United States

with special immigrant status, as described in section 101(a)(27) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. As special immigrants, these Iraqis are eligible for

resettlement assistance, entitlement programs, and other benefits available to

refugees admitted under section 207 of such Act (admission of refugees in

emergency situations) for a period not to exceed 8 months.

Public Law 110-328, 

enacted September 30

Extends the 7-year SSI eligibility period for certain refugees, asylees, and other

humanitarian immigrants (including victims of human trafficking) to 9 years for

the period October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2011. Those with naturalization applications pending or awaiting the swearing-in-ceremony are exempt

from time limitations through September 30, 2011. Also applies to the noncitizens whose SSI had previously ceased due to the expiration of the 7-year period.

For these noncitizens, SSI benefits will be paid for months in the period October

1, 2008 through September 30, 2011, for the duration of the noncitizen’s reestablished eligibility.

2009

Public Law 111-118, 

enacted December 19

Eliminates the 8-month time limit on SSI eligibility for certain Iraqi and Afghan

refugees who have provided service to the United States. The time-limited eligibility for these individuals is now the same period applicable to other humanitarian refugees.

b. Other Benefits

1980

Public Law 96-272, 

enacted June 17

SSI applicants and recipients are not required as a condition of eligibility to

elect to receive Veterans Administration pensions under the Veterans and Survivors’ Pension Improvement Act of 1978 if the State of residence lacks a medically-needy program under title XIX.

c. Drug Addiction and Alcoholism (DA&A)

1972

Public Law 92-603, 

enacted October 30

Any disabled individual who has been medically determined to be an alcoholic

or drug addict must accept appropriate treatment, if available, in an approved
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facility and demonstrate compliance with conditions and requirements for treatment.

SSI payments are required to be made through a representative payee—another

person or public or private agency designated by SSA to manage the recipient’s

benefit on his/her behalf.

1994

Public Law 103-296, 

enacted August 15

Any individual who is receiving SSI based on a disability where drug addiction

or alcoholism is a contributing factor material to the finding of disability must

comply with the DA&A treatment requirements. The individual must accept

appropriate treatment when it is available and comply with the conditions and

terms of treatment. Instances of noncompliance with the requirements result in

progressively longer payment suspensions. Before payments can resume, the

individual must demonstrate compliance for specific periods; 2 months, 3

months, and 6 months, respectively, for the first, second, third and subsequent

instances of noncompliance. An individual who is not in compliance with the

DA&A treatment requirements for 12 consecutive months shall not be eligible

for payments; however, this does not prevent such individuals from reapplying

and again becoming eligible for payments.

SSI disability payments based on DA&A are also limited to a total of 36 benefit

months (beginning March 1995) regardless of whether appropriate treatment is

available. Months for which benefits are not due and received do not count

towards the 36-month limit.

Payments based on DA&A must be made to a representative payee. Preference

is required to be given to community based nonprofit social service agencies

and Federal, State, or local government agencies in representative payee selection. These agencies when serving as payees for individuals receiving payments

based on DA&A may retain the lesser of 10 percent of the monthly benefit or

$50 (adjusted annually after 1995 by the Automatic Cost-of-Living Increase) as

compensation for their services.

Establishment of one or more referral and monitoring agencies for each State is

required.

1996

Public Law 104-121, 

enacted March 29

An individual is not considered disabled if DA&A is a contributing factor material to a finding of disability.

Applies DA&A representative payee requirements enacted under Public Law

103-296 to disabled SSI recipients who have a DA&A condition and are incapable of managing their benefits. In addition, these recipients shall be referred to

the appropriate State agency administering the State plan for substance abuse

treatment.

d. Institutionalization

1972

Public Law 92-603, 

enacted October 30

An individual who is an inmate of a public institution is ineligible for SSI payments unless the institution is a facility approved for Medicaid payments and is

receiving such payments on behalf of the person. Under regulations, the Medicaid payment must represent more than 50 percent of the cost of services provided by the facility to the individual.

1976

Public Law 94-566, 

enacted October 20

An inmate of a publicly operated community residence serving no more than 16

persons may, if otherwise eligible, receive SSI.
2011 SSI Annual Report

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Act

1983

Public Law 98-21, 

enacted April 20

Payments may be made to persons who are residents of public emergency shelters for the homeless for a period of up to 3 months in any 12-month period.

1986

Public Law 99-643, 

enacted November 10

Effective July 1, 1987, disabled or blind recipients who were receiving special

SSI payments or had special SSI recipient status under section 1619 in the

month preceding the first full month of institutionalization, may receive payments based on the full Federal benefit rate for the initial 2 full months of institutionalization, if they reside in certain public medical, psychiatric or Medicaid

facilities, or in private Medicaid facilities.

1987

Public Law 100-203, 

enacted December 22

Effective January 1, 1988, payments may be made to persons who are residents

of public emergency shelters for the homeless, for up to 6 months in a 9-month

period.

Effective July 1, 1988, continued payment of SSI benefits for up to 3 months is

permitted, at the rate that was applicable in the month prior to the first full

month of institutionalization, for individuals whose expected institutional stay

on admission is not likely to exceed 3 months, as certified by a physician, and

for whom the receipt of benefits is necessary to maintain living arrangements to

which they may return.

1996

Public Law 104-193, 

enacted August 22

Effective December 1996, institutionalized children under age 18 whose private

health insurance is making payments to the institution may receive no more than

$30 per month in Federal SSI.

e. Vocational Rehabilitation and Treatment

1972

Public Law 92-603, 

enacted October 30

Blind or disabled individuals receiving Federal SSI benefits who are under age

65, must be referred to the State agency providing services under the Vocational

Rehabilitation Act and must accept the services offered. States are reimbursed

for the cost of services.

1976

Public Law 94-566, 

enacted October 20

Blind or disabled children under age 16 must be referred to the State agency

administering crippled children’s services or to another agency designated by

the State. States are reimbursed for the cost of services.

Of funds provided for these services, at least 90 percent must be used for children under age 6 or for those who have never attended public schools.

1980

Public Law 96-265, 

enacted June 9

Disabled SSI recipients who medically recover while enrolled in approved

vocational rehabilitation programs of State VR agencies, may continue to

receive benefits during their participation in such programs if the Commissioner

of Social Security determines that continuation in the program will increase the

probability that they leave the rolls permanently.

1981

Public Law 97-35, 

enacted August 13

Funding no longer provided under title XVI for medical, social, developmental

and rehabilitative services to disabled or blind children.
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Reimbursement for the cost of rehabilitation services will be made only if the

services result in the recipient’s return to work for a continuous period of

9 months. The work must be at the substantial gainful activity earnings level.

1984

Public Law 98-460, 

enacted October 9

Authorizes the reimbursement of States for the cost of VR services provided to

individuals who (1) continue to receive benefits after medical recovery because

they are participating in a State VR program or (2) refuse, without good cause,

to continue in or cooperate with the VR program in which they had been participating.

1987

Public Law 100-203, 

enacted December 22

Extends the provision for continuation of payments to disabled SSI recipients

who have medically recovered while enrolled in an approved vocational rehabilitation program to include blind SSI recipients.

1990

Public Law 101-508, 

enacted November 5

Reimbursement authorized for the cost of vocational rehabilitation services provided in months in which the individual was not receiving Federal SSI payments, if:

 • SSI recipient status for Medicaid eligibility purposes was retained under

work incentive provisions; or 

 • Benefits were in suspense 1 status (for a reason other than cessation of disability or blindness); or

 • Federally-administered State supplementation was received.

Extends benefit continuation provision to disabled SSI recipients who medically

recover while participating in a non-State VR program.

1999

Public Law 106-170, 

enacted December 17

Establishes a Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency program which will provide

SSI (and OASDI) disability beneficiaries with a ticket that can be used to obtain

vocational rehabilitation services, employment services, or other support services, from an employment network (EN) of their choice. An EN chooses one of

the two EN payment options at the time it submits an application to SSA to

become an EN. The chosen payment system will apply to all beneficiaries

served. An EN can elect to receive payment under the:

 • Outcome payment system, under which it can receive payment for up to 60

outcome payment months, which are defined as months in which SSA does

not pay any Federal disability cash benefits to a beneficiary because of

work or earnings; or

 • Outcome-milestone payment system, under which it can receive payment

for one or more milestones in addition to reduced outcome payments, but

will receive less in total than under the outcome payment system. 

The Commissioner of Social Security will initially establish and periodically

review the amount and duration of the outcome payments and the number and

amounts of the outcome-milestone payments.

1 Recipients who have lost eligibility for SSI benefits for fewer than 13 consecutive months are in suspended payment

status.
2011 SSI Annual Report

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Act

Also eliminates the requirement that blind or disabled SSI recipients age 16

through 64 be referred to the State VR agency and accept the services offered.

Under the initial regulation, effective January 28, 2002:

 • The outcome payment system provided that ENs could receive payment for

up to 60 outcome payment months for both SSDI and SSI beneficiaries

based on earnings exceeding the substantial gainful activity level and the

beneficiary no longer receiving Federal disability cash benefits because of

work or earnings; and

 • The outcome-milestone payment system provided that ENs could receive

up to four milestone payments in addition to reduced outcome payments.

The four milestones were based on gross earnings exceeding the substantial

gainful activity level for specified months. Milestone payments were made

only for milestones achieved prior to the first outcome payment month, and

outcome payments were reduced by the amount of milestone payments

received. Four milestone payments plus 60 months of reduced outcome

payments equaled 85 percent of the total that would be available if the EN

chose the outcome payment system. 

Under the revised regulation, effective July 21, 2008:

 • The outcome payment system provides that ENs can receive payment for

up to 60 outcome payment months for an SSI beneficiary and up to 36 outcome payment months for an SSDI beneficiary (including a concurrent title

II/title XVI disability beneficiary), with the reduction in available number

of outcome months for SSDI beneficiaries offset by an increased outcome

payment; and

 • The outcome-milestone payment system provides that ENs can receive the

following milestone payments in addition to outcome payments:

 — Up to four Phase 1 milestones achieved by either an SSDI or SSI beneficiary (including a concurrent title II/title XVI disability beneficiary); and

 — Up to 11 Phase 2 milestones achieved by an SSDI or concurrent beneficiary or up to 18 Phase 2 milestones achieved by an SSI beneficiary.

Phase 1 milestones are based on gross earnings at or above trial work level for

specified months, and Phase 2 milestones are based on gross earnings exceeding

the substantial gainful activity level for specified months. These milestones

must occur before the EN enters the first month for which it is eligible for an

outcome payment. If an available milestone payment is not paid prior to the outcome period, it is payable in a reconciliation payment when the beneficiary

reaches the 12th outcome month. This payment amount is equal to the total

amount of unpaid Phase 1 and Phase 2 milestones that were available when the

ticket was first assigned. The Phase 1 and Phase 2 milestone payments and outcome payments equal 90 percent of the total that would be available if the EN

chose the outcome payment system.
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2011 SSI Annual Report

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f. Continuing Disability Reviews and Eligibility Redeterminations

1994

Public Law 103-296, 

enacted August 15

During each of fiscal years 1996, 1997, and 1998, requires SSA to conduct continuing disability reviews (CDRs) on a minimum of 100,000 SSI recipients. In

addition, during the same period, requires SSA to redetermine the SSI eligibility

of at least one-third of all child SSI recipients who reach age 18 after April 1995

during the 1-year period following attainment of age 18. Redeterminations for

persons turning age 18 could count toward the 100,000 CDR requirement.

1996

Public Law 104-193, 

enacted August 22

Repeals the requirement that SSA redetermine the eligibility of at least one-third

of all child SSI recipients who reach age 18 after April 1995 during the 1-year

period following attainment of age 18.

Requires a CDR:

 • At least once every 3 years for SSI recipients under age 18 who are eligible

by reason of an impairment which is likely to improve, and

 • Not later than 12 months after birth for recipients whose low birth weight is

a contributing factor material to the determination of their disability.

Requires eligibility redetermination under the adult disability standard for all

child SSI recipients eligible for the month before the month in which they attain

age 18.

Requires redetermination of eligibility for children considered disabled based

on an individualized functional assessment or consideration of maladaptive

behavior.

Requires the representative payee of a child SSI recipient whose continuing eligibility is being reviewed to present evidence that the recipient is receiving

treatment which is considered medically necessary and available for the condition which was the basis for providing SSI benefits.

1997

Public Law 105-33, 

enacted August 5

Modifies provision of Public Law 104-193 to extend from 12 to 18 months the

period for redetermining the disability of children under age 18 under the new

childhood disability standard.

Modifies provision of Public Law 104-193 to permit SSA to schedule a CDR

for a disabled child for whom low birth weight is a contributing factor material

to the determination of disability, at a date after the child’s first birthday if the

Commissioner determines the impairment is not expected to improve within 12

months of the child’s birth.

Modifies provision of Public Law 104-193 to provide SSA the authority to

make redeterminations of disabled childhood recipients who attain age 18, more

than 1 year after the date such recipient attains age 18.

1999

Public Law 106-170, 

enacted December 17

Prohibits the initiation of a CDR during the period that a recipient is “using a

ticket” under the Ticket to Work program.
2011 SSI Annual Report

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Act

g. Deeming of Income and Resources

1972

Public Law 92-603, 

enacted October 30

Deeming occurs when the income and resources of certain family members living in the same household with the SSI recipient are considered in determining

the amount of the SSI payment. These family members are the ineligible spouse

of an adult recipient and the ineligible parents of a child recipient under age 21.

After deduction of personal allocations for the spouse (or parents) and for ineligible children in the home, and after application of income exclusions, any

remaining income of the spouse (or parents) is added to the income of the eligible person.

1980

Public Law 96-265, 

enacted June 9

Children aged 18 or older are not subject to parental deeming.

Sponsor’s income and resources deemed to an alien for 3 years.

1989

Public Law 101-239, 

enacted December 19

Disabled children receiving home care services under State Medicaid programs,

who are ineligible for SSI because of deeming of parental income, and who

received SSI benefits limited to $30 while in a medical treatment facility, may

receive the $30 monthly allowance that would be payable if the recipient were

institutionalized.

1993

Public Law 103-66, 

enacted August 10

Considers an ineligible spouse or parent who is absent from the household due

to active military service to be a member of the household for deeming purposes.

Public Law 103-152, 

enacted November 24

Sponsor-to-alien deeming period extended from 3 years to 5 years, effective

January 1, 1994, through September 30, 1996.

1996

Public Law 104-193, 

enacted August 22

Deeming of income and resources from an immigration sponsor to a noncitizen

continues until citizenship, with exceptions for those who earn, or can be credited with, 40 qualifying quarters of earnings. Effective for those whose sponsor

signs a new legally enforceable affidavit of support.

Public Law 104-208, 

enacted September 30

Amends Public Law 104-193 to add two exceptions to the sponsor-to-alien

deeming:

 • Provides that if the noncitizen is indigent and would be unable to obtain

food and shelter without SSI benefits even after receiving support from the

sponsor, then only the amount of income and resources actually provided

by the sponsor will be counted for a 12-month period after a determination

of indigence; and

 • Provides that in certain cases, deeming would not apply for a 12-month

period (with some options for extension) if the noncitizen (or his/her children) has been battered, or subjected to extreme cruelty by family members.

1997

Public Law 105-33, 

enacted August 5

Amends Public Law 104-208 to add an additional exception to sponsor-to-alien

deeming when the parent of a noncitizen has been battered or subjected to

extreme cruelty by family members.
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Act

2006

Public Law 109-163, 

enacted January 6

Provides that individuals who were made ineligible for SSI because of their

spouses or parents being called to active military duty would not have to file a

new application for SSI benefits if they again could be eligible for benefits

before the end of 24 consecutive months of ineligibility.

3. Federal Benefit Payments

a. Windfall Offset

1980

Public Law 96-265, 

enacted June 9

Offset (by reduction of retroactive Social Security benefits) to prevent persons

whose initial OASDI payment is retroactive from receiving more in total benefits than if they were paid the benefits when regularly due.

1984

Public Law 98-617, 

enacted November 8

Offset provision expanded to allow for reduction of retroactive SSI benefits and

to apply in cases of OASDI benefit reinstatement.

b. Proration of Benefit

1982

Public Law 97-248, 

enacted September 3

Benefit for first month of eligibility to be prorated by the number of days in the

month for which an application has been filed and there is eligibility.

1996

Public Law 104-193, 

enacted August 22

Changes the effective date of an SSI application to the first day of the month

following the date on which the application was filed or on which the individual

first becomes eligible, whichever is later. This, in effect, eliminates prorated

payments in initial claims.

c. Retrospective Monthly Accounting

1981

Public Law 97-35, 

enacted August 13

Changes the method of computing the SSI benefit to one under which the benefit amount is computed on a monthly basis and is based on income and other

characteristics in the previous (or second previous) month.

1984

Public Law 98-369, 

enacted July 18

Changes the method of computing the SSI benefit to persons receiving title II

payments. The effect of the increased title II income at the time of the cost-ofliving increase is not delayed as it otherwise would be.

1987

Public Law 100-203, 

enacted December 22

Provides an exception to retrospective monthly accounting so that amounts

received under Aid to Families With Dependent Children (AFDC), foster care,

refugee cash assistance, Cuban-Haitian entrant assistance, or general and child

welfare assistance provided by the Bureau of Indian Affairs are counted only in

the month received.

1993

Public Law 103-66, 

enacted August 10

Changes the method of computing the SSI benefit to persons receiving the value

of the one-third reduction. The effect of the increased value at the time of the

cost-of-living increase is not delayed as it otherwise would be. Effective January

1995.
2011 SSI Annual Report

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Act

2004

Public Law 108-203, 

enacted March 2

Eliminates triple counting of one-time, nonrecurring income by providing that

this income will be counted only for the month that the income is received, and

not for any other month during the transition to retrospective monthly accounting, which occurs during the first 3 months of an individual’s SSI eligibility.

Effective April 2005.

d. Uncashed Checks

1981

Public Law 97-35, 

enacted August 13

States that have Federally-administered supplements to be credited their share

of SSI checks that remain unnegotiated for 180 days.

1987

Public Law 100-86, 

enacted August 10

SSI checks now unnegotiable after 1 year. States are credited their share of SSI

checks after 1 year rather than 180 days.

e. Rounding of Payment Amounts

1982

Public Law 97-248, 

enacted September 3

Cost-of-living adjustments in the Federal SSI benefit and income eligibility levels are to be rounded to the next lower whole dollar, after the adjustment is calculated. Subsequent cost-of-living adjustments will be calculated on the

previous year’s benefit standard before rounding.

f. Penalties for False or Misleading Statements or Withholding of 

Information

1999

Public Law 106-169, 

enacted December 14

Provides for the nonpayment of OASDI and SSI benefits (6, 12 and 24 months,

respectively, for the first, second, and third or subsequent violations) for individuals found to have knowingly made a false or misleading statement of material fact for use in determining eligibility for benefits.

2004

Public Law 108-203, 

enacted March 2

Expands the administrative sanction of nonpayment of benefits to situations

where an individual has failed to disclose material information, if the person

knew or should have known that such failure was misleading.

Authorizes Federal courts to order a defendant convicted of defrauding Social

Security, Special Veterans’ Benefits, or SSI to make restitution to SSA. Restitution funds would be deposited to the trust funds or General Fund of the Treasury, as appropriate. Effective with respect to violations occurring on or after the

date of enactment.

g. Installment Payments

1996

Public Law 104-193, 

enacted August 22

Establishes a schedule for paying retroactive SSI benefit amounts that exceed 12

times the FBR plus the State supplement level. Payments would be made at

6-month intervals:

 • The first installment would be 12 times the FBR plus any Federally administered State supplement.

 • Any remaining retroactive benefits would be paid in a second installment

(not to exceed the first payment amount).

 • All remaining retroactive benefits would be paid in the third installment.
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Act

Provides that where an underpaid individual has incurred debts to provide for

food, clothing or shelter, has expenses for disability-related items and services

that exceed the installment amount, or has entered into a contract to purchase a

home, the installment payment would be increased by the amount needed to

cover those debts, expenses and obligations.

Provides that full retroactive payments be paid to an individual who is terminally ill or, if currently ineligible, is likely to remain so for the next 12 months.

2006

Public Law 109-171, 

enacted February 8

Requires that past-due monthly SSI benefits that exceed three times the maximum monthly benefit (Federal benefit rate plus State supplementary payment

amount, if any) payable to the individual be paid in up to three installment payments, 6 months apart. Also, limits the amount of the first two installment payment to three times the maximum monthly benefit. All remaining benefits due

are to be paid in the third installment. As under current law, the amounts of the

installment payments may be increased in certain cases, such as those in which

the individual has outstanding debt relating to food, clothing, or shelter, or has

necessary medical needs.

Effective 3 months after February 8, 2006.

h. Retroactive Payments to Prisoners, Fugitive Felons, and Probation or 

Parole Violators

2009

Public Law 111-115, 

enacted December 15

Prohibits the payment of any retroactive SSI benefits to individuals while they

are in prison; in violation of conditions of their parole or probation; or fleeing to

avoid prosecution, custody, or confinement for a felony or a crime punishable

by sentence of more than one year.

4. Federal Benefit Rates

Basic benefit standards are used in computing the amount of Federal SSI payments. Benefit levels differ

for individuals and couples living in households and for persons in medical treatment facilities where

Medicaid pays more than 50 percent of the cost of care. Individuals or couples living in their own households are eligible for the full Federal benefit. If an individual or couple is living in another person’s household and receiving support and maintenance there, the Federal benefit is reduced by one-third. The Federal

benefit rates for persons in households are increased annually to reflect increases in the cost of living. Legislation affecting the level of Federal benefit rates since the inception of the SSI program are summarized

in table V.A1.
2011 SSI Annual Report

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Act

a For those in another person’s household receiving support and maintenance there, the Federal benefit rate is reduced by one-third. b For those without countable income. These payments are reduced by the amount of countable income of the individual or couple.

c Public Law 92-603, enacted October 30, 1972.

d Includes persons in private institutions whose care in not provided by Medicaid.

e Public Law 93-66, enacted July 9, 1973.

f Public Law 93-233, enacted December 31, 1973.

g Public Law 93-368, enacted August 7, 1974.

h Subject to automatic provisions, see table IV.A2.

i Public Law 98-21, enacted April 20, 1983.

j Public Law 100-203, enacted December 22, 1987.

Table V.A1.—Federal Benefit Rates Set by Legislation

Act Living arrangements a

Amount b

Individual Couple Conditions

1972 c ....... Own household d $130.00 $195.00 Was to be effective January 1, 1974; superseded by Public Law 

93-233.

1973 e ....... — 140.00 210.00 Was to be effective January 1, 1974; superseded by Public Law 

93-233.

1973 f........ — 140.00 210.00 Effective January 1, 1974.

1973 f ....... — 146.00 219.00 Effective July 1, 1974.

1974 g ....... — — — Mechanism established for providing cost-of-living 

adjustments coordinated with earlier legislation applying to 

OASDI cash benefits. SSI payments to be increased by the 

same percentage as OASDI benefits and at the same time.

— h157.70 h 236.60 Effective July 1, 1975.

1983 i ........ — 304.30 456.40 Effective July 1, 1983 (general benefit increase).

— h 314.00 h 472.00 Effective January 1, 1984.

1973 e ....... Increment for 

“essential person” 

in household

65.00 — Was to be effective January 1, 1974. For persons transferred 

from OAA, AB, or APTD programs who were receiving 

payments in December 1973 under a State plan that took 

account of “essential persons” in the household.

— 70.00 — Was to be effective July 1, 1974.

1973 f ....... — 70.00 — Effective January 1, 1974.

— 73.00 — Effective July 1, 1974.

1974 g ....... — — — Mechanism established for providing cost-of-living 

adjustments.

— h 78.90 — Effective July 1, 1975.

1983 i ....... — 152.50 — Effective July 1, 1983 (general benefit increase).

— h 157.00 — Effective January 1, 1984.

1972 c ....... Receiving institutional 

care covered by 

Medicaid

25.00 50.00 Effective January 1, 1974. Must be receiving more than 50 

percent of the cost of the care from Medicaid (title XIX of 

the Social Security Act).

1987 j ........ — 30.00 60.00 Effective July 1, 1988. Must be receiving more than 50 percent 

of the cost of the care from Medicaid (title XIX of the Social 

Security Act).
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2011 SSI Annual Report

Act 5. Exclusions from Income

a. General Exclusions

1972

Public Law 92-603, 

enacted October 30

The first $60 of earned or unearned income per calendar quarter for an individual or couple; the next $195 and one-half the remainder of quarterly earned

income. Unearned income includes Social Security benefits, other government

or private pensions, veterans’ benefits, and workers’ compensation.

1981

Public Law 97-35, 

enacted August 13

The first $20 of earned or unearned income per month for an individual or couple; the next $65 and one-half the remainder of monthly earned income.

Unearned income includes Social Security benefits, other government or private

pensions, veterans’ benefits, and workers’ compensation.

2000

Public Law 106-554, 

enacted December 21

Earnings of persons defined as Social Security statutory employees are treated

as self-employment income for SSI purposes.

b. Special Exclusions

1972

Public Law 92-603, 

enacted October 30

Any amount of tax rebate issued to an individual by any public agency that is

based on either real property or food purchase taxes.

Grants, scholarships, and fellowships used to pay tuition and fees at an educational institution.

Income required for achieving an approved self-support plan for blind or disabled persons.

Work expenses of blind persons.

For blind persons transferred from State programs to SSI, income exclusions

equal to the maximum amount permitted as of October 1972 under the State

programs.

Irregularly or infrequently received income totaling $60 or less of unearned

income and $30 of earned income in a calendar quarter.

Payment for foster care of ineligible child residing in recipient’s home through

placement by a public or private nonprofit child care agency.

One-third of any payment received from an absent parent for the support of a

child eligible for SSI.

Certain earnings of a blind or disabled child under age 22 regularly attending an

educational institution.

State or local government cash payments based on need and designed to supplement SSI payments.

1976

Public Law 94-331, 

enacted June 30

Disaster assistance from income for 9 months and application of one-third

reduction for 6 months for certain victims of disasters occurring between January 1, 1976 and December 31, 1976.

Public Law 94-566, 

enacted October 20

Any assistance based on need (including vendor payments) made to or on behalf

of SSI recipients, which is paid and wholly funded by State or local governments.
2011 SSI Annual Report

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Act

The value of assistance provided under certain Federal housing programs.

1977

Public Law 95-113, 

enacted September 29

Food stamps, Federally donated food, and the value of free or reduced price

food for women and children under the Child Nutrition Act and National School

Lunch Act.

Public Law 95-171, 

enacted November 12

Provisions for exclusions for support and maintenance under the Disaster Relief

and Emergency Assistance Act of 1974 extended on a permanent basis. Effective January 1, 1978.

1980

Public Law 96-222, 

enacted April 1

Earned income tax credit treated as earned income (temporarily excluded from

1975 through 1980).

Public Law 96-265, 

enacted June 9

Remunerations received in sheltered workshops and work activity centers are

considered earned income and qualify for earned income exclusions.

Impairment-related work expenses paid by the individual (including cost for

attendant care, medical equipment, drugs, and services necessary to control an

impairment) are deducted from earnings when determining if an individual is

engaging in substantial gainful activity. Impairment-related work expenses are

excluded in calculating income for benefit purposes if initial eligibility for benefits exists on the basis of countable income without applying this exclusion.

1981

Public Law 97-35, 

enacted August 13

Modifies provision under which irregularly or infrequently received income is

excluded to conform to change from quarterly to monthly accounting; amounts

excludable: $20 or less of unearned income and $10 of earned income in a

month.

1982

Public Law 97-377, 

enacted December 21

From December 18, 1982, to September 30, 1983, certain home energy assistance payments are excluded if a State agency certified that they are based on

need.

1983

Public Law 97-424, 

enacted January 6

Support or maintenance assistance (including home energy assistance) provided

in kind by a nonprofit organization or in cash or in kind by certain providers of

home energy is excluded if the State determines that the assistance is based on

need. Provision is applicable through September 1984.

Certain home energy assistance payments are excluded if a State agency certified that the assistance is based on need. Provision is applicable through June

1985.

1984

Public Law 98-369, 

enacted July 18

The 1983 provisions for support and maintenance and home energy assistance

continue to October 1, 1987.

1986

Public Law 99-498, 

enacted October 17

Educational assistance used for educational expenses under the Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended.

1987

Public Law 100-203, 

enacted December 22

The 1983 provisions for support and maintenance and home energy assistance

made permanent.
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2011 SSI Annual Report

Act

Excludes death payments (for example, proceeds from life insurance) from SSI

income determinations to the extent they were spent on last illness and burial.

Modifies the 1982 resource exclusion for burial funds to extend the exclusion to

any burial fund of $1,500 or less maintained separately from all other assets,

thereby allowing interest to be excluded from income if retained in the fund.

1988

Public Law 100-383, 

enacted August 10

Restitution payments made to Japanese internees and relocated Aleutians.

1989

Public Law 101-239, 

enacted December 19

Interest on agreements representing the purchase of an excluded burial space.

Payments from the Agent Orange Settlement.

Value of a ticket for domestic travel received as a gift and not cashed.

1990

Public Law 101-508, 

enacted November 5

Earned income tax credit (including the child health insurance portion).

Payments received from a State-administered fund established to aid victims of

crime.

Impairment-related work expenses excluded from income in determining initial

eligibility for benefits.

Payments received as State or local government relocation assistance.

Payments received under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act.

Redefines as earned income, royalties earned in connection with any publication

of the individual’s work, and honoraria received for services rendered (previously defined as unearned income).

1993

Public Law 103-66, 

enacted August 10

Hostile fire pay to members of the uniformed services.

Payments received as State or local government relocation assistance made permanent.

1994

Public Law 103-286, 

enacted August 1

Payments to victims of Nazi persecution.

1998

Public Law 105-285, 

enacted October 27

Funds made available to an SSI recipient by a State or local government or a

nonprofit organization as part of the Individual Development Account demonstration project.

Public Law 105-306, 

enacted October 28

In-kind gifts to children with life-threatening conditions by tax-exempt organizations not converted to cash.

The first $2,000 annually of cash gifts by tax-exempt organizations to, or for the

benefit of, individuals under age 18 with life-threatening conditions.

Public Law 105-369, 

enacted November 12

Payments made under the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund Act of 1998.
2011 SSI Annual Report

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Act

2000

Public Law 106-554, 

enacted December 21

Interest on funds deposited in an individual development account.

Any adjustments made to prior payments from other Federal programs to

account for the error in the computation of the Consumer Price Index during

1999.

2001

Public Law 107-16, 

enacted June 7

The refundable child tax credit is excluded in determining eligibility for meanstested programs, including SSI.

2004

Public Law 108-203, 

enacted March 2

Changes the calculation of infrequent or irregular income from a monthly to a

quarterly basis. Excludes from the determination of an individual’s income all

interest and dividend income earned on countable resources. Effective July

2004.

Permits the student earned income exclusion to apply to any individual under

age 22 who is a student. Thus, students under age 22 who are married or heads

of households would be eligible for the exclusion. Effective April 2005.

Excludes from the determination of income any gift to an individual for use in

paying tuition or educational fees, just as grants, scholarships, and fellowships

for such use are currently excluded from the determination of income. Effective

June 2004.

2005

Public Law 109-64, 

enacted September 20

Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to specify that assistance

provided under a program for flood mitigation activities with respect to a property would not be considered income or a resource of the owner of the property

when determining eligibility for or benefit levels under any income assistance or

resource-tested program (including SSI) that is funded in whole or in part by a

Federal agency or by appropriated Federal funds.

2006

Public-Law 109-432, 

enacted December 20

Extends the present law that allows combat pay to be considered for Earned

Income Tax Credit (EITC) purposes for one additional year (for taxable years

ending before January 1, 2008). For SSI purposes, EITC payments are excluded

from income, and are not a countable resource for 9 calendar months following

the month of receipt.

2008

Public Law 110-185, 

enacted February 13

A rebate payment received under the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, and any

other credit or refund under section 6428 of the Internal Revenue Code, would

not be taken into account as income for purposes of SSI.

Public Law 110-245, 

enacted June 17

Privatized military housing allowances withdrawn directly from a service member’s pay by military payroll and paid to the landlord will be considered in-kind

income, and the SSI benefit reduction attributable to the housing allowance will

be capped at one-third of the Federal benefit rate. In other cases, housing allowances will be considered earned income.

Excludes any cash or in-kind benefits provided under an AmeriCorps program

from income consideration. Effective for benefits payable for months beginning

60 days after enactment. 

Excludes annuity payments paid by a State to a person or his/her spouse because

the State has determined the person is a veteran and blind, disabled, or aged.
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Act

2009

Public Law 111-5, 

enacted February 17 

A one-time economic recovery payment of $250 to SSI recipients will not be

taken into account as income for purposes of SSI.

The Making Work Pay tax credit, which provides a tax credit in the form of

decreased withholding by employers, will not be counted as income.

A one-time payment of $15,000 for eligible Filipino veterans who are citizens

of the United States and $9,000 for eligible veterans who are noncitizens will

not be taken into account as income for SSI purposes.

2010

Public Law 111-148, 

enacted March 23

Excludes incentives an SSI recipient with Medicaid receives for participating in

an “Incentives for Prevention of Chronic Diseases in Medicaid” (IPCDM) program from consideration as income.

Public Law 111-255, 

enacted October 5

Excludes the first $2,000 received during a calendar year by an SSI recipient or

spouse as compensation for participation in a clinical trial for rare diseases or

conditions from consideration as income. The exclusion is effective for a 5-year

period from date of enactment.

Public Law 111-291, 

enacted December 8

Excludes any settlement payments to American Indians under the Claims Resettlement Act of 2010 from consideration as income.

Public Law 111-312, 

enacted December 17

Excludes Federal tax refunds and advance payment of refundable tax credits

received after December 31, 2009, but before January 1, 2013, from consideration as income.

6. Resources

1972

Public Law 92-603, 

enacted October 30

Countable resources limited to $1,500 or less for an individual and to $2,250 or

less for a couple.

1984

Public Law 98-369, 

enacted July 18

Limit on countable resources raised by $100 a year for individuals and $150 a

year for couples, beginning in calendar year 1985 through 1989. The respective

limits would become $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple in 1989

and thereafter.

1999

Public Law 106-169, 

enacted December 14

Includes generally in the countable resources of an individual the assets of a

trust which could be used for the benefit of the individual or spouse.

a. General Exclusions

1972

Public Law 92-603, 

enacted October 30

A home of reasonable value—established by regulation as not exceeding a fairmarket value of $25,000 ($35,000 in Alaska and Hawaii).

Personal effects and household goods of reasonable value established by regulation as not exceeding a total market value of $1,500.

An automobile of reasonable value—established by regulation as not exceeding

a market value of $1,200.

An automobile may be excluded, regardless of value, if the individual’s household uses it for employment or medical treatment, or if it is modified to be operated by or for transportation of a person with a disability.

Life insurance with face value of $1,500 or less.
2011 SSI Annual Report

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Act

1976

Public Law 94-569, 

enacted October 20

The recipient’s home, regardless of value, is excluded from consideration in

determining resources.

1977

Public Law 95-171, 

enacted November 12

Assistance received under the Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of

1974 for 9 months following receipt.

1979 Reasonable value for an automobile increased by regulation to $4,500 of current-market value; personal goods and household effects increased to $2,000 of

equity value.

1982

Public Law 97-248, 

enacted September 3

The value, within prescribed limits, of a burial space for the recipient, spouse,

and immediate family is excluded. In addition, $1,500 each (less the value of

already excluded life insurance and any amount in an irrevocable burial arrangement) may be set aside for the burial of the recipient and spouse.

1984

Public Law 98-369, 

enacted July 18

The unspent portion of any retroactive title II or title XVI payment is excluded

for 6 months following its receipt, and the individual must be given written

notice of the time limit on the exclusion.

1985 Regulations permit exclusion, regardless of value, of an automobile needed for

essential transportation or modified for a person with a disability. The $4,500

current market value limit applies only if no automobile could be excluded

based on the nature of its use.

1987

Public Law 100-203, 

enacted December 22

Provides for suspension of the 1980 transfer of assets provision, in any month

that it is determined that undue hardship would result.

Real property that cannot be sold for the following reasons: it is jointly owned;

its sale would cause the other owner(s) undue hardship due to loss of housing;

its sale is barred by a legal impediment; or, the owner’s reasonable efforts to sell

have been unsuccessful.

Temporarily extends the 1984 exclusion of retroactive title II and title XVI benefits from 6 months to 9 months (the longer exclusion applies to benefits paid in

fiscal years 1988 and 1989).

1988

Public Law 100-707, 

enacted November 23

Removes the time limit for exclusion of disaster assistance.

2004

Public Law 108-203, 

enacted March 2

Increases to 9 months and makes uniform the time period for excluding from

resources amounts attributable to payments of past-due Social Security and SSI

benefits and earned income and child tax credits. Effective for such payments

received on or after the date of enactment.

2005 Regulations permit exclusion, regardless of value, of:

 • One automobile if used for transportation for the beneficiary or a member

of the beneficiary’s household; and

 • Personal goods and household effects.
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2011 SSI Annual Report

Act

b. Special Exclusions

1972

Public Law 92-603, 

enacted October 30

Assets of a blind or disabled individual that are necessary to an approved plan of

self-support.

Tools and other property essential to self-support (PESS), within reasonable

limits. Shares of nonnegotiable stock in regional or village corporations held by

natives of Alaska.

For persons transferred from State programs to SSI, resource exclusions equal to

the maximum amount permitted as of October 1972 under the State program.

1988

Public Law 100-383, 

enacted August 10

Restitution payments made to Japanese internees and relocated Aleutians.

1989

Public Law 101-239, 

enacted December 19

Specifies that no limitation can be placed on property essential to self-support

used in a trade or business, or by an individual as an employee (including the

tools of a tradesperson and the machinery and livestock of a farmer).

Payments from the Agent Orange Settlement.

1990

Public Law 101-508, 

enacted November 5

Earned income tax credit excluded for the month following the month the credit

is received.

Payments received from a State-administered fund established to aid victims of

crime excluded for a 9-month period. Individual not required to file for such

benefits.

Payments received as State or local government relocation assistance

excluded for a 9-month period. (The provision expired 3 years after its effective

date.)

Payments received under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act.

1993

Public Law 103-66, 

enacted August 10

Makes permanent the 9-month exclusion of payments received as State or local

government relocation assistance.

1994

Public Law 103-286, 

enacted August 1

Payments to victims of Nazi persecution.

1996

Public Law 104-193, 

enacted August 22

Dedicated financial institution accounts required to be established for large pastdue benefits for disabled individuals under age 18 with a representative payee.

1998

Public Law 105-285, 

enacted October 27

Funds made available to an SSI recipient by a State or local government or a

nonprofit organization as part of the Individual Development Account demonstration project.

Public Law 105-306, 

enacted October 28

In-kind gifts to children with life-threatening conditions by tax-exempt organizations not converted to cash.

The first $2,000 annually of cash gifts by tax-exempt organizations to, or for the

benefit of, individuals under age 18 with life-threatening conditions.
2011 SSI Annual Report

74

Act

Public Law 105-369, 

enacted November 12

Payments made under the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund Act of 1998.

2000

Public Law 106-554, 

enacted December 21

Funds deposited by an individual in an individual development account and the

interest on those funds.

2001

Public Law 107-16, 

enacted June 7

The refundable child tax credit in the month of receipt and in the following

month.

2004

Public Law 108-203, 

enacted March 2

Excludes grants, scholarships, fellowships, or gifts to be used for tuition or educational fees from an individual’s countable resources for 9 months after the

month of receipt.

2005

Public Law 109-64, 

enacted September 20

Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to specify that assistance

provided under a program for flood mitigation activities with respect to a property would not be considered income or a resource for SSI purposes.

2008

Public Law 110-185, 

enacted February 13

A rebate payment received under the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, and any

other credit or refund under section 6428 of the Internal Revenue Code, would

not be included as a resource during the month of receipt or the following 2

months.

Public Law 110-245, 

enacted June 17

Excludes State-provided pensions for aged, blind, or disabled veterans (or their

spouses) from resources consideration. Effective for benefits payable for

months beginning 60 days after enactment.

2009

Public Law 111-5, 

enacted February 17

A one-time economic recovery payment of $250 to SSI recipients will not be

taken into account as a resource for the month of receipt and the following 9

months.

The Making Work Pay tax credit, which provides a tax credit in the form of

decreased withholding by employers, will not be taken into account as a

resource for the month of receipt and the following 2 months.

A one-time payment of $15,000 for eligible Filipino veterans who are citizens

of the United States and $9,000 for eligible veterans who are noncitizens will

not be taken into account as a resource for SSI purposes, although interest

earned on any such payment may be considered a resource.

2010

Public Law 111-148, 

enacted March 23

Excludes incentives an SSI recipient with Medicaid receives for participating in

an “Incentives for Prevention of Chronic Diseases in Medicaid” (IPCDM) program from consideration as a resource.

Public Law 111-255, 

enacted October 5

Excludes the first $2,000 received during a calendar year by an SSI recipient or

spouse as compensation for participation in a clinical trial for rare diseases or

conditions from consideration as a resource. The exclusion is effective for a 5-

year period from date of enactment.

Public Law 111-291, 

enacted December 8

Excludes any settlement payments to American Indians under the Claims Resettlement Act of 2010 from consideration as a resource (for a period of 12 months

from receipt).
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2011 SSI Annual Report

Act

Public Law 111-312, 

enacted December 17

Excludes Federal tax refunds and advance payment of refundable tax credits

received after December 31, 2009, but before January 1, 2013, from consideration as a resource (for a period of 12 months from receipt).

c. Transfer-of-Resources Penalties

1980

Public Law 96-611, 

enacted December 28

Assets transferred for less than fair market value for the purpose of establishing

eligibility for benefits under the Social Security Act are counted as resources for

24 months after transfer.

1988

Public Law 100-360, 

enacted July 1

Removes the transfer-of-assets penalty for transfers made July 1, 1988, or later.

1999

Public Law 106-169, 

enacted December 14

Provides a penalty under the SSI program for the disposal of resources at less

than fair market value. The penalty is a loss of benefits for up to 36 months. A

formula is provided to determine the number of months.

7. Presumptive and Emergency Payments and Interim Assistance 

Reimbursement

a. Presumptive Payments

1972

Public Law 92-603, 

enacted October 30

A person applying on the basis of disability who meets all other criteria of eligibility, and is likely to be disabled, may receive payments for 3 months pending

the disability determination.

1976

Public Law 94-569, 

enacted October 20

Presumptive payment provision was extended to persons applying on the basis

of blindness.

1990

Public Law 101-508, 

enacted November 5

Extends the period for receipt of payments to 6 months.

b. Emergency Advance Payments

1972

Public Law 92-603, 

enacted October 30

Any applicant who can be presumed to meet the criteria of eligibility, but has

not yet been determined eligible, and who is faced with a financial emergency

may receive an immediate cash advance of up to $100.

1987

Public Law 100-203, 

enacted December 22

Increases the maximum emergency advance payment amount to the maximum

amount of the regular Federal SSI monthly benefit rate, plus, if any, the Federally-administered State supplementary payment.

1996

Public Law 104-193, 

enacted August 22

Applicants who have a financial emergency may receive an emergency advance

payment in the month of application, which, effective with this law, is always

prior to the first month of eligibility. These advance payments are recouped by

proportional reductions in the recipient’s first 6 months of SSI benefits.
2011 SSI Annual Report

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Act

c. Interim Assistance Reimbursement

1974

Public Law 93-368, 

enacted August 7

SSA may enter into agreements with the States to repay them directly for assistance payments made to an SSI applicant while his/her claim is being adjudicated. The repayment is made from the first check due to the individual. This

legislation expires June 30, 1976.

1976

Public Law 94-365, 

enacted July 14

The authority to repay the State for interim assistance is made permanent.

1987

Public Law 100-203, 

enacted December 22

Extends interim assistance reimbursement to situations in which payments are

made by States or political subdivisions to persons whose SSI payments were

suspended or terminated and who subsequently are found to be eligible for such

benefits. Also clarifies that the payment from which the interim assistance reimbursement is paid must be the first payment of benefits relating to the interim

period.

8. Medicaid Eligibility

1972

Public Law 92-603, 

enacted October 30

States can provide Medicaid coverage to all recipients of SSI payments. Alternatively, they can limit coverage by applying more restrictive criteria from the

State Medicaid plan in effect on January 1, 1972.

States can accept SSA determination of eligibility, or make their own determination.

1976

Public Law 94-566, 

enacted October 20

Preserves the Medicaid eligibility of recipients who become ineligible for cash

SSI payments due to the cost-of-living increases in Social Security benefits.

1980

Public Law 96-265, 

enacted June 9

Blind or disabled recipients under age 65 no longer eligible for either regular or

special SSI payments because of their earnings may retain SSI recipient status

for Medicaid eligibility purposes under the following conditions: (1) they continue to have the disabling impairment, (2) they meet all nondisability eligibility

criteria except for earned income, (3) they would be seriously inhibited from

continuing employment without Medicaid services, and (4) their earnings are

insufficient to provide a reasonable equivalent of SSI payments and Medicaid.

In States that do not provide Medicaid coverage categorically to all SSI recipients, qualification for Medicaid benefits depends on the State’s specific eligibility and program requirements.

The Medicaid provision of the 1980 legislation was in effect from January 1,

1981, through December 31, 1983. Under a 1-year demonstration project,

beginning January 1, 1984, this provision was continued for persons already eligible for regular or special SSI payments or for retention of Medicaid eligibility.

1984

Public Law 98-460, 

enacted October 9

Medicaid provision of 1980 legislation extended through June 30, 1987 (retroactive to January 1, 1984).
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2011 SSI Annual Report

Act

1986

Public Law 99-272, 

enacted April 7

Restores Medicaid eligibility for some disabled widow(er)s who became ineligible for SSI when their title II benefits increased in 1984 because of a change in

the Social Security disabled widow(er)s benefits reduction factor.

Public Law 99-643, 

enacted November 10

The SSI recipient status for Medicaid eligibility provision of the 1980 amendments is made permanent.

Effective July 1, 1987, certain expenses are excluded from earnings when determining sufficiency of earnings to establish SSI recipient status eligibility for

Medicaid purposes:

 • Impairment-related work expenses of disabled persons;

 • Work expenses of blind persons;

 • Income required for achieving an approved self-support plan; and

 • The value of publicly funded attendant care services.

Effective July 1, 1987, preserves the Medicaid eligibility of recipients who

become ineligible for SSI payments because of entitlement to, or an increase in,

Social Security disabled adult child benefits on or after the effective date.

Effective July 1, 1987, requires all States to provide Medicaid coverage for

recipients in special SSI status (either receiving special SSI payments or in the

special recipient status described for 1980) if they received Medicaid coverage

the month before special SSI status.

1987

Public Law 100-203, 

enacted December 22

Effective July 1, 1988, restores or preserves the Medicaid eligibility of persons

aged 60 or older who are eligible for Social Security benefits as widows or widowers (but not eligible for Medicare) and who become ineligible for SSI payments or State supplementation because of the receipt of old-age or survivors

insurance benefits under Social Security.

1990

Public Law 101-508, 

enacted November 5

Age limit for retention of SSI recipient status for Medicaid eligibility purposes

(1980 and subsequent work incentive provisions, above) is eliminated.

Preserves the Medicaid eligibility of SSI recipients who become ineligible for

payments when they become entitled to Social Security disabled widow(er)s

benefits following the revised definition used for their disability.

1997

Public Law 105-33, 

enacted August 5

Requires States to continue Medicaid coverage for disabled children who were

receiving SSI payments as of August 22, 1996 and would have continued to be

eligible for such payments except that their eligibility terminated because they

did not meet the revised SSI childhood disability standard established under

Public Law 104-193.

2006

Public Law 109-171, 

enacted February 8

Begins Medicaid coverage for children who are eligible for SSI effective the

month the SSI application is filed or the first month of SSI eligibility, whichever

is later. (Under prior law, Medicaid eligibility for such children began the month

following the month of the SSI application or first eligibility.)
2011 SSI Annual Report

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Act

9. State Supplementation

1972

Public Law 92-603, 

enacted October 30

States are given the option of providing supplementary payments both to recipients transferred from the State program and to those newly eligible for SSI.

States may either administer the payments themselves or have the Social Security Administration make payments on their behalf. When State supplementary

payments are Federally-administered, the Social Security Administration makes

eligibility and payment determinations for the State and assumes administrative

costs.

“Hold harmless” protection, which limits a State’s fiscal liability to its share of

OAA, AB, and APTD expenditures for calendar year 1972, is provided to States

electing Federal administration of their supplementary plans. This provision

applies only to supplementary payments that do not, on average, exceed a

State’s “adjusted payment level.” (The adjusted payment level is the average of

the payments that individuals with no other income received in January 1972; it

may include the bonus value of food stamps. Adjustments are provided for payments that had been below State standards.)

1973

Public Law 93-66, 

enacted July 9

Provides for mandatory State supplementation as assurance against reduction of

income for persons who received State assistance in December 1973 and were

transferred to SSI. These supplementary payments must equal the difference

between (1) the amount of the State assistance payment that the individual

received in December 1973 plus other income and (2) his/her Federal SSI payment plus other income.

1976

Public Law 94-585, 

enacted October 21

After June 30, 1977, when the Federal SSI payment level is increased by a costof-living increase, such an increase will be excluded in calculating the “hold

harmless” amount.

Requires States to maintain State supplementation payments at the level of

December 1976 (“maintenance of payments”) or to continue to pay in supplements the same total annual amounts (“maintenance of expenditures”) when the

Federal SSI payment level is increased and thereby pass through any increases

in Federal benefits without reducing State supplements.

1982

Public Law 97-248, 

enacted September 3

Begins a 3-year phase out of “hold harmless” protection. Effective with fiscal

year 1985, Wisconsin and Hawaii (the only remaining “hold harmless” States)

assumed the full cost of their supplementary payments.

1983

Public Law 98-21, 

enacted April 20

Federal pass-through law is adjusted (1) by substituting the State supplementary

payment levels in effect in March 1983 for those in effect in December 1976 as

the levels that States must maintain in complying with the pass-through requirements, and (2) with regard to the $20 (individual) and $30 (couple) increase in

the Federal SSI standard in July 1983, by requiring States to pass through only

as much as would have been required if the SSI cost-of-living adjustment had

been made in July 1983.
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2011 SSI Annual Report

Act

1987

Public Law 100-203, 

enacted December 22

Provides for Federal administration of State supplements to residents of medical

institutions.

Provides for required pass through of $5 increase in Federal rate for persons

whose care in institutions is paid in substantial part by Medicaid.

1993

Public Law 103-66, 

enacted August 10

Requires States to pay fees for Federal administration of their State supplementation payments. The fees are $1.67 for each monthly supplementary payment in

fiscal year 1994, $3.33 in fiscal year 1995, and $5.00 in fiscal year 1996. Fees

for subsequent fiscal years will be $5.00 or another amount determined by the

Commissioner to be appropriate. The Commissioner may charge the States

additional fees for services they request that are beyond the level customarily

provided in administering State supplementary payments.

1997

Public Law 105-33, 

enacted August 5

Revises the schedule of per-payment fees for Federal administration of State

supplementation for fiscal years 1998 ($6.20) through 2002 ($8.50) and provides a formula for determining the fee beyond fiscal year 2002.

1999

Public Law 106-170, 

enacted December 17

A State which has an agreement with SSA to administer its supplementation

payments, must remit both payments and fees prior to the SSI payment date.

2000

Public Law 106-554, 

enacted December 21

Changes the effective date of above provision from 2009 to 2001.

10. Overpayment Recovery

1984

Public Law 98-369, 

enacted July 18

Limits the rate of recovering overpayments from monthly payments to the lesser

of: (1) the monthly payment, or (2) 10 percent of a recipient’s monthly income.

Permits a higher or lower adjustment at the request of the recipient subject to the

agreement of the Commissioner. The limit does not apply if fraud, willful misrepresentation, or concealment of material information was involved on the part

of the recipient or spouse in connection with the overpayment.

Waives recovery of certain overpayments due to amount of excess resources of

$50 or less.

Provides authority for the recovery of overpayments from tax refunds.

1998

Public Law 105-306, 

enacted October 28

Authorizes SSA to collect SSI overpayments for individuals not currently eligible for SSI cash benefits by offsetting Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits, with a maximum monthly offset of no more than 10

percent of the Social Security benefit. The limit does not apply if fraud, willful

misrepresentation, or concealment of material information was involved on the

part of the recipient or spouse in connection with the overpayment.

1999

Public Law 106-169, 

enacted December 14

Makes a representative payee liable for an SSI overpayment caused by a payment made to the representative payee on behalf of a recipient, after the recipient’s death and requires SSA to establish an overpayment control record under

the representative payee’s Social Security number. 
2011 SSI Annual Report

80

Act

Requires SSA to recover SSI overpayments from SSI lump-sum amounts by

withholding at least 50 percent of the lump-sum payment or the amount of the

overpayment, whichever is less.

Extends all of the debt collection authorities currently available for the collection of overpayments under the OASDI program to the SSI program.

2004

Public Law 108-203, 

enacted March 2

Provides for recovery of overpayment of SSI benefits by withholding from

OASDI and Special Veterans’ benefits up to 100 percent of any underpayment

of benefits and 10 percent of ongoing monthly benefits. The 10 percent limit

does not apply if fraud, willful misrepresentation, or concealment of material

information was involved on the part of the recipient or spouse in connection

with the overpayment.

Also provides for recovery of overpayment of OASDI or Special Veterans’ benefits by withholding from SSI up to 100 percent of any underpayment of benefits, but limits any recovery from SSI benefits to the lesser of 100 percent of the

monthly benefit or 10 percent of the individual’s total monthly income.

Effective with respect to overpayments that are outstanding at the time of enactment.

11. Attorney Fees

2004

Public Law 108-203, 

enacted March 2

Extends the current OASDI attorney fee withholding process to SSI for a period

of 5 years. 

Authorizes a 5-year demonstration project that extends attorney fee withholding

and direct pay procedures to non-attorney representatives who meet certain prerequisites.

2010

Public Law 111-142, 

enacted February 27

Permanently extends the OASDI attorney fee withholding and direct pay procedures to SSI. The prior authority expired February 28, 2010.

Permanently extends fee withholding and direct pay procedures to qualified

non-attorney representatives.
81

2011 SSI Annual Report

B. INCOME AND RESOURCE EXCLUSIONS

1. Earned Income Exclusions

 • Any refund of Federal income taxes received under section 32 of the Internal Revenue Code (relating

to earned income tax credit) and any payment received under section 3507 of the Internal Revenue

Code (relating to advance payment of earned income tax credit);

 • Amounts received pursuant to the Making Work Pay tax credit set forth in the American Recovery

and Reinvestment Act of 2009;

 • Any refundable child tax credit;

 • The first $30 of earned income in a quarter if it is infrequent or irregular, that is: (1) if it is received

only once in a calendar quarter from a single source and is not also received in the month immediately

preceding or the month immediately following the month of receipt regardless of whether or not these

payments occur in different calendar quarters; or (2) if its receipt cannot reasonably be expected;

 • Up to $1,6401 per month but not more than $6,600 in a calendar year received by a blind or disabled

recipient who is a working student under age 22 and regularly attending school;

 • Any portion of the monthly $20 exclusion for unearned income that has not been used;

 • $65 of earned income in a month;

 • Amounts used to pay impairment-related work expenses if a recipient is disabled (but not blind) and

under age 65 or is disabled (but not blind) and receiving SSI (or disability payments under a former

State plan) before age 652;

 • One-half of remaining earned income in a month;

 • Earned income used to meet any expenses reasonably attributable to the earning of the income if the

recipient is blind and under age 65 or if he/she received SSI as a blind person prior to age 652;

 • Any earned income received and used to fulfill an approved plan to achieve self-support if the recipient is blind or disabled and under age 65 or is blind or disabled and received SSI as a blind or disabled

individual in the month before he/she attained age 65; 

 • Cash or in-kind income provided under an AmeriCorps program;

 • Any earned income deposited into either a Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or

Assets for Independence Act individual development account (IDA); and

 • Some Federal laws other than the Social Security Act provide for the exclusion of earned income for

SSI purposes. For the most part, the income received under these laws relates to assistance received in

the form of food, housing and utilities, educational and employment benefits or benefits derived from

being a member of a Native American tribe. A complete list of laws which exclude earned income

under SSI can be found in the Federal Regulations Appendix to Subpart K 20 CFR 416.

1 Effective January 1, 2011 (75 FR 74123). The student earned income exclusion is increased yearly based on changes in the cost of living. However,

because there was no cost-of-living increase for 2011, the excluded amounts remain at 2010 levels.

2 Amounts used to pay impairment-related work expenses are deducted before the one-half of earned income deduction, whereas amounts used to pay the

work expenses of the blind are deducted after the one-half of earned income deduction. As a result, amounts of blind work expenses reduce SSI earned

income to a greater degree than impairment-related work expenses.
2011 SSI Annual Report

82

2. Unearned Income Exclusions

 • Any public agency’s refund of taxes on real property or food;

 • Assistance based on need which is wholly funded by a State or one of its political subdivisions. This

includes State supplementation of Federal SSI benefits but does not include payments under a Federal/State grant program such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF);

 • Any portion of a grant, scholarship, fellowship, or gift to an individual used for paying tuition, fees or

other necessary educational expenses. Portions set aside for food or shelter are counted;

 • Food raised by a household if it is consumed by that household;

 • Assistance received under the Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and assistance provided

under any Federal statute because of a catastrophe which the President of the United States declares to

be a major disaster;

 • Assistance received under a program for flood mitigation activities;

 • The first $60 of unearned income in a quarter if it is infrequent or irregular, that is: (1) if it is received

only once in a calendar quarter from a single source and is not also received in the month immediately

preceding or the month immediately following the month of receipt regardless of whether or not these

payments occur in different calendar quarters; or (2) if its receipt cannot reasonably be expected;

 • Any unearned income received and used to fulfill an approved plan to achieve self-support if the

recipient is blind or disabled and under age 65 or is blind or disabled and received SSI as a blind or

disabled individual in the month before he/she attained age 65;

 • Periodic payments made by a State under a program established before July 1, 1973, and based solely

on the recipient’s length of residence and attainment of age 65;

 • Payments for providing foster care to an ineligible child who was placed in the recipient’s home by a

public or private nonprofit child placement or child care agency;

 • Any interest earned on excluded burial funds and any appreciation in the value of an excluded burial

arrangement which are left to accumulate and become part of the separately identifiable burial fund;

 • Certain support and maintenance assistance provided in the form of home energy assistance;

 • One-third of support payments made by an absent parent if the recipient is a child;

 • The first $20 of unearned income in a month other than income in the form of in-kind support and

maintenance received in the household of another and income based on need;

 • The value of any assistance paid with respect to a dwelling unit under the United States Housing Act

of 1937, the National Housing Act, section 101 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965,

title V of the Housing Act of 1949, or section 202(h) of the Housing Act of 1959;

 • Any interest accrued on and left to accumulate as part of the value of an excluded burial space purchase agreement (effective April 1, 1990) and any interest earned on the value of nonexcludable

burial funds and burial space purchase agreements is excluded from income (effective July 1, 2004);

 • The value of any commercial transportation ticket, for travel by a recipient or his/her spouse among

the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and

the Northern Mariana Islands, which is received as a gift and is not converted to cash;
83

2011 SSI Annual Report

 • Payments received from a fund established by a State to aid victims of crime;

 • Payments received from State-provided pensions to aged, blind, or disabled veterans (or their

spouses);

 • Relocation assistance provided by a State or local government that is comparable to assistance provided under title II of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act

of 1970;

 • Hostile fire pay received from one of the uniformed services pursuant to 37 U.S.C. 310 and other

kinds of additional pay received by military personnel in a combat zone;

 • Interest or other earnings on a dedicated account excluded from resources;

 • In-kind gifts not converted to cash and the first $2,000 annually of cash gifts made by tax-exempt

organizations, such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation, to, or for the benefit of, individuals under age

18 with life-threatening conditions;

 • Payments made under the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund Act of 1998;

 • Up to $2,000 per calendar year in compensation for participating in clinical trials researching treatment of rare diseases and conditions1;

 • TANF funds made available to an SSI recipient as part of an individual development account (IDA);

 • One-time economic recovery payment received under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

of 2009;

 • Amounts received from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund set forth in the American

Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009;

 • Amounts received by Medicaid beneficiaries from the “Incentives for Prevention of Chronic Diseases

in Medicaid” program established by the Affordable Care Act of 2010;

 • Payments to Indian landowners made in accordance with the Cobell et al. v. Salazar et al. lawsuit settlement, as ratified by the Claims Resettlement Act of 2010;

 • Refundable tax credits (or advance payment of such credits) received between January 1, 2010 and

December 31, 2012;

 • Deposits made by a participating individual or a sponsoring nonprofit organization or State or local

government into an IDA under the Assets for Independence Act IDA demonstration project and interest earned on these deposits; 

 • Unearned income excluded by other Federal laws. See Federal Regulations Appendix to Subpart K 20

CFR 416; and

 • Generally, all interest and dividend income earned on countable resources.

1 This unearned income exclusion was authorized by the Improving Access to Clinical Trials Act of 2010. The exclusion sunsets five years after the date of

enactment (in October 2015).
2011 SSI Annual Report

84

3. Resource Exclusions

 • The home in which an individual has ownership interest and which serves as the individual’s principal

place of residence (including the land appertaining thereto);

 • Household goods and personal effects;

 • One automobile if used for transportation for the beneficiary or a member of the beneficiary’s household;

 • Property used in a trade or business which is essential to self-support;

 • Up to $6,000 of nonbusiness property which is essential to self-support;

 • Resources of a blind or disabled individual which are necessary to fulfill an approved plan to achieve

self-support;

 • Stock in regional or village corporations held by natives of Alaska during the 20-year period in which

the stock is inalienable pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act;

 • Life insurance owned by an individual (and spouse, if any) provided that all life insurance on any person does not exceed a face value of $1,500;

 • Restricted allotted Indian lands;

 • Disaster relief assistance;

 • Assistance received under a program for flood mitigation activities;

 • Burial spaces and certain funds up to $1,500 for burial expenses;

 • Title XVI or title II retroactive payments (for 9 months following the month of receipt);

 • Housing assistance;

 • Refunds of Federal income taxes and advances made by an employer relating to an earned income tax

credit (for 12 months following the month of receipt)1;

 • One-time economic recovery payment received under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

of 2009, for the month of receipt and the following 9 months;

 • Amounts received pursuant to the Making Work Pay tax credit set forth in the American Recovery

and Reinvestment Act of 2009, for the month of receipt and the following 12 months2;

 • Amounts received from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund set forth in the American

Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009;

 • Refundable child tax credit (for 12 months following the month of receipt)1;

1 The exclusion period was extended from 9 to 12 months by the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, for

refunds or credits received between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2012. On January 1, 2013, the period reverts to 9 months.

2 The exclusion period was extended from 2 to 12 months by the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, for

refunds or credits received between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2012.
85

2011 SSI Annual Report

 • Refundable tax credits (or advance payment of such credits) received between January 1, 2010 and

December 31, 2012 (for 12 months following the month of receipt), in accordance with the Tax

Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010;

 • Grants, scholarships, fellowships or gifts to be used for tuition or educational fees (for 9 months following the month of receipt);

 • Payments received as compensation for expenses incurred or losses suffered as a result of a crime (for

9 months following the month of receipt);

 • Relocation assistance from a State or local government (for 9 months following the month of receipt);

 • Payments made from State-provided pensions to aged, blind, or disabled veterans (or their spouses);

 • Dedicated financial institution accounts for disabled children;

 • In-kind gifts not converted to cash and the first $2,000 annually of cash gifts made by tax-exempt

organizations, such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation, to, or for the benefit of, individuals under age

18 with life-threatening conditions;

 • Up to $2,000 per calendar year in compensation for participating in clinical trials researching treatment of rare diseases and conditions;

 • Amounts received by Medicaid beneficiaries from the “Incentives for Prevention of Chronic Diseases

in Medicaid” program established by the Affordable Care Act of 2010;

 • Payments to Indian landowners made in accordance with the Cobell et al. v. Salazar et al. lawsuit settlement, as ratified by the Claims Resettlement Act of 2010 (for 12 months following the month of

receipt);

 • Payments made under the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund Act of 1998;

 • Amounts deposited into either a TANF or Assets for Independence Act IDA, including matching

funds and interest earned on such amounts;

 • Certain trusts (e.g., those established by will or certain Medicaid trusts that will repay the State, upon

the death of the beneficiary, for the costs of medical assistance provided to that individual); and

 • Payments or benefits provided under a Federal statute other than title XVI of the Social Security Act

where exclusion is provided by such statute.
2011 SSI Annual Report

86

C. HISTORICAL ALLOWANCE DATA

At the end of 2010, 85 percent of SSI recipients were receiving benefits based on disability or blindness.

Individuals file claims at a local Social Security office, and we send claims requiring an evaluation of disability to the State DDS for a disability determination. Applicants may appeal initial DDS decisions that

are unfavorable. Historically, the State DDS conducted the first level of appeal—the reconsideration

appeal step. Persons denied at the reconsideration level could then request a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ) and, if dissatisfied with the hearing decision, could request a review by the Appeals

Council. Those dissatisfied with the Appeals Council’s action could seek further relief via the Federal

court system. This appeals process is still in effect for the majority of new applicants.1 However, since the

mid-1990s SSA has conducted small pilots testing revisions to this process and introduced a modification

of this process that 10 States utilize for applications filed on or after October 1, 1999. The revised process

eliminates the reconsideration step, so the first level of appeal of an initial determination is a request for

hearing before an ALJ.

This process of application and appeal can span several years. However, before 1993, the only data available on the disability determination process resided in files compiled at each separate stage of the process

and only captured various point-in-time snapshots. Only a longitudinal database of administrative records

at all stages of appeal can provide a complete picture of the disability determination process. Beginning in

1993, SSA’s Office of Disability Programs constructed such a longitudinal database (the “Disability

Research File”) to assist the agency in understanding and managing this process. However, we did

encounter some problems in the construction of this database due to inconsistencies in the data collected

from all the respective levels of appeal. The following sections present some additional details and qualifications essential to a complete understanding of the resulting data. Following these technical notes, tables

V.C1 and V.C2 present the latest available summary of results on disability determinations under title XVI.

1. Technical Notes on the Disability Research File

Methods used to build the title XVI Disability Research File—The “base” file for the title XVI research

file is the Supplemental Security Record (SSR). We match the “base” file against records from various

other administrative sources, including transactions from the disability determination (SSA-831) files,

Social Security number identification records and earnings data, and Office of Disability Adjudication and

Review (ODAR) appeals data. 

Creating the Disability Research file is a cumbersome process; it involves about 200 steps and generally

requires 2 to 4 months to complete. The process is complex because we assemble the file based on filing

date cohorts, and many of the source files do not contain a filing date. The basic data sources provide

information for the three most recent calendar year cohorts. Older calendar year cohorts reflect updated

activity since the last time we built the file. Since the process is so time consuming, we update the research

file only annually (usually beginning in July). Therefore, research file data are not yet available for claims

filed in 2010.

1 SSA first implemented the Disability Service Improvement (DSI) process in the Boston region in August 2006. The DSI process eliminated

reconsideration as the first level of appeal of an initial disability determination and introduced review by the Office of the Federal Reviewing Official

(OFedRO) in its place. By final rule published in the Federal Register (73 FR 2411) SSA suspended new claims to the OFedRO level; this change was

effective March 23, 2008 (73 FR 10381). For those initial disability appeals that had not been transferred to OFedRO on or before the effective date, the

procedure for the first level of appeal reverted to that which was in place prior to August 2006, i.e., reconsideration. The DSI regulations also modified

administrative appeal of an ALJ’s decision or dismissal by: (1) setting requirements on the timeliness for submission of evidence for consideration by the

ALJ; and (2) eliminating the Appeals Council as a separate appeals step. By final rule (76 FR 24802), we restored the Appeals Council appeal step, although

the other modifications concerning which evidence can be considered remain in effect in the Boston region. It is SSA’s intention to eventually return the

Boston region completely to the national appeal system.
87

2011 SSI Annual Report

Methods used for estimating results (through February 2011) for claims filed in 2010—Although decision

counts are available for 2010 filers (from many of the “source” files), those counts do not translate directly

into the claims/appeals counts in the following tables, since we consolidate multiple transactions and

apply claims-based tolerance rules when we build the research file.

To prepare preliminary estimates of results (through February 2011) for 2010 filers, we started from the

latest available transaction data, such as the SSA-831 data, and took into account recent years’ experience

of the relationship between corresponding earlier transaction data and the resulting claims/appeals data in

completed research files. We estimate ODAR appeals activity from a file that tracks individual claimants,

rather than individual claims, which may result in a slight undercount of ODAR activity. 

While we believe that these methods are reasonable, we emphasize that the resulting estimates may not be

completely reliable, especially because the estimates give results only through February 2011, whereas the

final research files will reflect information through June 2011. Actual data for 2010 will replace these estimates in the 2012 Annual Report.

2. General Considerations

Some general points that apply to tables V.C1 and V.C2 are as follows:

 • Data for 1988-2009 filers are as of June 2010 for decisions at the DDS and OFedRO levels. Results

for those years’ filers include results at the hearing and Appeals Council levels and Federal courts

through October 2010.

 • Data for 2010 filers are preliminary estimates as of February 2011, and reflect larger numbers of

claims still pending. February 2011 data on number of appeals may be too low because larger numbers of claimants are still within the period allowed for filing an appeal (i.e., larger numbers of

recently denied claimants who have not yet filed an appeal may appeal before the time limit runs out). 

 • Remaining appeals will affect the results. Since allowances are generally processed more quickly than

denials, we expect that the percent allowed will ultimately be lower when the processing of all cases

is complete. 

 • In certain pilot activities and under the revised process introduced October 1, 1999 in 10 States, individuals can appeal initial denials directly to ODAR without a separate reconsideration step. As a

result, the appeals of initial denials in these tables include cases that will not receive a decision at the

reconsideration level.

 • The tables do not show the cases appealed to the OFedRO level under the DSI process separately, but

the cases are included in the reconsideration counts.

 • In previous reports, we counted allowances at the highest adjudicative level a filer reached. Beginning

with data in this report for claims filed in 2000 and later, we now count allowances at the earliest

adjudicative level of allowance. For claims filed prior to 2000, we continue to count allowances at the

highest adjudicative level reached.
2011 SSI Annual Report

88

Table V.C1.—Disabled Adult Claims: Disposition of Applications for SSI Disability Benefits by 

Year of Filing a and Level of Decision b

Calendar year

of filing 

Total

claims

filed

Initial decisions

Pending

Allowances Denials Appeals of initial denials

Number Percent c Number Percent c Number d Percent e

1988 946,603 — 272,204 28.8 674,399 71.2 265,151 39.3

1989 969,218 — 292,044 30.1 677,174 69.9 274,823 40.6

1990 1,099,805 — 347,823 31.6 751,982 68.4 320,207 42.6

1991 1,288,331 — 415,336 32.2 872,995 67.8 383,669 43.9

1992 1,415,624 — 436,888 30.9 978,736 69.1 433,244 44.3

1993 1,503,278 — 416,300 27.7 1,086,978 72.3 485,166 44.6

1994 1,436,958 — 353,995 24.6 1,082,963 75.4 482,533 44.6

1995 1,318,416 — 323,084 24.5 995,332 75.5 439,166 44.1

1996 1,247,926 — 305,351 24.5 942,575 75.5 406,425 43.1

1997 1,110,898 — 292,839 26.4 818,059 73.6 357,973 43.8

1998 1,108,957 — 322,734 29.1 786,223 70.9 339,288 43.2

1999 1,105,109 — 326,734 29.6 778,375 70.4 340,114 43.7

2000 1,139,623 — 347,024 30.5 792,599 69.5 338,664 42.7

2001 1,216,040 — 368,981 30.3 847,059 69.7 360,790 42.6

2002 1,322,451 — 374,373 28.3 948,078 71.7 405,322 42.8

2003 1,403,003 — 382,013 27.2 1,020,990 72.8 431,556 42.3

2004 1,475,149 — 387,857 26.3 1,087,292 73.7 434,305 39.9

2005 1,470,300 — 373,582 25.4 1,096,718 74.6 420,489 38.3

2006 1,499,551 — 367,972 24.5 1,131,579 75.5 428,287 37.8

2007 1,506,654 — 376,631 25.0 1,130,023 75.0 436,673 38.6

2008 1,603,832 — 414,505 25.8 1,189,327 74.2 488,482 41.1

2009 1,834,501 25,780 449,054 24.8 1,359,667 75.2 553,736 40.7

2010 1,928,461 326,107 457,404 28.5 1,144,950 71.5 376,458 32.9

Calendar year

of filing 

Reconsiderationsf Appeals beyond reconsideration g

Pending

Allowances

Denials

Appeals of

reconsideration denials Allowances

Number Percent c Number h Percent e Pending i Number Percent j Denials k

1988 — 38,385 14.5 226,766 140,663 62.0 — 82,414 58.6 58,249

1989 — 43,505 15.8 231,318 146,082 63.2 — 90,169 61.7 55,913

1990 — 52,055 16.3 268,152 175,520 65.5 — 109,098 62.2 66,422

1991 — 59,157 15.4 324,512 221,816 68.4 — 139,698 63.0 82,118

1992 — 58,819 13.6 374,425 260,554 69.6 — 159,084 61.1 101,470

1993 — 57,938 11.9 427,228 294,801 69.0 — 170,402 57.8 124,399

1994 — 55,822 11.6 426,711 293,448 68.8 — 164,537 56.1 128,911

1995 — 51,697 11.8 387,469 264,270 68.2 — 143,582 54.3 120,688

1996 — 49,263 12.1 357,162 242,407 67.9 — 133,323 55.0 109,084

1997 — 47,573 13.4 306,561 213,969 69.8 — 121,619 55.8 96,189

1998 — 46,507 13.7 292,272 203,767 69.7 — 115,323 56.5 88,953

1999 — 40,375 12.5 283,475 199,371 70.3 — 117,431 54.5 98,204

2000 — 37,768 13.4 243,790 173,465 71.2 — 122,829 53.3 107,742

2001 — 37,388 13.2 246,613 174,271 70.7 — 133,008 53.0 118,052

2002 — 38,617 12.2 277,567 195,597 70.5 — 150,199 52.8 134,536

2003 — 39,086 11.5 300,283 210,263 70.0 220 159,369 52.7 142,861

2004 — 37,197 10.9 302,649 211,696 69.9 904 163,377 53.5 141,874

2005 — 34,753 10.6 293,829 205,932 70.1 2,689 162,018 54.9 133,132

2006 — 34,146 10.2 299,568 211,317 70.5 8,169 166,762 56.0 130,959

2007 — 35,894 10.5 305,822 217,266 71.0 29,516 161,815 57.2 120,892

2008 — 40,057 10.1 355,636 257,062 72.3 98,082 148,333 58.9 103,436

2009 41,750 27,905 7.0 368,835 271,489 73.6 284,424 60,840 59.5 41,471

2010 90,140 22,130 9.8 202,703 72,717 35.9 121,781 8,426 67.8 3,995
89

2011 SSI Annual Report

a Data for claims filed in 1988-2009 reflect results as of June 2010 at the DDS level and as of October 2010 at the ODAR level. The numbers of total claims

filed for 2007-2009 are subject to change. Data for claims filed in 2010 are preliminary estimates as of February 2011. The ultimate numbers of allowances

and denials are subject to change until all initial decisions have been completed and all appeals are final.

b For claims filed in 2000 or later, we count allowances at the earliest adjudicative level of allowance. We count allowances for claims filed prior to 2000 at

the highest adjudicative level reached.

c Percentage of decisions at this level

d Includes certain cases which can be appealed directly to the hearing level.

e Percentage of denials at this level appealed to next level.

f Includes cases reviewed by a Federal Reviewing Official (FedRO) as part of the DSI process.

g Includes cases appealed to the hearing and Appeals Council levels and to the Federal courts.

h Number of persons appealing beyond the reconsideration level.

i Includes cases remanded to SSA from the Federal courts.

j Percentage of decisions at this level. For years in which decisions are still pending, the preliminary percentage shown is expected to ultimately be lower

as all cases are processed. This occurs because allowances are generally processed more quickly than denials.

k Includes denied claims where the final administrative action was a dismissal of an appeal request (e.g., the appeal was not filed timely or the applicant

failed to appear at the scheduled hearing).

l Less than 0.05 percent

Table V.C1.—Disabled Adult Claims: Disposition of Applications for SSI Disability Benefits by 

Year of Filing a and Level of Decision b(Cont.)

Calendar year

of filing 

Selected summary case information by decision status: Numbers of cases

Total

claims

filed

Initial

decisions

pending

Total

initial

decisions Allowances

Denials

Appeal

decision

pending

No

appeal

pending

1988 946,603 — 946,603 393,003 — 553,600

1989 969,218 — 969,218 425,718 — 543,500

1990 1,099,805 — 1,099,805 508,976 — 590,829

1991 1,288,331 — 1,288,331 614,191 — 674,140

1992 1,415,624 — 1,415,624 654,791 — 760,833

1993 1,503,278 — 1,503,278 644,640 — 858,638

1994 1,436,958 — 1,436,958 574,354 — 862,604

1995 1,318,416 — 1,318,416 518,363 — 800,053

1996 1,247,926 — 1,247,926 487,937 — 759,989

1997 1,110,898 — 1,110,898 462,031 — 648,867

1998 1,108,957 — 1,108,957 484,564 — 624,393

1999 1,105,109 — 1,105,109 484,540 — 620,569

2000 1,139,623 — 1,139,623 507,621 — 632,002

2001 1,216,040 — 1,216,040 539,377 — 676,663

2002 1,322,451 — 1,322,451 563,189 — 759,262

2003 1,403,003 — 1,403,003 580,468 220 822,315

2004 1,475,149 — 1,475,149 588,431 904 885,814

2005 1,470,300 — 1,470,300 570,353 2,689 897,258

2006 1,499,551 — 1,499,551 568,880 8,169 922,502

2007 1,506,654 — 1,506,654 574,340 29,516 902,798

2008 1,603,832 — 1,603,832 602,895 98,082 902,855

2009 1,834,501 25,780 1,808,721 537,799 326,174 944,748

2010 1,928,461 326,107 1,602,354 487,960 211,921 902,473

Calendar year

of filing 

Selected summary case information by decision status

Numbers as a percentage of total claims filed Numbers as a percentage of total initial decisions

Initial

decision

pending Allowances

Denials

Allowances

Denials

Appeal

decision

pending

No

appeal

pending

Appeal

decision

pending

No

appeal

pending

1988 — 41.5 — 58.5 41.5 — 58.5

1989 — 43.9 — 56.1 43.9 — 56.1

1990 — 46.3 — 53.7 46.3 — 53.7

1991 — 47.7 — 52.3 47.7 — 52.3

1992 — 46.3 — 53.7 46.3 — 53.7

1993 — 42.9 — 57.1 42.9 — 57.1

1994 — 40.0 — 60.0 40.0 — 60.0

1995 — 39.3 — 60.7 39.3 — 60.7

1996 — 39.1 — 60.9 39.1 — 60.9

1997 — 41.6 — 58.4 41.6 — 58.4

1998 — 43.7 — 56.3 43.7 — 56.3

1999 — 43.8 — 56.2 43.8 — 56.2

2000 — 44.5 — 55.5 44.5 — 55.5

2001 — 44.4 — 55.6 44.4 — 55.6

2002 — 42.6 — 57.4 42.6 — 57.4

2003 — 41.4 l 58.6 41.4 l 58.6

2004 — 39.9 0.1 60.0 39.9 0.1 60.0

2005 — 38.8 .2 61.0 38.8 .2 61.0

2006 — 37.9 .5 61.5 37.9 .5 61.5

2007 — 38.1 2.0 59.9 38.1 2.0 59.9

2008 — 37.6 6.1 56.3 37.6 6.1 56.3

2009 1.4 29.3 17.8 51.5 29.7 18.0 52.2

2010 16.9 25.3 11.0 46.8 30.5 13.2 56.3
2011 SSI Annual Report

90

Table V.C2.—Disabled Child Claims: Disposition of Applications for SSI Disability Benefits by 

Year of Filing a and Level of Decision b

Calendar year

of filing 

Total

claims

filed

Initial decisions

Pending

Allowances Denials Appeals of initial denials

Number Percent c Number Percent c Number d Percent e

1991 250,962 — 148,220 59.1 102,742 40.9 24,702 24.0

1992 372,971 — 189,079 50.7 183,892 49.3 49,297 26.8

1993 496,131 — 212,268 42.8 283,863 57.2 75,967 26.8

1994 525,013 — 172,219 32.8 352,794 67.2 92,093 26.1

1995 487,730 — 144,231 29.6 343,499 70.4 86,841 25.3

1996 453,473 — 127,416 28.1 326,057 71.9 75,013 23.0

1997 332,032 — 106,528 32.1 225,504 67.9 51,493 22.8

1998 335,732 — 123,249 36.7 212,483 63.3 50,110 23.6

1999 342,162 — 129,375 37.8 212,787 62.2 49,996 23.5

2000 349,285 — 138,262 39.6 211,023 60.4 48,156 22.8

2001 367,726 — 152,651 41.5 215,075 58.5 49,013 22.8

2002 402,116 — 165,220 41.1 236,896 58.9 55,863 23.6

2003 425,336 — 172,655 40.6 252,681 59.4 59,701 23.6

2004 435,562 — 174,514 40.1 261,048 59.9 58,539 22.4

2005 424,876 — 163,705 38.5 261,171 61.5 55,367 21.2

2006 432,747 — 160,959 37.2 271,788 62.8 58,620 21.6

2007 433,941 — 160,261 36.9 273,680 63.1 60,048 21.9

2008 449,823 — 171,941 38.2 277,882 61.8 66,101 23.8

2009 516,900 6,111 192,757 37.7 318,032 62.3 76,776 24.1

2010 526,100 74,915 187,693 41.6 263,492 58.4 53,917 20.5

Calendar year

of filing 

Reconsiderationsf Appeals beyond reconsideration g

Pending

Allowances

Denials

Appeals of

reconsideration

denials Allowances

Number Percent c Number h Percent e Pending i Number Percent j Denials k

1991 — 5,605 22.7 19,097 9,196 48.2 — 3,884 42.2 5,312

1992 — 9,463 19.2 39,834 19,770 49.6 — 7,523 38.1 12,247

1993 — 11,338 14.9 64,629 31,193 48.3 — 10,638 34.1 20,555

1994 — 11,332 12.3 80,761 38,433 47.6 — 12,954 33.7 25,479

1995 — 10,287 11.8 76,554 35,592 46.5 — 10,924 30.7 24,668

1996 — 9,355 12.5 65,658 27,920 42.5 — 8,853 31.7 19,067

1997 — 8,266 16.2 42,705 18,916 44.3 — 7,027 36.2 12,411

1998 — 7,799 15.6 42,237 18,762 44.4 — 7,034 37.3 11,802

1999 — 6,475 13.8 40,423 18,164 44.9 — 7,558 35.5 13,704

2000 — 6,043 16.0 31,741 14,366 45.3 — 8,451 34.2 16,287

2001 — 5,839 16.1 30,318 13,448 44.4 — 8,825 33.6 17,479

2002 — 6,360 15.4 34,842 15,215 43.7 — 9,909 33.2 19,967

2003 — 6,644 14.8 38,275 16,208 42.3 7 10,233 33.0 20,750

2004 — 6,209 14.1 37,948 15,764 41.5 46 10,008 33.2 20,092

2005 — 6,020 14.2 36,306 15,196 41.9 171 9,513 33.9 18,553

2006 — 6,158 13.6 39,096 16,488 42.2 659 10,645 36.5 18,550

2007 — 6,016 12.9 40,777 17,384 42.6 2,830 10,632 38.2 17,177

2008 — 6,831 12.7 46,920 21,184 45.1 10,237 8,805 37.8 14,492

2009 7,085 5,797 10.9 47,317 22,573 47.7 29,938 3,222 35.0 5,990

2010 11,001 3,868 12.3 27,510 8,057 29.3 18,361 352 28.5 882
91

2011 SSI Annual Report

a Data for claims filed in 1988-2009 reflect results as of June 2010 at the DDS level and as of October 2010 at the ODAR level. The numbers of total claims

filed for 2007-2009 are subject to change. Data for claims filed in 2010 are preliminary estimates as of February 2011. The ultimate numbers of allowances

and denials are subject to change until all initial decisions have been completed and all appeals are final.

b For claims filed in 2000 or later, we count allowances at the earliest adjudicative level of allowance. We count allowances for claims filed prior to 2000 at

the highest adjudicative level reached.

c Percentage of decisions at this level

d Includes certain cases which can be appealed directly to the hearing level.

e Percentage of denials at this level appealed to next level.

f Includes cases reviewed by a Federal Reviewing Official (FedRO) as part of the DSI process.

g Includes cases appealed to the hearing and Appeals Council levels and to the Federal courts.

h Number of persons appealing beyond the reconsideration level.

i Includes cases remanded to SSA from the Federal courts.

j Percentage of decisions at this level. For years in which decisions are still pending, the preliminary percentage shown is expected to ultimately be lower

as all cases are processed. This occurs because allowances are generally processed more quickly than denials.

k Includes denied claims where the final administrative action was a dismissal of an appeal request (e.g., the appeal was not filed timely or the applicant

failed to appear at the scheduled hearing).

l Less than 0.05 percent.

Table V.C2.—Disabled Child Claims: Disposition of Applications for SSI Disability Benefits by 

Year of Filing a and Level of Decision b (Cont.)

Calendar year

of filing 

Selected summary case information by decision status: Numbers of cases

Total

claims

filed

Initial

decisions

pending

Total

initial

decisions Allowances

Denials

Appeal

decision

pending

No

appeal

pending

1991 250,962 — 250,962 157,709 — 93,253

1992 372,971 — 372,971 206,065 — 166,906

1993 496,131 — 496,131 234,244 — 261,887

1994 525,013 — 525,013 196,505 — 328,508

1995 487,730 — 487,730 165,442 — 322,288

1996 453,473 — 453,473 145,624 — 307,849

1997 332,032 — 332,032 121,821 — 210,211

1998 335,732 — 335,732 138,082 — 197,650

1999 342,162 — 342,162 143,408 — 198,754

2000 349,285 — 349,285 152,756 — 196,529

2001 367,726 — 367,726 167,315 — 200,411

2002 402,116 — 402,116 181,489 — 220,627

2003 425,336 — 425,336 189,532 7 235,797

2004 435,562 — 435,562 190,731 46 244,785

2005 424,876 — 424,876 179,238 171 245,467

2006 432,747 — 432,747 177,762 659 254,326

2007 433,941 — 433,941 176,909 2,830 254,202

2008 449,823 — 449,823 187,577 10,237 252,009

2009 516,900 6,111 510,789 201,776 37,023 271,990

2010 526,100 74,915 451,185 191,913 29,362 229,910

Calendar year

of filing 

Selected summary case information by decision status

Numbers as a percentage of total claims filed Numbers as a percentage of total initial decisions

Initial

decision

pending Allowances

Denials

Allowances

Denials

Appeal

decision

pending

No

appeal

pending

Appeal

decision

pending

No

appeal

pending

1991 — 62.8 — 37.2 62.8 — 37.2

1992 — 55.2 — 44.8 55.2 — 44.8

1993 — 47.2 — 52.8 47.2 — 52.8

1994 — 37.4 — 62.6 37.4 — 62.6

1995 — 33.9 — 66.1 33.9 — 66.1

1996 — 32.1 — 67.9 32.1 — 67.9

1997 — 36.7 — 63.3 36.7 — 63.3

1998 — 41.1 — 58.9 41.1 — 58.9

1999 — 41.9 — 58.1 41.9 — 58.1

2000 — 43.7 — 56.3 43.7 — 56.3

2001 — 45.5 — 54.5 45.5 — 54.5

2002 — 45.1 — 54.9 45.1 — 54.9

2003 — 44.6 l 55.4 44.6 l 55.4

2004 — 43.8 l 56.2 43.8 l 56.2

2005 — 42.2 l 57.8 42.2 l 57.8

2006 — 41.1 0.2 58.8 41.1 0.2 58.8

2007 — 40.8 .7 58.6 40.8 .7 58.6

2008 — 41.7 2.3 56.0 41.7 2.3 56.0

2009 1.2 39.0 7.2 52.6 39.5 7.2 53.2

2010 14.2 36.5 5.6 43.7 42.5 6.5 51.0
2011 SSI Annual Report

92

D. HISTORICAL REDETERMINATION AND CONTINUING DISABILITY REVIEW DATA

1. Redeterminations

Redeterminations are reviews of all of the nonmedical factors of eligibility to determine whether a recipient is still eligible for SSI and still receiving the correct payment amount. There are two types of redeterminations: scheduled and unscheduled. All recipients are subject to periodic scheduling for a

redetermination. Every year SSA schedules redeterminations for the cases most likely to have payment

error, but the agency can also schedule reviews for cases unlikely to have payment error. SSA completes

unscheduled redeterminations on an as-needed basis when recipients report, or we discover, certain

changes in circumstances that could affect the continuing SSI payment amount. The numbers of redeterminations completed fluctuate from year to year due to variation in: (1) the numbers of unscheduled redeterminations completed; and (2) the numbers of scheduled redeterminations that we are able to complete

during the fiscal year because of limitations on administrative resources and the impact of other workload

requirements on the field offices. Redeterminations that we cannot complete in the scheduled fiscal year

carry over into the next fiscal year. 

Between scheduled redeterminations, SSA uses the limited issue process to detect situations that have the

potential to affect the continuing eligibility of SSI recipients and SSI payment amounts. SSA conducts

periodic computer matches between its own systems and the systems of other Federal and State agencies

to determine if the income and resources information on SSI recipients’ records is in conflict with data that

we obtain from the other systems. We post an indicator to the individual’s Supplemental Security Record

when a match detects conflicting information. We select these limited issue cases for field office review of

the issues for which we posted indicators. Beginning in fiscal year 2007, SSA included limited issue completions with redetermination completions.

Table V.D1 provides historical data on numbers of redeterminations and limited issues by fiscal year. 

aEffective fiscal year 2007, total redeterminations reported by SSA include limited issues.

bData not available.

cDecrease in number of redeterminations completed in fiscal year 1994 due to low-error profile redeterminations not being completed

from January through September 1994.

dEffective fiscal year 1995, approximately 200,000 fewer redeterminations were selected annually due to a change from a 3-year to a 6-year redetermination cycle for low-error profile cases.

eFewer redeterminations were selected in fiscal years 2005-09 due to limitations on administrative funding.

Table V.D1.—SSI Redeterminationsa and Limited Issues Completed, Fiscal Years 1986-2010

[In thousands] 

Numbers of completions

Fiscal year Redeterminations Limited issues Total

1986................................................. 2,278 b b

1987................................................. 2,244 b b

1988................................................. 1,997 b b

1989................................................. 2,226 b b

1990................................................. 2,103 b b

1991................................................. 2,138 b b

1992................................................. 2,321 b b

1993................................................. 2,223 b b

1994................................................. c 1,900 b b

1995................................................. d1,597 b b

1996................................................. 1,763 b b

1997................................................. 1,773 b b

1998................................................. 1,853 b b

1999................................................. 2,122 751 2,873

2000................................................. 2,182 582 2,764

2001................................................. 2,316 589 2,905

2002................................................. 2,311 582 2,894

2003................................................. 2,450 472 2,921

2004................................................. 2,279 248 2,527

2005................................................. e1,725 737 2,462

2006................................................. e1,071 348 1,418

2007................................................. e692 346 1,039

2008................................................. e 900 321 1,221

2009................................................. e1,390 341 1,731

2010................................................. 2,248 218 2,466
93

2011 SSI Annual Report

2. Continuing Disability Reviews

Following enactment of the Social Security Disability Amendments of 1980, section 221(i) of the Social

Security Act generally requires SSA to review the continuing eligibility of title II disabled beneficiaries at

least every 3 years. No legislation required the same review process for disabled title XVI recipients at

that time. Although the Committee on Finance of the Senate stated in its report on this legislation that the

same continuing disability review (CDR) procedures should apply to both the title II and title XVI programs, no new legislation amended title XVI to accomplish this. Section 1614(a)(4) of the Act gives SSA

discretionary authority to conduct periodic CDRs on SSI recipients. On September 28, 1994, SSA issued a

Federal Register notice that periodic SSI CDRs would begin on October 1, 1994. In 1994 and again in

1996 Congress enacted new legislation adding some mandates for CDRs under the SSI program.

Public Law 103-296 required SSA to conduct CDRs on a minimum of 100,000 SSI recipients during each

of fiscal years 1996, 1997, and 1998. In addition, during the same period, the law required SSA to redetermine the eligibility of at least one-third of all SSI child recipients who reached age 18 after April 1995

within one year of attainment of age 18. Such redeterminations for persons turning age 18 could count

toward the 100,000 CDRs required by the law.

Public Law 104-193 required SSA to redetermine the eligibility of all SSI child recipients who attain age

18 based on the adult initial eligibility criteria. This law also required that SSA perform a CDR:

 • At least once every 3 years for SSI recipients under age 18 who are eligible by reason of an impairment which is likely to improve; and

 • Not later than 12 months after birth for recipients whose low birth weight is a contributing factor

material to the determination of their disability.

Public Law 105-33 provided SSA some additional flexibility in the scheduling of these categories of

CDRs:

Beginning in 1993, SSA developed a screening process for title II cases scheduled for a CDR in order to

handle the large CDR workload mandated by these various provisions. The screening process included a

mailer questionnaire for selected cases. In 1996, SSA extended the profiling process to title XVI adults

who were scheduled for a CDR. In fiscal year 2010, we deferred full medical reviews for 251,436 title

XVI recipients scheduled for a CDR as a result of the screening process.

In 2007, SSA implemented a streamlined failure to cooperate (FTC) process for medical CDRs. Under this

process, recipients who fail to comply with the field office requests for information necessary for processing their medical CDRs have their benefits suspended. After 12 consecutive months of suspension for noncompliance, SSA terminates their eligibility for disability benefits. SSA initially terminated 1,365

centrally-initiated medical CDRs involving title XVI recipients in fiscal year 2010 as a result of the

streamlined FTC process.

For individuals who receive both title II and title XVI benefits, SSA initiates CDRs as title II CDRs, and

the results of the review affect eligibility for benefits under both programs. Tables V.D2 and V.D3 present

the latest available summary of results1 on CDRs of title XVI recipients we performed under titles II and

XVI since 1993. These tables include only cases for which we conducted a full medical review. In particular, they do not include:

 • Cases for which the individual completed a mailer but for which we deferred a full medical review;

1 The numbers of SSI recipients whose benefits are ceased as a result of CDRs are included in these tables. Estimates of Federal SSI program savings

resulting from the cessation of benefits are reported to Congress in the Annual Report of Continuing Disability Reviews. The most recent such report was

issued February 15, 2011, +0presenting estimates of the effects of CDRs conducted in fiscal year 2009.
2011 SSI Annual Report

94

 • Administrative closures—cases for which we curtail development for technical reasons;

 • Streamlined FTC terminations;

 • CDRs initiated as the result of work activity on the part of the beneficiary/recipient; and

 • Miscellaneous other CDRs processed by the State DDS but not as part of the normal CDR scheduling

process (such as voluntary and third-party reports of medical improvement, post-transplant end-stage

renal disease cases, and rehabilitation reports).

In contrast with the allowance data presented in section V.C, we tabulate the CDR data on a cohort basis

by the date of initial decision.
95

2011 SSI Annual Report

Table V.D2.—SSI Disabled Adult Reviews: Disposition a of Continuing Disability Medical Reviews by Fiscal Year of 

Initial Decision and Level of Decision

Fiscal year of

initial DDS

decision

Initial decisions

Total initial

DDS decisions

Continuations Cessations Appeals to reconsideration

Number Percent b Number Percent b Number Percent c

Reviews of concurrent title II/XVI cases initiated under title II

1993 1,143 1,083 94.8 60 5.2 52 86.7

1994 10,945 9,127 83.4 1,818 16.6 1,253 68.9

1995 16,736 12,484 74.6 4,252 25.4 2,905 68.3

1996 26,884 20,636 76.8 6,248 23.2 4,119 65.9

1997 51,466 40,741 79.2 10,725 20.8 7,344 68.5

1998 81,185 68,533 84.4 12,652 15.6 8,723 68.9

1999 80,816 70,353 87.1 10,463 12.9 6,201 59.3

2000 105,787 93,962 88.8 11,825 11.2 6,851 57.9

2001 110,341 99,666 90.3 10,675 9.7 6,291 58.9

2002 103,947 92,069 88.6 11,878 11.4 7,087 59.7

2003 72,175 63,021 87.3 9,154 12.7 5,445 59.5

2004 84,622 75,047 88.7 9,575 11.3 5,905 61.7

2005 80,597 70,687 87.7 9,910 12.3 5,950 60.0

2006 71,825 63,789 88.8 8,036 11.2 4,808 59.8

2007 26,469 22,893 86.5 3,576 13.5 2,157 60.3

2008 40,045 35,891 89.6 4,154 10.4 2,667 64.2

2009 41,609 38,238 91.9 3,371 8.1 2,181 64.7

2010 39,908 35,879 89.9 4,029 10.1 2,199 54.6

Title XVI initiated reviews

1993 — — — — — — —

1994 — — — — — — —

1995 4,287 3,277 76.4 1,010 23.6 665 65.8

1996 55,025 46,273 84.1 8,752 15.9 6,146 70.2

1997 69,557 57,662 82.9 11,895 17.1 8,722 73.3

1998 75,071 64,829 86.4 10,242 13.6 7,239 70.7

1999 140,429 125,079 89.1 15,350 10.9 10,292 67.0

2000 173,470 156,065 90.0 17,405 10.0 10,923 62.8

2001 143,902 126,610 88.0 17,292 12.0 10,262 59.3

2002 172,527 150,837 87.4 21,690 12.6 13,314 61.4

2003 213,212 191,061 89.6 22,151 10.4 14,667 66.2

2004 221,129 199,938 90.4 21,191 9.6 14,627 69.0

2005 110,072 97,330 88.4 12,742 11.6 8,126 63.8

2006 40,605 35,957 88.6 4,648 11.4 2,853 61.4

2007 18,172 16,006 88.1 2,166 11.9 1,426 65.8

2008 18,933 17,049 90.0 1,884 10.0 1,266 67.2

2009 29,137 27,233 93.5 1,904 6.5 1,349 70.9

2010 34,575 31,766 91.9 2,809 8.1 1,772 63.1

Total reviews, SSI disabled adults

1993 1,143 1,083 94.8 60 5.2 52 86.7

1994 10,945 9,127 83.4 1,818 16.6 1,253 68.9

1995 21,023 15,761 75.0 5,262 25.0 3,570 67.8

1996 81,909 66,909 81.7 15,000 18.3 10,265 68.4

1997 121,023 98,403 81.3 22,620 18.7 16,066 71.0

1998 156,256 133,362 85.3 22,894 14.7 15,962 69.7

1999 221,245 195,432 88.3 25,813 11.7 16,493 63.9

2000 279,257 250,027 89.5 29,230 10.5 17,774 60.8

2001 254,243 226,276 89.0 27,967 11.0 16,553 59.2

2002 276,474 242,906 87.9 33,568 12.1 20,401 60.8

2003 285,387 254,082 89.0 31,305 11.0 20,112 64.2

2004 305,751 274,985 89.9 30,766 10.1 20,532 66.7

2005 190,669 168,017 88.1 22,652 11.9 14,076 62.1

2006 112,430 99,746 88.7 12,684 11.3 7,661 60.4

2007 44,641 38,899 87.1 5,742 12.9 3,583 62.4

2008 58,978 52,940 89.8 6,038 10.2 3,933 65.1

2009 70,746 65,471 92.5 5,275 7.5 3,530 66.9

2010 74,483 67,645 90.8 6,838 9.2 3,971 58.1
2011 SSI Annual Report

96

Table V.D2.—SSI Disabled Adult Reviews: Dispositiona of Continuing Disability Medical Reviews by Fiscal Year of 

Initial Decision and Level of Decision (Cont.)

Fiscal year of

initial DDS

decision

Reconsiderations Appeals beyond reconsiderationd 

Pending

Continuations

Cessations

Appeals to beyond

reconsideration

Pending

Continuations

Number Percent Cessations b Number e Percent c Number Percent

Reviews of concurrent title II/XVI cases initiated under title II

1993 — 22 42.3 30 14 46.7 — 9 64.3 5

1994 — 541 43.2 712 399 56.0 — 177 44.4 222

1995 — 1,245 42.9 1,660 1,007 60.7 — 382 37.9 625

1996 — 1,875 45.5 2,244 1,313 58.5 — 427 32.5 886

1997 — 4,297 58.5 3,047 2,257 74.1 — 973 43.1 1,284

1998 — 5,503 63.1 3,220 2,466 76.6 — 1,158 47.0 1,308

1999 — 3,974 64.1 2,227 1,542 69.2 — 679 44.0 863

2000 — 4,427 64.6 2,424 1,556 64.2 — 659 42.4 897

2001 — 4,177 66.4 2,114 1,240 58.7 — 496 40.0 744

2002 7 4,787 67.6 2,293 1,451 63.3 1 594 41.0 856

2003 2 3,575 65.7 1,868 1,179 63.1 — 480 40.7 699

2004 14 3,781 64.2 2,110 1,412 66.9 1 592 42.0 819

2005 27 3,829 64.6 2,094 1,487 71.0 — 641 43.1 846

2006 32 3,041 63.7 1,735 1,277 73.6 4 561 44.1 712

2007 9 1,463 68.1 685 521 76.1 5 215 41.7 301

2008 51 1,790 68.4 826 630 76.3 41 238 40.4 351

2009 54 1,486 69.9 641 470 73.3 218 95 37.7 157

2010 449 1,305 74.6 445 229 51.5 208 6 28.6 15

Title XVI initiated reviews

1993 — — — — — — — — — —

1994 — — — — — — — — — —

1995 — 241 36.2 424 267 63.0 — 87 32.6 180

1996 — 3,289 53.5 2,857 1,946 68.1 — 623 32.0 1,323

1997 — 5,271 60.4 3,451 2,575 74.6 — 986 38.3 1,589

1998 — 4,527 62.5 2,712 1,987 73.3 — 781 39.3 1,206

1999 — 6,610 64.2 3,682 2,508 68.1 — 973 38.8 1,535

2000 — 6,823 62.5 4,100 2,778 67.8 — 1,057 38.0 1,721

2001 — 6,224 60.7 4,038 2,618 64.8 — 934 35.7 1,684

2002 1 8,160 61.3 5,153 3,323 64.5 — 1,110 33.4 2,213

2003 2 9,656 65.8 5,009 3,335 66.6 — 1,232 36.9 2,103

2004 — 9,404 64.3 5,223 3,743 71.7 — 1,454 38.8 2,289

2005 2 5,235 64.4 2,889 2,050 71.0 — 767 37.4 1,283

2006 — 1,805 63.3 1,048 746 71.2 — 279 37.4 467

2007 — 963 67.5 463 343 74.1 7 144 42.9 192

2008 2 866 68.5 398 299 75.1 24 101 36.7 174

2009 10 984 73.5 355 250 70.4 118 49 37.1 83

2010 395 1,098 79.7 279 164 58.8 143 6 28.6 15

Total reviews, SSI disabled adults

1993 — 22 42.3 30 14 46.7 — 9 64.3 5

1994 — 541 43.2 712 399 56.0 — 177 44.4 222

1995 — 1,486 41.6 2,084 1,274 61.1 — 469 36.8 805

1996 — 5,164 50.3 5,101 3,259 63.9 — 1,050 32.2 2,209

1997 — 9,568 59.6 6,498 4,832 74.4 — 1,959 40.5 2,873

1998 — 10,030 62.8 5,932 4,453 75.1 — 1,939 43.5 2,514

1999 — 10,584 64.2 5,909 4,050 68.5 — 1,652 40.8 2,398

2000 — 11,250 63.3 6,524 4,334 66.4 — 1,716 39.6 2,618

2001 — 10,401 62.8 6,152 3,858 62.7 — 1,430 37.1 2,428

2002 8 12,947 63.5 7,446 4,774 64.1 1 1,704 35.7 3,069

2003 4 13,231 65.8 6,877 4,514 65.6 — 1,712 37.9 2,802

2004 14 13,185 64.3 7,333 5,155 70.3 1 2,046 39.7 3,108

2005 29 9,064 64.5 4,983 3,537 71.0 — 1,408 39.8 2,129

2006 32 4,846 63.5 2,783 2,023 72.7 4 840 41.6 1,179

2007 9 2,426 67.9 1,148 864 75.3 12 359 42.1 493

2008 53 2,656 68.5 1,224 929 75.9 65 339 39.2 525

2009 64 2,470 71.3 996 720 72.3 336 144 37.5 240

2010 844 2,403 76.8 724 393 54.3 351 12 28.6 30
97

2011 SSI Annual Report

a Data reflect results as of February 2011. The ultimate numbers of continuations and cessations are subject to change until all appeals are final. b Percentage of decisions at this level.

c Percentage of cessations at this level appealed to next level.

d We do not reflect the status and disposition of cases in the Federal courts here. However, we have included information on the status and disposition at the

Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) for cases remanded to us by the courts. The excluded experience in the Federal courts has a minimal

impact on the number of continuations.

e Number of persons appealing beyond the reconsideration level.

f Less than 0.05 percent.

Table V.D2.—SSI Disabled Adult Reviews: Disposition a of Continuing Disability Medical Reviews by Fiscal Year of 

Initial Decision and Level of Decision (Cont.)

Fiscal year of

initial DDS

decision

Total initial

decisions

Selected summary case information by decision status as of February 2011

Numbers of cases Numbers as a percentage of total initial decisions

Continuations

Cessations

pending an

appeal decision

Cessations

with no

appeal pending Continuations

Cessations

pending an

appeal decision

Cessations

with no

appeal pending

Reviews of concurrent title II/XVI cases initiated under title II

1993 1,143 1,114 — 29 97.5 — 2.5

1994 10,945 9,845 — 1,100 89.9 — 10.1

1995 16,736 14,111 — 2,625 84.3 — 15.7

1996 26,884 22,938 — 3,946 85.3 — 14.7

1997 51,466 46,011 — 5,455 89.4 — 10.6

1998 81,185 75,194 — 5,991 92.6 — 7.4

1999 80,816 75,006 — 5,810 92.8 — 7.2

2000 105,787 99,048 — 6,739 93.6 — 6.4

2001 110,341 104,339 — 6,002 94.6 — 5.4

2002 103,947 97,450 8 6,489 93.7 f 6.2

2003 72,175 67,076 2 5,097 92.9 f 7.1

2004 84,622 79,420 15 5,187 93.9 f 6.1

2005 80,597 75,157 27 5,413 93.3 f 6.7

2006 71,825 67,391 36 4,398 93.8 0.1 6.1

2007 26,469 24,571 14 1,884 92.8 .1 7.1

2008 40,045 37,919 92 2,034 94.7 .2 5.1

2009 41,609 39,819 272 1,518 95.7 .7 3.6

2010 39,908 37,190 657 2,061 93.2 1.6 5.2

Title XVI initiated reviews

1993 — — — — — — —

1994 — — — — — — —

1995 4,287 3,605 — 682 84.1 — 15.9

1996 55,025 50,185 — 4,840 91.2 — 8.8

1997 69,557 63,919 — 5,638 91.9 — 8.1

1998 75,071 70,137 — 4,934 93.4 — 6.6

1999 140,429 132,662 — 7,767 94.5 — 5.5

2000 173,470 163,945 — 9,525 94.5 — 5.5

2001 143,902 133,768 — 10,134 93.0 — 7.0

2002 172,527 160,107 1 12,419 92.8 f 7.2

2003 213,212 201,949 2 11,261 94.7 f 5.3

2004 221,129 210,796 — 10,333 95.3 — 4.7

2005 110,072 103,332 2 6,738 93.9 f 6.1

2006 40,605 38,041 — 2,564 93.7 — 6.3

2007 18,172 17,113 7 1,052 94.2 f 5.8

2008 18,933 18,016 26 891 95.2 .1 4.7

2009 29,137 28,266 128 743 97.0 .4 2.6

2010 34,575 32,870 538 1,167 95.1 1.6 3.4

Total reviews, SSI disabled adults

1993 1,143 1,114 — 29 97.5 — 2.5

1994 10,945 9,845 — 1,100 89.9 — 10.1

1995 21,023 17,716 — 3,307 84.3 — 15.7

1996 81,909 73,123 — 8,786 89.3 — 10.7

1997 121,023 109,930 — 11,093 90.8 — 9.2

1998 156,256 145,331 — 10,925 93.0 — 7.0

1999 221,245 207,668 — 13,577 93.9 — 6.1

2000 279,257 262,993 — 16,264 94.2 — 5.8

2001 254,243 238,107 — 16,136 93.7 — 6.3

2002 276,474 257,557 9 18,908 93.2 f 6.8

2003 285,387 269,025 4 16,358 94.3 f 5.7

2004 305,751 290,216 15 15,520 94.9 f 5.1

2005 190,669 178,489 29 12,151 93.6 f 6.4

2006 112,430 105,432 36 6,962 93.8 f 6.2

2007 44,641 41,684 21 2,936 93.4 f 6.6

2008 58,978 55,935 118 2,925 94.8 .2 5.0

2009 70,746 68,085 400 2,261 96.2 .6 3.2

2010 74,483 70,060 1,195 3,228 94.1 1.6 4.3
2011 SSI Annual Report

98

Table V.D3.—SSI Disabled Child Reviews: Disposition a of Continuing Disability Medical Reviews by Fiscal Year of 

Initial Decision and Level of Decision

Fiscal year of

initial DDS

decision

Initial decisions

Total initial

DDS decisions

Continuations Cessations Appeals to reconsideration

Number Percent b Number Percent b Number Percent c

Reviews of low-birth-weight children

1994 1,225 771 62.9 454 37.1 159 35.0

1995 4,231 2,083 49.2 2,148 50.8 665 31.0

1996 5,709 2,491 43.6 3,218 56.4 904 28.1

1997 7,091 4,482 63.2 2,609 36.8 821 31.5

1998 17,620 6,092 34.6 11,528 65.4 3,640 31.6

1999 9,773 4,114 42.1 5,659 57.9 1,639 29.0

2000 10,178 4,566 44.9 5,612 55.1 1,561 27.8

2001 9,086 4,152 45.7 4,934 54.3 1,403 28.4

2002 12,732 5,869 46.1 6,863 53.9 1,953 28.5

2003 7,283 3,516 48.3 3,767 51.7 1,026 27.2

2004 12,060 6,075 50.4 5,985 49.6 1,782 29.8

2005 13,710 6,540 47.7 7,170 52.3 1,995 27.8

2006 8,303 4,030 48.5 4,273 51.5 1,229 28.8

2007 3,175 1,368 43.1 1,807 56.9 512 28.3

2008 5,272 2,231 42.3 3,041 57.7 937 30.8

2009 12,511 5,741 45.9 6,770 54.1 2,203 32.5

2010 22,396 9,048 40.4 13,348 59.6 4,407 33.0

Redeterminations at age 18

1994 — — — — — — —

1995 71 64 90.1 7 9.9 5 71.4

1996 12,640 8,158 64.5 4,482 35.5 2,055 45.9

1997 48,834 22,431 45.9 26,403 54.1 16,741 63.4

1998 40,945 21,453 52.4 19,492 47.6 10,915 56.0

1999 49,557 27,413 55.3 22,144 44.7 10,879 49.1

2000 51,713 28,863 55.8 22,850 44.2 11,021 48.2

2001 48,944 28,167 57.5 20,777 42.5 10,049 48.4

2002 54,947 32,388 58.9 22,559 41.1 11,549 51.2

2003 53,905 31,862 59.1 22,043 40.9 11,742 53.3

2004 53,232 31,890 59.9 21,342 40.1 11,584 54.3

2005 55,331 31,434 56.8 23,897 43.2 12,403 51.9

2006 40,640 21,796 53.6 18,844 46.4 9,341 49.6

2007 71,359 36,339 50.9 35,020 49.1 18,013 51.4

2008 69,430 34,547 49.8 34,883 50.2 18,095 51.9

2009 100,986 51,712 51.2 49,274 48.8 27,912 56.6

2010 87,310 41,545 47.6 45,765 52.4 24,211 52.9

All other reviews of SSI disabled children

1994 — — — — — — —

1995 3,535 2,501 70.7 1,034 29.3 541 52.3

1996 789 399 50.6 390 49.4 210 53.8

1997 14 8 57.1 6 42.9 3 50.0

1998 91,157 67,203 73.7 23,954 26.3 13,267 55.4

1999 183,211 129,420 70.6 53,791 29.4 28,410 52.8

2000 140,699 106,583 75.8 34,116 24.2 17,014 49.9

2001 95,835 72,896 76.1 22,939 23.9 11,808 51.5

2002 163,768 130,434 79.6 33,334 20.4 17,888 53.7

2003 127,444 100,522 78.9 26,922 21.1 14,876 55.3

2004 103,437 80,748 78.1 22,689 21.9 12,852 56.6

2005 61,387 45,597 74.3 15,790 25.7 8,400 53.2

2006 19,384 14,428 74.4 4,956 25.6 2,591 52.3

2007 4,440 3,161 71.2 1,279 28.8 671 52.5

2008 4,707 3,473 73.8 1,234 26.2 668 54.1

2009 10,637 8,355 78.5 2,282 21.5 1,242 54.4

2010 16,677 12,501 75.0 4,176 25.0 2,166 51.9

Total reviews, SSI disabled children

1994 1,225 771 62.9 454 37.1 159 35.0

1995 7,837 4,648 59.3 3,189 40.7 1,211 38.0

1996 19,138 11,048 57.7 8,090 42.3 3,169 39.2

1997 55,939 26,921 48.1 29,018 51.9 17,565 60.5

1998 149,722 94,748 63.3 54,974 36.7 27,822 50.6

1999 242,541 160,947 66.4 81,594 33.6 40,928 50.2

2000 202,590 140,012 69.1 62,578 30.9 29,596 47.3

2001 153,865 105,215 68.4 48,650 31.6 23,260 47.8

2002 231,447 168,691 72.9 62,756 27.1 31,390 50.0

2003 188,632 135,900 72.0 52,732 28.0 27,644 52.4

2004 168,729 118,713 70.4 50,016 29.6 26,218 52.4

2005 130,428 83,571 64.1 46,857 35.9 22,798 48.7

2006 68,327 40,254 58.9 28,073 41.1 13,161 46.9

2007 78,974 40,868 51.7 38,106 48.3 19,196 50.4

2008 79,409 40,251 50.7 39,158 49.3 19,700 50.3

2009 124,134 65,808 53.0 58,326 47.0 31,357 53.8

2010 126,383 63,094 49.9 63,289 50.1 30,784 48.6
99

2011 SSI Annual Report

Table V.D3.—SSI Disabled Child Reviews: Disposition a of Continuing Disability Medical Reviews by Fiscal Year of 

Initial Decision and Level of Decision (Cont.)

Fiscal year of 

initial DDS 

decision

Reconsiderations Appeals beyond reconsideration d

Pending

Continuations

Cessations

Appeals to beyond

reconsideration

Pending

Continuations

Number Percent Cessations b Number e Percent c Number Percent

Reviews of low-birth-weight children

1994 — 44 27.7 115 51 44.3 — 15 29.4 36

1995 — 184 27.7 481 219 45.5 — 53 24.2 166

1996 — 329 36.4 575 232 40.3 — 44 19.0 188

1997 — 292 35.6 529 235 44.4 — 50 21.3 185

1998 — 1,231 33.8 2,409 1,142 47.4 — 244 21.4 898

1999 — 607 37.0 1,032 488 47.3 — 83 17.0 405

2000 — 609 39.0 952 452 47.5 — 99 21.9 353

2001 — 504 35.9 899 405 45.1 — 61 15.1 344

2002 — 698 35.7 1,255 549 43.7 — 112 20.4 437

2003 — 364 35.5 662 301 45.5 — 60 19.9 241

2004 — 643 36.1 1,139 554 48.6 — 83 15.0 471

2005 — 703 35.2 1,292 625 48.4 — 104 16.6 521

2006 — 421 34.3 808 415 51.4 1 78 18.8 336

2007 5 173 34.1 334 186 55.7 5 34 18.8 147

2008 31 265 29.2 641 339 52.9 26 52 16.6 261

2009 287 588 30.7 1,328 670 50.5 324 59 17.1 287

2010 2,312 780 37.2 1,315 470 35.7 415 6 10.9 49

Redeterminations at age 18

1994 — — — — — — — — — —

1995 — 2 40.0 3 2 66.7 — 1 50.0 1

1996 — 707 34.4 1,348 584 43.3 — 119 20.4 465

1997 — 4,591 27.4 12,150 6,429 52.9 — 1,517 23.6 4,912

1998 — 3,070 28.1 7,845 4,388 55.9 — 1,026 23.4 3,362

1999 — 3,356 30.8 7,523 4,304 57.2 — 1,059 24.6 3,245

2000 — 3,575 32.4 7,446 4,034 54.2 — 1,017 25.2 3,017

2001 — 3,256 32.4 6,793 3,723 54.8 — 969 26.0 2,754

2002 — 3,819 33.1 7,730 4,125 53.4 — 1,100 26.7 3,025

2003 — 3,818 32.5 7,924 4,295 54.2 — 1,144 26.6 3,151

2004 — 3,531 30.5 8,053 4,645 57.7 — 1,293 27.8 3,352

2005 — 3,767 30.4 8,636 5,124 59.3 1 1,428 27.9 3,695

2006 1 2,587 27.7 6,753 4,124 61.1 8 1,190 28.9 2,926

2007 301 4,804 27.1 12,908 8,190 63.4 185 2,250 28.1 5,755

2008 798 5,096 29.5 12,201 7,896 64.7 497 1,830 24.7 5,569

2009 2,599 6,982 27.6 18,331 10,645 58.1 4,679 1,410 23.6 4,556

2010 10,358 4,229 30.5 9,624 4,129 42.9 3,528 152 25.3 449

All other reviews of SSI disabled children

1994 — — — — — — — — — —

1995 — 177 32.7 364 202 55.5 — 52 25.7 150

1996 — 69 32.9 141 55 39.0 — 17 30.9 38

1997 — 1 33.3 2 1 50.0 — — — 1

1998 — 4,456 33.6 8,811 5,511 62.5 — 1,305 23.7 4,206

1999 — 9,324 32.8 19,086 11,711 61.4 — 2,615 22.3 9,096

2000 — 6,434 37.8 10,580 6,237 59.0 — 1,427 22.9 4,810

2001 — 4,619 39.1 7,189 4,257 59.2 — 955 22.4 3,302

2002 — 7,238 40.5 10,650 6,155 57.8 — 1,372 22.3 4,783

2003 — 6,248 42.0 8,628 4,996 57.9 — 1,148 23.0 3,848

2004 — 4,871 37.9 7,981 4,943 61.9 — 1,179 23.9 3,764

2005 1 3,121 37.2 5,278 3,326 63.0 — 763 22.9 2,563

2006 — 943 36.4 1,648 1,089 66.1 2 265 24.4 822

2007 3 269 40.3 399 261 65.4 4 78 30.4 179

2008 11 253 38.5 404 243 60.1 21 48 21.6 174

2009 119 499 44.4 624 356 57.1 207 25 16.8 124

2010 939 556 45.3 671 342 51.0 302 8 20.0 32

Total reviews, SSI disabled children

1994 — 44 27.7 115 51 44.3 — 15 29.4 36

1995 — 363 30.0 848 423 49.9 — 106 25.1 317

1996 — 1,105 34.9 2,064 871 42.2 — 180 20.7 691

1997 — 4,884 27.8 12,681 6,665 52.6 — 1,567 23.5 5,098

1998 — 8,757 31.5 19,065 11,041 57.9 — 2,575 23.3 8,466

1999 — 13,287 32.5 27,641 16,503 59.7 — 3,757 22.8 12,746

2000 — 10,618 35.9 18,978 10,723 56.5 — 2,543 23.7 8,180

2001 — 8,379 36.0 14,881 8,385 56.3 — 1,985 23.7 6,400

2002 — 11,755 37.4 19,635 10,829 55.2 — 2,584 23.9 8,245

2003 — 10,430 37.7 17,214 9,592 55.7 — 2,352 24.5 7,240

2004 — 9,045 34.5 17,173 10,142 59.1 — 2,555 25.2 7,587

2005 1 7,591 33.3 15,206 9,075 59.7 1 2,295 25.3 6,779

2006 1 3,951 30.0 9,209 5,628 61.1 11 1,533 27.3 4,084

2007 309 5,246 27.8 13,641 8,637 63.3 194 2,362 28.0 6,081

2008 840 5,614 29.8 13,246 8,478 64.0 544 1,930 24.3 6,004

2009 3,005 8,069 28.5 20,283 11,671 57.5 5,210 1,494 23.1 4,967

2010 13,609 5,565 32.4 11,610 4,941 42.6 4,245 166 23.9 530
2011 SSI Annual Report

100

a Data reflect results as of February 2011. The ultimate numbers of continuations and cessations are subject to change until all appeals are final. b Percentage of decisions at this level.

c Percentage of cessations at this level appealed to next level.

d We do not reflect the status and disposition of cases in the Federal courts here. However, we have included information on the status and disposition at the

Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) for cases remanded to us by the courts. The excluded experience in the Federal courts has a minimal

impact on the number of continuations.

e Number of persons appealing beyond the reconsideration level.

f Less than 0.05 percent.

Table V.D3.—SSI Disabled Child Reviews: Disposition a of Continuing Disability Medical Reviews by Fiscal Year of 

Initial Decision and Level of Decision (Cont.)

Fiscal year of

initial DDS

decision

Total initial

decisions

Selected summary case information by decision status as of February 2011

Numbers of cases Numbers as a percentage of total initial decisions

Continuations

Cessations

pending an

appeal decision

Cessations

with no

appeal pending Continuations

Cessations

pending an

appeal decision

Cessations

with no

appeal pending

Reviews of low-birth-weight children

1994 1,225 830 — 395 67.8 — 32.2

1995 4,231 2,320 — 1,911 54.8 — 45.2

1996 5,709 2,864 — 2,845 50.2 — 49.8

1997 7,091 4,824 — 2,267 68.0 — 32.0

1998 17,620 7,567 — 10,053 42.9 — 57.1

1999 9,773 4,804 — 4,969 49.2 — 50.8

2000 10,178 5,274 — 4,904 51.8 — 48.2

2001 9,086 4,717 — 4,369 51.9 — 48.1

2002 12,732 6,679 — 6,053 52.5 — 47.5

2003 7,283 3,940 — 3,343 54.1 — 45.9

2004 12,060 6,801 — 5,259 56.4 — 43.6

2005 13,710 7,347 — 6,363 53.6 — 46.4

2006 8,303 4,529 1 3,773 54.5 f 45.4

2007 3,175 1,575 10 1,590 49.6 0.3 50.1

2008 5,272 2,548 57 2,667 48.3 1.1 50.6

2009 12,511 6,388 611 5,512 51.1 4.9 44.1

2010 22,396 9,834 2,727 9,835 43.9 12.2 43.9

Redeterminations at age 18

1994 — — — — — — —

1995 71 67 — 4 94.4 — 5.6

1996 12,640 8,984 — 3,656 71.1 — 28.9

1997 48,834 28,539 — 20,295 58.4 — 41.6

1998 40,945 25,549 — 15,396 62.4 — 37.6

1999 49,557 31,828 — 17,729 64.2 — 35.8

2000 51,713 33,455 — 18,258 64.7 — 35.3

2001 48,944 32,392 — 16,552 66.2 — 33.8

2002 54,947 37,307 — 17,640 67.9 — 32.1

2003 53,905 36,824 — 17,081 68.3 — 31.7

2004 53,232 36,714 — 16,518 69.0 — 31.0

2005 55,331 36,629 1 18,701 66.2 f 33.8

2006 40,640 25,573 9 15,058 62.9 f 37.1

2007 71,359 43,393 486 27,480 60.8 .7 38.5

2008 69,430 41,473 1,295 26,662 59.7 1.9 38.4

2009 100,986 60,104 7,278 33,604 59.5 7.2 33.3

2010 87,310 45,926 13,886 27,498 52.6 15.9 31.5

All other reviews of SSI disabled children

1994 — — — — — — —

1995 3,535 2,730 — 805 77.2 — 22.8

1996 789 485 — 304 61.5 — 38.5

1997 14 9 — 5 64.3 — 35.7

1998 91,157 72,964 — 18,193 80.0 — 20.0

1999 183,211 141,359 — 41,852 77.2 — 22.8

2000 140,699 114,444 — 26,255 81.3 — 18.7

2001 95,835 78,470 — 17,365 81.9 — 18.1

2002 163,768 139,044 — 24,724 84.9 — 15.1

2003 127,444 107,918 — 19,526 84.7 — 15.3

2004 103,437 86,798 — 16,639 83.9 — 16.1

2005 61,387 49,481 1 11,905 80.6 f 19.4

2006 19,384 15,636 2 3,746 80.7 f 19.3

2007 4,440 3,508 7 925 79.0 .2 20.8

2008 4,707 3,774 32 901 80.2 .7 19.1

2009 10,637 8,879 326 1,432 83.5 3.1 13.5

2010 16,677 13,065 1,241 2,371 78.3 7.4 14.2

Total reviews, SSI disabled children

1994 1,225 830 — 395 67.8 — 32.2

1995 7,837 5,117 — 2,720 65.3 — 34.7

1996 19,138 12,333 — 6,805 64.4 — 35.6

1997 55,939 33,372 — 22,567 59.7 — 40.3

1998 149,722 106,080 — 43,642 70.9 — 29.1

1999 242,541 177,991 — 64,550 73.4 — 26.6

2000 202,590 153,173 — 49,417 75.6 — 24.4

2001 153,865 115,579 — 38,286 75.1 — 24.9

2002 231,447 183,030 — 48,417 79.1 — 20.9

2003 188,632 148,682 — 39,950 78.8 — 21.2

2004 168,729 130,313 — 38,416 77.2 — 22.8

2005 130,428 93,457 2 36,969 71.7 f 28.3

2006 68,327 45,738 12 22,577 66.9 f 33.0

2007 78,974 48,476 503 29,995 61.4 .6 38.0

2008 79,409 47,795 1,384 30,230 60.2 1.7 38.1

2009 124,134 75,371 8,215 40,548 60.7 6.6 32.7

2010 126,383 68,825 17,854 39,704 54.5 14.1 31.4
101

2011 SSI Annual Report

E. INCENTIVES FOR WORK AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR REHABILITATION

1. Work Incentives

Since the beginning of the SSI program, a number of disabled or blind recipients have worked and

received SSI payments. Initially, the program contained a basic earned income exclusion that recognized

the additional costs associated with employment. In addition, the law contained a number of special

income exclusions designed to encourage work. The income exclusion for blind work expenses (BWE),

plan to achieve self-support (PASS), and student earned income exclusion (SEIE) were among these provisions.

In the 1980 amendments to the Social Security Act, Congress provided additional incentives to help SSI

disabled recipients become self-supporting. These incentives included:

 • Providing for an earned income exclusion for impairment-related work expenses (IRWE);

 • Changing the treatment of sheltered workshop earnings from unearned income to earned income,

thereby qualifying sheltered workshop earnings for the earned income exclusion;

 • Providing for the continuation of SSI payments for certain disabled individuals enrolled in vocational

rehabilitation programs whose disability ceased due to medical recovery (extended to SSI blind recipients, effective April 1988);

 • Establishing section 1619, which provided:

 — In subsection 1619(a), special SSI cash benefits to disabled individuals who lose eligibility for

SSI payments because they have earnings exceeding the level that is ordinarily considered to

represent substantial gainful activity (SGA), and

 — In subsection 1619(b), special SSI recipient status for Medicaid purposes to working disabled or

blind individuals when their earnings make them ineligible for cash payments.

We discuss the incentives for work and opportunities for rehabilitation in more detail in section III.E. In

the following tables we provide historical information on participation by SSI recipients in work incentive

programs.1

a. Numbers of Participants in Work Incentive Programs

In this section, we present historical data on participation by SSI recipients in work incentive programs.

Table V.E1 presents historical numbers of SSI recipients categorized according to their section 1619 status. Figure V.E1 presents this information in graphical form.

1 More detailed information on participation by SSI recipients in work incentive programs is provided in the SSI Annual Statistical Report. Pub. No. 13-

11827, prepared by the Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics, Social Security Administration.
2011 SSI Annual Report

102

a Increases in 2001 and subsequent years are based on increases in the national average wage index.

b Workers’ earnings are above SGA level.

c Workers’ earnings are at or below SGA level.

d 1619(b) recipients are not in current-payment status but retain SSI recipient status for Medicaid purposes.

e Increased to $700 in July 1999.

Table V.E1.—SSI Federally-Administered Blind or Disabled Working Recipients as of December, 1987-2010

Year

SGA

level a

In current-payment status 1619(b)

workers d Total1619(a) workers workers b Other workers c

1987...................................... $300 14,559 142,664 15,632 172,855

1988...................................... 300 19,920 153,599 15,625 189,144

1989...................................... 300 25,655 161,928 18,254 205,837

1990...................................... 500 13,994 182,421 23,517 219,932

1991...................................... 500 15,531 186,824 27,264 229,619

1992...................................... 500 17,603 199,665 31,649 248,917

1993...................................... 500 20,028 210,322 35,299 265,649

1994...................................... 500 24,315 217,478 40,683 282,476

1995...................................... 500 28,060 223,573 47,002 298,635

1996...................................... 500 31,085 225,310 51,905 308,300

1997...................................... 500 34,673 228,093 57,089 319,855

1998...................................... 500 37,271 229,662 59,542 326,475

1999...................................... e 700 25,528 245,825 69,265 340,618

2000...................................... 700 27,542 249,313 83,572 360,427

2001...................................... 740 22,100 247,555 76,455 346,110

2002...................................... 780 17,271 241,462 82,177 340,910

2003...................................... 800 17,132 235,453 71,097 323,682

2004...................................... 810 17,114 237,409 73,681 328,204

2005...................................... 830 17,621 240,744 78,205 336,570

2006...................................... 860 17,394 242,676 89,350 349,420

2007...................................... 900 16,939 242,854 97,551 357,344

2008...................................... 940 16,142 240,138 99,482 355,762

2009...................................... 980 11,900 236,741 91,534 340,175

2010...................................... 1,000 11,305 234,481 72,751 318,537

 Figure V.E1.—SSI Federally-Administered Blind or Disabled Working Recipients 

as of December, 1987-2010

[In thousands]

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Year

1619(b) workers

1619(a) workers

Recipients in current-pay

working at or below SGA
103

2011 SSI Annual Report

Table V.E2 presents historical numbers of SSI recipients who benefit from other selected work incentive

provisions: (1) plan to achieve self-support (PASS); (2) impairment-related work expense exclusion

(IRWE); and (3) blind work expense exclusion (BWE). These recipients may be benefiting from more

than one of these selected work incentive provisions. This information is available only for calendar years

1990 and later.

Note: Working recipients participating in these other work incentives may be 1619(a) recipients, 1619(b) recipients or working

recipients whose earnings are at or below the SGA level.

b. Average Earnings of Participants in Work Incentive Programs

In this section, we present historical data on average earnings of SSI working recipients. Table V.E3 presents average earnings of SSI recipients categorized according to their section 1619 status.

a In January 1990, the SGA level was raised from $300 to $500 and section 1619(a) participants with earnings at or below $500

became eligible for regular SSI benefits rather than the special cash payments under section 1619(a). The SGA level was further

increased to $700 in July 1999, with increases in 2001 and subsequent years based on increases in the national average wage index. The 2010 SGA level of $1,000 remains unchanged for 2011.

b Workers’ earnings are at or below the SGA level. c 1619(b) recipients are not in current-payment status but retain SSI recipient status for Medicaid purposes. d Estimated.

Table V.E2.—SSI Federally-Administered Blind or Disabled Individuals with SSI Recipient Status Participating 

in Other Work Incentives as of December, 1990-2010

Year

PASS a

a For years 1990 through 1996, data do not include PASS plans which exclude only resources.

Non-workers Workers Total IRWE BWE

1990......................................... 1,215 1,040 2,255 5,384 4,385

1991......................................... 1,969 1,601 3,570 6,546 4,330

1992......................................... 3,189 2,658 5,847 7,813 4,454

1993......................................... 4,528 3,602 8,130 8,629 4,406

1994......................................... 5,842 4,487 10,329 9,484 4,380

1995......................................... 5,719 4,603 10,322 9,940 4,433

1996......................................... 2,760 1,944 4,704 9,799 4,230

1997......................................... 1,290 708 1,998 9,637 4,116

1998......................................... 712 362 1,074 9,301 3,802

1999......................................... 698 347 1,045 9,520 3,971

2000......................................... 862 520 1,382 9,422 3,895

2001......................................... 1,024 576 1,600 8,798 3,642

2002......................................... 1,150 571 1,721 8,047 3,386

2003......................................... 1,181 524 1,705 7,604 3,074

2004......................................... 1,112 486 1,598 6,874 2,827

2005......................................... 1,089 493 1,582 6,310 2,552

2006......................................... 1,098 485 1,583 5,650 2,370

2007......................................... 1,003 512 1,515 5,161 2,142

2008......................................... 1,074 485 1,559 4,572 1,925

2009......................................... 1,037 420 1,457 3,862 1,643

2010......................................... 1,001 392 1,393 3,491 1,847

Table V.E3.—Average Monthly Earnings of SSI Federally-Administered Blind or

Disabled Working Recipients, as of December, 1987-2010 

Year

Blind or disabled workers with SSI recipient status

In current-payment status 1619(b)

workers c Total

1619(a) workers workers a Other workers b

1987 ........................................ $494 d $124 $739 d $211

1988 ........................................ 522 d 127 721 d 218

1989 ........................................ 518 d 131 712 d 231

1990 ........................................ 712 145 746 245

1991 ........................................ 724 148 780 262

1992 ........................................ 726 150 781 271

1993 ........................................ 728 153 784 280

1994 ........................................ 746 157 803 301

1995 ........................................ 754 160 834 322

1996 ........................................ 764 162 881 344

1997 ........................................ 772 164 932 367

1998 ........................................ 772 182 954 390

1999 ........................................ 926 207 980 418

2000 ........................................ 945 239 1,048 481

2001 ........................................ 1,004 252 1,043 475

2002 ........................................ 1,043 253 1,094 495

2003 ........................................ 1,059 241 1,081 469

2004 ........................................ 1,076 246 1,070 474

2005 ........................................ 1,111 255 1,118 500

2006 ........................................ 1,166 258 1,193 542

2007 ........................................ 1,193 262 1,267 581

2008 ........................................ 1,235 259 1,340 605

2009 ........................................ 1,262 252 1,327 577

2010 ........................................ 1,260 244 1,266 513
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2. Vocational Rehabilitation/Ticket to Work Program 

Provisions designed to make vocational rehabilitation (VR) services available to SSI blind or disabled

recipients have been part of the SSI program since its inception. From the beginning, SSA referred SSI

recipients to State VR agencies, which provided services to those recipients they accepted as clients. Prior

to 1981, SSA made block grants to VR agencies to fund services to disabled beneficiaries. The 1981

amendments changed this and established a “cost” reimbursement provision. Under this provision, we

reimburse VR agencies for the cost of VR services furnished to blind or disabled SSI recipients only if the

services result in the recipient returning to work. For reimbursement purposes, we consider recipients to

have returned to work if they have had earnings exceeding the SGA level for 9 continuous months. 

The 1984 amendments authorized reimbursement for cases1 where the recipient medically recovers while

engaged in a program of rehabilitation services approved by SSA and SSA determines that continuation or

completion of such a program would increase the likelihood the individual will permanently leave the

rolls. The 1990 amendments authorized reimbursement for the cost of services the VR agencies provide in

months in which the individual is not receiving Federal SSI benefits if the individual: 

 • Has special SSI recipient status for Medicaid purposes under section 1619(b) of the Social Security

Act; 

 • Receives a Federally-administered State supplementary payment; or 

 • Temporarily loses eligibility for SSI benefits for fewer than 13 consecutive months for a reason other

than cessation of disability or blindness. 

In 1994, SSA amended the regulations to include reimbursement to alternate private and non-State public

VR providers (“alternate participants”) that provided VR services to recipients that a State VR agency had

not accepted as clients. The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 subsequently

replaced the alternate provider program with the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency program (Ticket to

Work program).

Under the Ticket to Work program, a disabled beneficiary may obtain vocational rehabilitation, employment and other support services from qualified private or public providers—“Employment Networks”

(ENs). The Ticket to Work program authorized the Commissioner to provide payments to ENs under

either an outcome payment system or an outcome-milestone payment system. (State VR agencies may

elect on a case-by-case basis to receive payment under the traditional VR reimbursement system, or as an

EN under the outcome or outcome-milestone payment system.) By expanding the pool of providers and

giving the providers incentives for achieving success, this program expands access to these services for

persons with disabilities to assist them in finding, entering, and retaining employment as well as reducing

their dependence on cash benefits. 

Beginning in February 2002, SSA implemented the Ticket to Work program on a State-by-State basis,

completing the implementation nationwide in September 2004. As we implemented the Ticket to Work

program in a State, we eliminated the alternate provider and the traditional VR referral process described

earlier. SSA provided eligible individuals who received SSI benefits due to blindness or disability in such

a State with a Ticket to Work document (“ticket”). Beneficiaries who receive a ticket may use it to obtain

from ENs or their State VR agencies vocational rehabilitation services, employment services and other

support services needed to return to work or go to work for the first time. Individuals not eligible for a

1 The 1980 amendments provided for benefit continuation for such SSI recipients who were continuing in a VR program after their disability had ceased.

The provision was extended to blind recipients effective April 1988.
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ticket may still request services from a State VR agency; the VR agency continues to decide whether each

beneficiary is eligible for services under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. 

The Ticket legislation required that SSA establish a corps of work incentives specialists to disseminate

accurate information about work incentives. In addition, the Social Security Protection Act of 2004 mandated that SSA provide a work report receipt to the beneficiary. SSA responded to these mandates with the

following actions:

 • In fiscal year 2003, SSA established the Area Work Incentives Coordinator (AWIC) position and

trained a total of 58 AWICs, assigning at least one AWIC to each Area Office. We created the AWIC

position to improve the quality of employment support services provided to beneficiaries through

training, outreach, and better coordination of support services. As of fiscal year 2011, there are 55

AWICs on duty.

 • In fiscal year 2004, SSA released eWork, a web-based design application that provides a uniform

electronic system to process and control title II return to work cases. Since eWork does not communicate with any title XVI systems, SSA developed a web-based application, the SSI Monthly Wage Verification (SSIMWV), to process and control SSI work reports. The SSIMWV allows SSA employees

to issue the mandated work report receipt in addition to processing the wage report. We released

SSIMWV nationally in November 2006. 

 • In fiscal year 2006, SSA awarded cooperative agreements in all States, the District of Columbia, and

Territories under the new Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program, which replaced

and enhanced the former Benefits Planning, Assistance, and Outreach (BPAO) program. The WIPA

program continues to provide accurate information about work incentive programs and other employment support services, as well as planning and assistance services, to beneficiaries with disabilities to

support and facilitate their transition into the workforce.

In fiscal year 2003, AWIC employees provided refresher training on employment supports to the local

Work Incentive Liaisons (WIL) located in each of the 1,335 local field offices. Beginning in fiscal year

2004, SSA updated the systems application phase of this training with the release of eWork. We provided

training to all direct service employees in field offices, teleservice centers and the payment processing

centers. We completed this training initiative in November 2004.

AWICs have also been very active in participating in outreach activities in their local areas and continue to

be the primary point of contact for public information outreach in the communities. They have strengthened the relationship with our Ticket to Work partners: the ENs; WIPAs; Protection and Advocacy (P&A)

agencies and Disability Program Navigators. AWICs also work closely with the regional plan to achieve

self-support (PASS) cadres in SSA to make joint educational presentations to the community about our

employment support programs. The partnership has strengthened support of one of the objectives of the

Ticket to Work program, which is to educate the public about the benefits of returning to work and becoming self-sufficient. We have made presentations directly to persons with disabilities and/or entities that

provide services to this target group, including presentations at:

 • Work Incentives Seminar Events (WISE)

 • Disability Employment Fairs

 • Disability Forums and Expos

 • Technical Colleges

 • Universities
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 • Disability Resource Centers

 • One-Stop Career Centers

 • Small Business Administration Groups

 • Workforce Investment Fairs

 • Independent Living Councils’ Conferences

 • United Way Agencies

 • State Advocacy Groups

In 2008, SSA revised the Ticket to Work regulations to enhance beneficiary choice and improve the effectiveness of the program. The revisions extended the program to all adult SSDI and SSI blind or disabled

beneficiaries, removed disincentives for Employment Networks to participate in the program, provided

incentives for them to support beneficiaries through a more gradual return to work, and positioned them to

better support ongoing retention of employment. Since we published the new regulations, SSA has noted

promising trends:

 • The number of beneficiaries initiating return to work programs increased 43 percent, from 203,664 on

May 1, 2008 to 291,881 on March 1, 2011; and

 • In 2009, the number of beneficiaries receiving services under the Ticket to Work Program who

worked increased 9 percent (from 96,993 to 105,843) over calendar year 2008.

See section V.G.1.d for information on the evaluation of the Ticket to Work program.

Table V.E4 provides historical data on the number of VR agency reimbursement claims allowed and the

amount of such awards for SSI recipients.

In a somewhat broader context of providing work incentives for disabled beneficiaries of both the OASDI

and SSI programs, the President’s FY 2012 Budget contains a proposal to test a framework for simplifying

the rather complicated array of work incentives available under the OASDI program. Under the proposed

Work Incentives Simplification Program (WISP), we would treat earnings of OASDI disabled beneficiaries more like the treatment of earnings for SSI disabled adults under SSI.
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a For concurrent title II/XVI claims, amounts shown represent title XVI portion of claim.

b For fiscal years 1987-89, data on title II reimbursement claims involving concurrent title XVI reimbursement claims are not available.

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

Table V.E5 provides historical data on the number of Employment Network payments allowed and the

amount of such payments for SSI recipients.

Table V.E4.—Vocational Rehabilitation Reimbursement Claims Allowed, Fiscal Years 1987-2010

Fiscal year

Concurrent title II/XVI claims Title XVI only claims Total claims

Number

Amount a

(in thousands) Number

Amount

(in thousands) Number

Amount a

(in thousands)

1987 .............. b b 1,493 $10,010 b b

1988 .............. b b 1,720 14,831 b b

1989 .............. b b 1,871 18,366 b b

1990 .............. 1,267 $3,290 2,819 22,832 4,086 $26,122

1991 .............. 1,445 4,325 2,171 20,615 3,616 24,940

1992 .............. 1,634 5,312 2,834 28,276 4,468 33,588

1993 .............. 1,928 6,670 2,158 22,264 4,086 28,934

1994 .............. 1,880 7,057 2,074 23,400 3,954 30,457

1995 .............. 2,140 7,761 2,229 26,402 4,369 34,162

1996 .............. 2,033 6,518 2,138 24,334 4,171 30,852

1997 .............. 2,735 8,541 2,914 31,532 5,649 40,073

1998 .............. 3,329 10,089 3,446 36,313 6,775 46,402

1999 .............. 3,572 11,403 4,046 42,281 7,618 53,684

2000 .............. 3,260 11,357 3,589 40,793 6,849 52,150

2001 .............. 2,388 9,590 2,763 34,842 5,151 44,432

2002 .............. 3,241 12,201 3,474 43,244 6,715 55,445

2003 .............. 2,139 8,110 1,993 25,238 4,132 33,348

2004 .............. 1,999 7,759 2,150 26,390 4,149 34,149

2005 .............. 1,883 7,420 1,692 21,866 3,575 29,286

2006 .............. 2,581 10,382 2,257 28,597 4,838 38,979

2007 .............. 2,037 8,407 1,871 26,468 3,908 34,875

2008 .............. 2,743 11,229 2,515 35,732 5,258 46,961

2009 .............. 2,567 11,046 2,373 34,801 4,940 45,847

2010 .............. 2,337 9,431 2,109 32,511 4,446 41,942

Table V.E5.—Employment Network Payments Allowed, Fiscal Years 2002-10a

a Does not include reimbursements to State VR agencies for tickets assigned under the VR cost reimbursement option.

Fiscal year

Concurrent title II/XVI payments Title XVI only payments Total payments

Number

Amount b

(in thousands)

b For concurrent title II/XVI payments, amounts shown represent title XVI portion of the payments.

Number

Amount

(in thousands) Number

Amount b

(in thousands)

2002 .............. 7 $1 1 c

c Less than $500.

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

8 $1

2003 .............. 138 19 260 $47 398 66

2004 .............. 245 35 674 127 919 162

2005 .............. 692 105 1,292 251 1,984 356

2006 .............. 975 137 1,648 317 2,623 454

2007 .............. 1,259 181 1,713 334 2,972 515

2008 .............. 1,827 274 2,524 520 4,351 794

2009 .............. 2,575 594 3,282 1,310 5,857 1,904

2010 .............. 3,461 864 3,819 1,704 7,280 2,568
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F. INVOLVEMENT OF SSI RECIPIENTS IN OTHER PROGRAMS

In this appendix, we present statistics on participation by SSI recipients in other programs using data from

the Supplemental Security Record (SSR), the main administrative file for the SSI program. We develop

summary data on (1) current participation by SSI recipients in other programs from a 100-percent extract

of the SSR and (2) previous participation by SSI recipients in other programs from a 10-percent extract of

the SSR. Both sets of summary data are representative of the overall SSI recipient population.

Since the amount of an individual’s income affects both the eligibility for, and the amount of, his or her

SSI benefit, the SSR must contain information on participation by SSI recipients in certain other programs, which may provide countable income to the SSI recipient. A significant number of SSI recipients

are Social Security beneficiaries whose total countable income, including OASDI benefits, is less than the

Federal benefit rate plus the amount of applicable Federally-administered State supplementary payment. A

smaller number of SSI recipients participate in other programs and receive income such as Workers’ Compensation benefits or disability cash benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

SSA does not maintain complete information in its administrative files concerning the involvement of SSI

recipients in other assistance programs, because under the law payments from such programs are not

countable income attributable to the individual. We do, however, have some data with regard to entitlement to benefits under two other programs—Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) (which

replaced Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)) and State Interim Assistance

Reimbursement—at the point that the individual applied for SSI benefits. TANF (and AFDC previously)

is a State program funded under Part A of title IV of the Social Security Act. Interim assistance is assistance a State gives to SSI applicants in cash or vendor payments for meeting basic needs while they are

awaiting the outcome of the SSI eligibility determination process.

Table V.F1 presents percentages of SSI recipients who (1) concurrently receive payments from certain

other selected programs or (2) have previously received TANF/AFDC benefits or Interim Assistance

Reimbursement.

a SSI recipients or households of SSI recipients may participate in more than one of these programs.

b Less than 0.05 percent of SSI recipients in this gender/age grouping participate in the program.

Note: Total numbers of recipients do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

Table V.F1.—Percentage of SSI Federally-Administered Recipients in Current-Payment Status with Participationa

in Selected Programs Based on SSA Administrative Records, December 2010

Age groups

0-17 18-64 All

65 or

older

Number of Federally-administered recipients, 

December 2010 (in thousands).................................................................................................................... 1,239 4,632 2,041 7,912

Program (In percent)

Program participation by SSI recipients, December 2010

Federal SSI.............................................................................................................................................. 99.9 97.2 93.9 96.8

Federally-administered State SSI supplementation ................................................................................ 20.1 26.6 47.4 30.2

OASDI .................................................................................................................................................... 7.4 31.5 56.2 34.1

Black Lung.............................................................................................................................................. bb b b

Railroad Retirement................................................................................................................................ b b 0.1 b

Veterans Affairs disability cash benefits................................................................................................. 0.1 0.3 1.3 0.5

Workers’ Compensation.......................................................................................................................... b 0.1 b 0.1

Previous program participation by SSI recipients, December 2010

TANF/AFDC........................................................................................................................................... 28.5 26.4 10.3 22.6

Interim Assistance Reimbursement ........................................................................................................ 0.7 13.9 10.9 11.1
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There are other potential sources for information on SSI recipients when that information is not available

on the SSI administrative files. These sources include the following:

 • The Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), a U.S. Census Bureau sample survey, is

comprised of a continuous series of national panels that collect information such as the source and

amount of income, asset holdings, program participation and general demographic characteristics for

the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population.

 • The Current Population Survey (CPS), a U.S. Census Bureau sample survey conducted monthly by

the Bureau of the Census for the Bureau of Labor Statistics is the primary source of information on

the labor force characteristics of the U.S. population. The CPS March Supplement (the Annual Social

and Economic Supplement), collects, in addition to the usual monthly labor force data, information on

income, noncash benefits, program participation and general demographic characteristics for the U.S.

resident noninstitutionalized population.

 • The Health and Retirement Study, a survey sponsored by the National Institute on Aging and conducted by the University of Michigan, is a biennial survey that collects information such as health status, health care utilization, income, asset holdings, program participation and general demographic

characteristics for the U. S. population over age 50.
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G. RESEARCH ON RELATED TOPICS

The legislative mandate for this report requires inclusion of information about “relevant research on the

SSI program by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and others.” Section 1 of this appendix

describes major ongoing projects. Section 2 presents a bibliography of studies regarding SSI payment levels, recipients, and reform proposals that were published in the past 10 years by both public and private

entities.

1. Ongoing Research

a. SSI Policy Simulations

Using Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) data matched to administrative records, SSA

researchers have developed a model of financial eligibility for SSI to estimate the rate of participation

among the eligible elderly and the effects of various options to modify the SSI program (see Davies et al.

2001/2002). The model suggests that the rate of participation among the eligible elderly was about 62 percent in 1991. The comparable participation rate estimate at the end of 1996 was also 62 percent. An

updated version of the model uses the 2004 SIPP matched to administrative records. We are developing a

participation rate estimate for the elderly based on the 2004 model and examining patterns of differences

from previous estimates in the literature.

We used the model to simulate the potential effects of several approaches to expand the SSI program to

fight poverty among the elderly. Approaches focusing on incremental changes in the Federal benefit rate,

the general income exclusion, and the resources test appear roughly equally effective in reducing the poverty gap among the elderly on a cost-equivalent basis, while two approaches focusing on relaxing the

earned income exclusion are less effective (Davies, Rupp, and Strand, 2004). More recently, we expanded

the model to address SSI participation and financial eligibility among the working-age disabled, and to

assess SSI benefit restructuring options for the entire SSI population. The working-aged model allows for

the identification of working-aged persons by their SSI financial eligibility status, DI insured status, and

participation in both programs. We used the expanded model to assess SSI’s role in complementing DI and

enhancing the safety net for the working-aged population (Rupp, Davies, and Strand, 2008). We simulated

the effects of several approaches to changing in-kind support and maintenance rules and options for altering the calculation of the Federal benefit rate for certain living arrangement categories (Balkus et al.

2009). Simulation results for current elderly, working-age, and child SSI populations provide up-to-date

estimates for potential program changes. We also studied eligibility for Medicare buy-in programs with the

financial eligibility model (see Rupp and Sears 2000; Sears 2001/2002). In unpublished internal research,

we used the model to estimate the size of the population potentially eligible for the Medicare Part D low

income subsidy.

b. National Survey of SSI Children and Families

The National Survey of SSI Children and Families (NSCF) addressed a number of SSA policy and program objectives. One objective was to address issues specifically pertaining to the effects of the Personal

Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (welfare reform). However, the survey

as designed is useful for the study of a broader range of issues of current interest to policy makers. Most

importantly, it allows for the analysis of a nationally representative cross-section of SSI beneficiary children aged 0-17 and young adults aged 18-23. Among the questions the survey answers are the following: 
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2011 SSI Annual Report

 • What are the characteristics of SSI children? 

 • What alternative sources of care are available to disabled children who lose SSI benefits?

 • How is quality of life and utilization of medical services impacted by gaining or losing SSI benefits?

 • What is the cost of caring for a child with disabilities?

 • What are the uses of SSI benefits?

 • What is the impact of the nature and severity of the child’s disabilities on parental labor force participation? 

The NSCF data collection began July 2001 and concluded June 2002. The NSCF sample size was considerably larger for SSI children and young adults than the sample size available in other surveys. Altogether,

the NSCF includes 8,535 completed interviews, including 5,006 who received SSI benefits in December

2000 and 5,033 who received SSI benefits in December 1996. NSCF documentation is available on the

SSA website at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityresearch/nscf.htm. Davies and Rupp (2005/2006)

provides an overview of the survey and describes some key features. Other analyses using these data are

discussed in section c below. Although it was a cross-sectional data collection effort, we continue to

update the match between NSCF and SSI administrative records with longitudinal data on SSI program

participation. 

c. Analytic Studies

A number of studies by SSA researchers provide a better understanding of the SSI program, the elderly

and disabled target populations, program interactions, and the role of the SSI program in the United States

social safety net. Koenig and Rupp (2003/2004) estimates the prevalence of households and families with

multiple SSI recipients and provided an assessment of the poverty status of multirecipient households.

Rupp and Davies (2004) tracks survey respondents from the 1984 SIPP for 14 years using administrative

records on SSI and DI participation and death events to assess the relationship between self-reported

health status, disabilities, mortality, and participation in the SSI and DI programs. Weathers et al. (2007)

uses a unique longitudinal dataset based on administrative data from the National Technical Institute for

the Deaf (NTID) linked to SSA administrative records to conduct a case study of SSI children who applied

for postsecondary education at NTID. Another study uses SSA administrative records from August 2005

through August 2007 to analyze SSI recipients who lived in counties and parishes affected by Hurricanes

Katrina and Rita (Davies and Hemmeter 2010). Hemmeter (2009) examines the occupational distribution

of SSI disability recipients aged 18-61 who work. Hemmeter and Gilby (2009) analyzes age-18 redetermination outcomes for SSI youth, including appeals of initial cessations and subsequent reapplications for

benefits after a period of ineligibility.

Several studies focus on the distributional effects of the SSI program through its interactions with other

Federal and State programs. One on-going study is utilizing longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to assess the role of SSI and related social safety net programs in providing a buffer

against the potentially adverse effects of disability shocks in the near-elderly population on financial wellbeing. Rupp et al. (2008) provides an empirical analysis of the SSI Federal benefit rate for assessing benefit adequacy among elderly Social Security beneficiaries and the effectiveness of the SSI benefit eligibility

screens for targeting economically vulnerable elderly beneficiaries. Balkus et al. (2009) examines the distributional effects of replacing current policies on living arrangements and in-kind support with a simpler,

cost neutral alternative. Rupp and Strand (2007) highlights the distributional implications of Social Security reform scenarios involving a potential shift from wage indexing to price indexing or longevity indexing in the establishment of initial benefits. Strand (2010) uses matched SIPP records to examine potential

eligibility for three major means-tested programs (SSI, Medicaid, and Food Stamp) among near retirees
2011 SSI Annual Report

112

aged 55 to 64 and eventual SSI participation upon reaching age 65. Rupp, Davies, and Strand (2008) finds

that over one-third of the working-age population is covered by SSI in the event of a severe disability, providing disability benefit coverage to many who are not DI-insured and enhancing the potential bundle of

disability cash benefits among a substantial segment of those who are DI-insured. Rupp and Riley (forthcoming) analyzes longitudinal patterns of interaction between DI and SSI and finds that a quarter of the

year 2000 cohort of first-ever working age disability awardees were involved with both programs over a

60 month period. On-going research by Rupp and Riley analyzes interactions between SSI, DI, Medicaid

and Medicare on a cohort of SSI and DI awardees utilizing matched administrative data from SSA and the

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Wamhoff and Wiseman (2005/2006) examines the financial

consequences of TANF-to-SSI transfers and develops new estimates of both the prevalence of receipt of

SSI benefits among families receiving cash assistance from TANF and the proportion of new SSI awards

that go to adults and children residing in families receiving TANF-related benefits. Trenkamp and Wiseman (2007) addresses the connections between the SSI and Food Stamp programs. Meijer, Karoly, and

Michaud (2009, 2010) analyzes eligibility for the Medicare Part D Low Income Subsidy, which is based

on a simplified SSI methodology. Kemp (2010) conducts a descriptive analysis of the SSI Student Earned

Income Exclusion.

In 2003 and again in 2005 SSA provided funding for interviewing supplemental samples of SSI and DI

beneficiaries to increase the SIPP sample size available for analyses of these target groups. DeCesaro and

Hemmeter (2008) examines the characteristics of DI and SSI program participants using the 2003 supplemental sample combined with the 2001 SIPP, both matched to administrative records. Using data from the

Current Population Survey matched to SSA administrative records, Nicholas and Wiseman (2009)

assesses the impact of using administrative records on poverty estimation among elderly SSI recipients

using the official and alternative definitions of poverty. Wiseman and Ycas (2008) compares the Canadian

social assistance program for the elderly with the SSI program, looking at program structure, cost and consequences for elderly poverty rates.

A number of studies utilize the NSCF to focus on children and young adults receiving SSI. Rupp et al.

(2005/2006) presents highlights from the survey characterizing SSI children with disabilities and their

families. Additional research studies employment and caregiving patterns of parents of SSI children (Rupp

and Ressler 2009), examines employment and program outcomes among young adults after their eligibility redetermination at age 18 (Hemmeter, Kauff, and Wittenburg 2009), and analyzes factors affecting outof-pocket medical expenses and unmet health care needs of disabled children (DeCesaro and Hemmeter

2009). These papers appear in a special issue of the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation (volume 30, number 3) devoted to SSI children and young adults and the transition to adulthood. The special issue also

includes a paper that introduces the issue and examines the life-cycle human capital development and longer-term SSI and earnings outcomes of SSI youth as they transition to adulthood (Davies, Rupp, and Wittenburg 2009), as well as two papers that focus on SSA’s Youth Transition Demonstration (Fraker and

Rangarajan 2009; Luecking and Wittenburg 2009). The articles from the special issue are available on

SSA’s web site at http://socialsecurity.gov/policy/JVR.html. 

d. Evaluation of the Ticket to Work Program

The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 requires the Commissioner of Social

Security to provide for independent evaluations to assess the effectiveness of the Ticket to Work program

and to submit three separate evaluation reports to Congress. The evaluation includes a survey of beneficiaries with disabilities and participants in the Ticket to Work program that collects information on the health

and well-being of beneficiaries and on how beneficiaries use the Ticket to Work program.

Rounds one, two, and three of the National Beneficiary Survey have concluded with an overall response

rate of 78 percent, with responses from more than 20,000 beneficiaries with disabilities. We delayed
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2011 SSI Annual Report

Round Four of the survey because of the Ticket to Work program changes implemented in 2008. We completed Round Four in 2010.

We submitted the first evaluation report to Congress in 2004 (Thornton et al. 2004)1, and also published

the first interim evaluation report early in 2006 (Thornton et al. 2006)1. We submitted the third, post-FY

2005, evaluation report to Congress in October 2007 and the post-FY 2006 report in October of 2008. 

The reports indicate low but growing participation rates with the vast majority of ticket assignments going

to State vocational rehabilitation agencies. The findings thus far indicate that the Ticket to Work program

has significant potential, but the program needs improvements in beneficiary awareness and Employment

Network (EN) incentives. Survey findings show that many more beneficiaries are interested in joining the

workforce than is reflected in Ticket to Work participation. Most beneficiaries remain unaware of the

Ticket to Work program despite various efforts to publicize the program. Among those who are aware, a

small but significant number who have tried to use their ticket have been unable to find an EN to accept it.

Many beneficiaries who are participating in the Ticket to Work program are reaching employment success,

and those who leave the disability rolls appear to be not receiving benefits for sustained periods. The evaluation has also found that employment success may take longer to achieve than previously anticipated.

Among the earliest participants in Ticket to Work, a small but steady stream of new exits from disability

benefits continued to occur more than four years after Ticket to Work participation began. Participation by

ENs had been anemic, and the evaluation indicated that the initial payment rules were insufficient for ENs

to cover their costs. Our initiatives to reduce EN costs helped but were not enough to help ENs reach

financial viability. In July 2008, we implemented new regulations for the Ticket to Work program. In the

evaluation, we reviewed these new rules and found that they are likely to increase the early payments to

ENs significantly, thereby making the program more financially attractive to a broader range of service

providers. This development, in turn, holds promise for expanding EN availability and reinvigorating the

program.

The fifth evaluation report is a series of short papers focused on the employment efforts of working-age

SSI recipients and SSDI beneficiaries and on our work incentives and supports designed to encourage their

employment. Each paper explores a specific aspect of the ticket evaluation. These papers improve our

understanding of beneficiary employment experiences and the factors that both enhance and inhibit successful employment outcomes. This report does not discuss the effects of the new regulations the agency

implemented in July 2008. The sixth evaluation report will include preliminary effects of the new regulations.

Highlights from the fifth report include a study using our National Beneficiary Survey to identify and analyze working-age beneficiaries with disabilities who had work goals or expectations. These “work-oriented” beneficiaries are a key target population for the Ticket to Work program. They make up 40 percent

of working-age disability beneficiaries and are about 9 times more likely to participate in employmentrelated activities. The findings show that significant numbers of beneficiaries are attempting work and

many are leaving cash benefits, at least temporarily. At any given point in time, about 21 percent of these

work-oriented beneficiaries had jobs, while 45 percent had jobs at some point during the four-year period

after we interviewed them. Ten percent of work-oriented beneficiaries left cash benefits due to work in at

least one month during this four-year period.

This report also includes a long-term analysis of beneficiaries who first received SSDI benefits in 1996,

followed over ten years. This analysis found that by 2006, 6.5 percent of these beneficiaries had their cash

benefits suspended due to work for a least one month, and 3.7 percent had completely terminated their SSI

1 Available at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityresearch/research.htm.
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or SSDI cash benefits due to work. At the end of ten years, 2.7 percent of the 1996 cohort had exited due

to work, remained alive and of working age, and remained off the SSDI rolls. Most of these beneficiaries

who exit cash benefits do so without participating in Ticket to Work or the state vocational rehabilitation

programs, but those who exit after Ticket to Work program participation tend to have better long-term

employment outcomes.

Another study shows that while benefit suspensions and terminations for work are usually not permanent,

they do tend to continue for many months. Among those who leave cash benefits for at least one month,

SSDI beneficiaries will typically spend about half of the next four years in zero benefit status, and SSI

recipients will spend about one-third of the next four years in zero benefit status.

We modified the Ticket evaluation contracts to extend the analysis to cover beneficiary and service provider response to the new Ticket to Work regulations. The evaluation contractor will produce two additional reports in 2011 and 2012 under this modification.

e. Homeless Outreach Projects and Evaluation (HOPE)

In 2004, we awarded funds to 41 service providers nationwide to provide outreach services to the homeless population. We trained these service providers and gave them training materials so they could assist

homeless individuals with our disability application process. In October 2007, Westat, the evaluation contractor, released the final evaluation report. We are currently conducting a longitudinal evaluation of

HOPE. Findings from this analysis will be available later in 2011.

f. Youth Transition Demonstration (YTD)

The YTD establishes partnerships to improve employment outcomes for youth ages 14-25 who receive (or

could receive) SSI or SSDI payments on the basis of their own disability. The YTD projects include service delivery systems and a broad array of services and supports to assist youth with disabilities in their

transition from school to employment and to help them gain economic self-sufficiency.

YTD began in 2003, with seven projects in six States. In 2007, we piloted new projects in five States,

choosing three new projects in Florida, Maryland, and West Virginia. These three projects joined three

(Colorado and two New York) of the original seven projects in a random assignment study. This study will

produce the first evaluation of the empirical evidence of the effects of youth transition programs and modified SSI work incentives.

The modified SSI program rules that we are testing under the YTD include five elements.

 • Despite the finding of a continuing disability review or an age-18 medical redetermination that an

individual is no longer eligible for benefits, we will continue paying benefits for as long as the individual continues to be a YTD participant.

 • The student earned income exclusion (section 1612(b)(1) of the Act), which normally applies only to

students who are age 21 or younger, will apply to all participants who meet school attendance requirements.

 • The general earned-income exclusions (section 1612(b)(4) of the Act) permit the exclusion of $65

plus half of what an individual earns in excess of $65. For the YTD, we will exclude the first $65 plus

three-fourths of any additional earnings.

 • We will extend the SSI program’s treatment of federally supported Individual Development Accounts

(IDA) to IDAs that do not involve federal funds.
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 • Ordinarily, a plan to achieve self-support (PASS) must specify an employment goal that refers to getting a particular kind of job or starting a particular business. For the YTD, we will approve an otherwise satisfactory PASS that has either career exploration or postsecondary education as its goal.

Income and assets that an individual uses for PASS expenses do not count when we determine SSI eligibility and payment amount.

The research findings will help to assess the implications of any such impacts for the Social Security trust

funds and Federal income tax revenues. 

The YTD projects in Colorado and New York have ended. The Florida, Maryland, and West Virginia projects are implementing the interventions and services and will end in 2012. A comprehensive final report of

the six random assignment projects is due in August 2014.

g. Disability Program Navigators (DPNs)

The Department of Labor (DOL) and SSA jointly established the Disability Program Navigator (DPN)

position. DPNs are located in DOL's One-Stop Career Centers and help disabled individuals navigate the

confusing and often conflicting sets of rules that prevent many disabled persons from working. The rules

surrounding entitlement programs and a fear of losing cash assistance and health benefits often discourage

people with disabilities from working. DOL and SSA established the DPN initiative to better inform beneficiaries and other people with disabilities about the work support programs available at DOL-funded OneStop Career Centers. This initiative developed new/ongoing partnerships to achieve seamless, comprehensive, and integrated access to services, creating systemic change, and expanding the workforce development system's capacity to serve customers with disabilities and employers. The contractor, Mathematica

Policy Research, Inc., completed the final DPN evaluation in May 2010. See http://www.doleta.gov/disability/.

h. TANF/SSI Disability Transition Project (TSDTP)

Both welfare agencies and the federal disability system seek to support people with disabilities and help

them become more independent. However, the two systems often have differing missions and organization, definitions of disability, operational and financial issues, and work rules and incentives, making it

challenging for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Supplemental Security Income

(SSI) programs to work together. TANF clients who apply for SSI may also confront conflicting messages

from TANF agencies regarding work requirements and benefit eligibility.

To improve our understanding of the relationship between the TANF and SSI populations and programs,

our Office of Program Development and Research and the Administration for Children and Families

(ACF) launched the TSDTP in October 2008. Working with ACF, TANF agencies in California, Florida,

Michigan, Minnesota, and New York, select counties in these States, and the evaluation firm MDRC, we

will analyze program data and pilot-test program interventions for TANF clients with disabilities. SSA,

ACF, TANF agencies, and low-income individuals with disabilities and their families benefit from effective and efficient services - moving toward employment when possible, making informed decisions about

applying for SSI, receiving SSI as quickly as possible, and reducing administrative costs. The project will

conclude in September 2012 with our recommendations regarding a larger demonstration project on coordinating TANF and SSI.

i. Occupational Information System (OIS)

We are conducting research to create an occupational information system (OIS) for the agency's disability

program adjudicative needs. The OIS will be a long-term replacement for the occupational information
2011 SSI Annual Report

116

contained in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) and other companion volumes such as the

Selected Characteristics of Occupations and the Revised Handbook for Analyzing Jobs. The Department

of Labor has not updated the DOT since 1991 and has no plans to conduct further updates. The new OIS

will serve as the primary source of information about jobs and job requirements critical to evaluating disability including information not contained in the DOT.

For FY 2011, research and development activities include review and analysis of baseline information

from a sample of approximately 3,800 initial claims and 1,300 appellate level cases. The study will tell us

which jobs occur most frequently in claimant vocational profiles and which jobs we most commonly cite

in Step 5 framework denials. This information will help us identify the occupations with the highest prevalence in disability decisions, and consequently, which to analyze first for the new OIS. We are also conducting an investigation of international and domestic OISs, including review of prior agency work,

literature reviews, and interviews with officials to inform our selection of methods and techniques. To

establish a rigorous basis for developing and evaluating the OIS, we are also identifying criteria for OIS

legal defensibility, scientific research, and operational feasibility. This activity involves consultation with

internal and external experts and reviews of relevant legal, regulatory, professional, and scientific precedents.

In addition, we are developing a content model incorporating internal workgroup expertise, public comments, user needs analyses, and Occupational Information Development Advisory Panel recommendations

to identify common themes and data elements that will inform the development of a work analysis instrument. We are also investigating various strategies used across industries to train, certify, and recruit job

analysts. From that work, in FY 2012 we will develop and test a work analysis instrument and an agency

strategy to recruit, train, and certify job analysts for conducting job analyses that will serve as the basis of

the OIS content. We project that, by FY 2013, we will use the results from the testing to revise our content

model and to inform a national data collection effort.

2. Bibliography of Recent Publications

American Academy of Pediatrics. Council on Children with Disabilities. “Supplemental Security Income

(SSI) for Children and Youth with Disabilities.” Pediatrics 124, 6 (December 2009): 1702-1709.

Angel, Ronald J. “Living Arrangements and Supplemental Security Income Use Among Elderly Asians

and Hispanics in the United States: The Role of Nativity and Citizenship.” Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 28, 3 (2002): 553-563.

Aron, Laudan Y. and Pamela Loprest. Meeting the Needs of Children with Disabilities. Washington, DC:

The Urban Institute Press, 2007.

Autor, David H. and Mark G. Duggan. “The Rise in the Disability Rolls and the Decline in Unemployment.” Quarterly Journal of Economics, 118, 1 (2003): 157-205.

Balkus, Richard and Susan Wilschke. “Annual Wage Trends for Supplemental Security Income Recipients.” Social Security Bulletin 65, 2 (2003/2004): 49-58.

Balkus, Richard and Susan Wilschke. Treatment of Married Couples in the SSI Program. Issue Paper No.

2003-01. Washington, DC: Office of Disability and Income Assistance Policy, Office of Policy, Social

Security Administration, December 2003.
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Balkus, Richard, James Sears, Susan Wilschke, and Bernard Wixon. “Simplifying the Supplemental Security Income Program: Options for Eliminating the Counting of In-Kind Support and Maintenance.” Social

Security Bulletin 68, 4 (2009): 1-25.

Balkus, Richard, L. Scott Muller, Mark Nadel, and Michael Wiseman. “The Challenge of Growth: Public

Disability Benefits in the United States.” In Sick Societies? Trends in Disability Benefits in Post-Industrial

Welfare States, edited by Peter A. Kemp, Annika Sunden, and Bernhard Bakker Tauritz. Geneva, Switzerland: International Social Security Association, 2006.

Barrilleaux, Charles and Ethan Bernick. “Deservingness, Discretion, and the State Politics of Welfare

Spending, 1990-96.” State Politics & Policy Quarterly 3, 1 (Spring 2003): 1-23.

Battaglia, Carol. “SSI and Medicaid Recipients Have a Responsibility to Report Changes that Can Affect

Benefits.” Exceptional Parent 37, 2 (February 2007): 47-48.

Beers, Nathaniel S., Alexa Kemeny, Lon Sherritt, and Judith S. Palfrey. “Variations in State-Level Definitions: Children with Special Health Care Needs.” Public Health Reports 118, 5 (September/October

2003): 434-447.

Benitez-Silva, Hugo, Moshe Buchinsky, and John Rust. How Large are the Classification Errors in the

Social Security Disability Award Process? National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper No.

10219, January 2004.

Berry, Hugh G. “Employment and Earnings Growth Among Transition-Age Supplemental Security

Income Program Participants.” Journal of Disability Policy Studies 21, 3 (December 2010): 152-159.

Bond, Gary R, Haiyi Xie, and Robert E. Drake. “Can SSDI and SSI Beneficiaries with Mental Illness Benefit from Evidence-Based Supported Employment?” Psychiatric Services 58, 11 (November 2007): 1412-

1420.

Bound, John, Julie Berry Cullen, Austin Nichols, and Lucie Schmidt. “The Welfare Implications of

Increasing Disability Insurance Benefit Generosity” Journal of Public Economics 88, 12 (December

2004): 2487-2514.

Brown, Michael Hayden. Geographic and Group Variation in Supplemental Security Income. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Kentucky, 2002.

Burkhauser, Richard V., Mary C. Daly. The Returns to Work for Children Leaving the SSI-Disabled Children Program. Financial Literacy Center Working Paper No. WR-802-SSA, A Joint Center of the RAND

Corporation, Dartmouth College and the Wharton School, October 2010.

________. “U.S. Disability Policy in a Changing Environment.” Journal of Economic Perspectives 16, 1

(2002): 213-224.

Burkhauser, Richard V., Mary C. Daly, and Philip R. de Jong. The Role of Disability Transfer Programs on

the Economic Well Being of Working-Age People with Disabilities. Michigan Retirement Research Center

Working Paper No. UM08-Q2, University of Michigan Retirement Research Center, October 2008.

________. Curing the Dutch Disease: Lessons for United States Disability Policy. Michigan Retirement

Research Center Working Paper No. 2008-188, University of Michigan Retirement Research Center, September 2008.
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Burkhauser, Richard V., Mary C. Daly, Jeff Larrimore, and Joyce Kwok. The Transformation of Who is

Expected to Work in the United States and How it Changed the Lives of Single Mothers and People with

Disabilities. Michigan Retirement Research Center Working Paper No. 2008-187, University of Michigan

Retirement Research Center, September 2008.

Butrica, Barbara A. and Gordon B.T. Mermin. Annuitized Wealth and Consumption at Older Ages. Center

for Retirement Research Working Paper No. 2006-26, Center for Retirement Research at Boston College,

December 2006. 

Campbell, Kevin, Jim Baumohl, and Sharon R. Hunt. “The Bottom Line: Employment and Barriers to

Work among Former SSI DA&A Beneficiaries.” Contemporary Drug Problems 30, 1-2 (Spring/Summer

2003): 195-240.

Chatterji, Pinka and Ellen Meara. Health and Labor Market Consequences of Eliminating Federal Disability Benefits for Substance Abusers. National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper No. 13407,

September 2007.

Clarke, George R.G. “The Effect of Medicaid on Cash Assistance to the Aged and Disabled Poor.” Public

Finance Review 31, 1 (January 2003): 3- 43.

Davies, Paul S. “SSI Eligibility and Participation Among the Oldest Old: Evidence from the AHEAD.”

Social Security Bulletin 64, 3 (2001/2002): 38-63.

Davies, Paul S. and Jeffrey Hemmeter. “Supplemental Security Income Recipients Affected by Hurricanes

Katrina and Rita: An Analysis of Two Years of Administrative Data,” Population and Environment – Special Issue on Demographic Dynamics and Natural Disasters: Learning from Katrina and Rita 31(1-3),

(2010): 87-120.

Davies, Paul S. and Kalman Rupp. “An Overview of the National Survey of SSI Children and Families

and Related Products.” Social Security Bulletin 66, 2 (2005/2006): 7-20.

Davies, Paul S. and Melissa M. Favreault. Interactions between Social Security Reform and the Supplemental Security Income for the Aged. Center for Retirement Research Working Paper No. 2004-02, Center

for Retirement Research at Boston College, February 2004.

Davies, Paul S. and Michael J. Greenwood. Welfare Reform and Immigrant Participation in the Supplemental Security Income Program. Michigan Retirement Research Center Working Paper No. 2004-087,

University of Michigan Retirement Research Center, September 2004.

Davies, Paul S., Kalman Rupp, and Alexander Strand. “The Potential of the SSI Program to Fight Poverty

among the Poorest Elderly.” Journal of Aging and Social Policy 16, 1 (2004): 21-42.

Davies, Paul S., Kalman Rupp and David Wittenburg. “A Life-Cycle Perspective on the Transition to

Adulthood Among Children Receiving Supplemental Security Income Payments.” Journal of Vocational

Rehabilitation. 30, 3 (2009): 133-151.

Davies, Paul S., Minh Huynh, Chad Newcomb, Paul O’Leary, Kalman Rupp, and Jim Sears. “Modeling

SSI Financial Eligibility and Simulating the Effect of Policy Options.” Social Security Bulletin 64, 2

(2001/2002): 16-45.
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DeCesaro, Anne and Jeffrey Hemmeter. “Unmet Health Care Needs and Medical Out-of-Pocket Expenses

of SSI Children.” Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation 30, 3 (2009): 177-199.

________. Characteristics of Noninstitutionalized DI and SSI Program Participants. Research and Statistics Note No. 2008-02. Washington, DC: Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics, Office of Retirement and Disability Policy, Social Security Administration, January 2008. 

Dobkin, Carlos and Steven L. Puller. “The Effects of Government Transfers on Monthly Cycles in Drug

Abuse, Hospitalization and Mortality.” Journal of Public Economics 91, 11-12 (December 2007): 2137-

2157.

Duggan, Mark G. and Melissa Schettini Kearney. “The Impact of Child SSI Enrollment on Household

Outcomes.” Journal of Policy Analysis and Management 26, 4 (Autumn 2007): 861-886.

________. The Impact of Child SSI Enrollment on Household Outcomes: Evidence from the Survey of

Income and Program Participation. National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper No. 11568,

August 2005.

Elder, Todd and Elizabeth Powers. A Longitudinal Analysis of Entries and Exits of the Low-Income

Elderly to and from the Supplemental Security Income Program. Michigan Retirement Research Center

Working Paper No. 2007-156, University of Michigan Retirement Research Center, October 2007.

________. “The Incredible Shrinking Program: Trends in SSI Participation of the Aged.” Research on

Aging 28, 3 (May 2006): 341-358.

________. Public Health Insurance and SSI Program Participation Among the Aged. Michigan Retirement Research Center Working Paper No. 2006-117, University of Michigan Retirement Research Center,

April 2006.

________. “The Effect of Falling SSI Generosity on SSI Participation Among the Aged Since the 1970s.”

Proceedings of the 98th Annual Conference on Taxation of the National Tax Association (2005): 400-406.

Favreault, Melissa M. and Douglas A. Wolf. Living Arrangements and Supplemental Security Income

Receipt Among the Aged. Center for Retirement Research Working Paper No. 2004-03, Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, February 2004.

Feldstein, Martin S. and Jeffrey B. Liebman eds. The Distributional Aspects of Social Security and Social

Security Reform. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2002.

Fernandes, Adrienne L., Scott Szymendera, and Emilie Stolzfus. Child Welfare: Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits for Children in Foster Care. Washington, DC: Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service Report No. RL33855, February 2009.

Fitzpatrick, Collen. “Report Highlights Impact of Welfare Reform on Addicted Population.” Alcoholism &

Drug Abuse Weekly 15, 31 (August 2003): 1-3.

Fraker, Thomas and Anu Rangarajan. “The Social Security Administration’s Youth Transition Demonstration Projects.” Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation 30, 3 (2009): 223-240.

Gerst, Kerstin. “Supplemental Security Income Among Older Immigrants From Central and South America: The Impact of Welfare Reform.” Journal of Aging and Social Policy. 21, 3 (2009): 297-317.
2011 SSI Annual Report

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Gibson, Nancy P. “SSI Rules Simplification Provides Helpful Changes.” The Exceptional Parent 35, 4

(April 2005): 64-65.

Gruber, Jonathan and Jeffrey Kubik. Health Insurance Coverage and the Disability Insurance Application

Decision. Center for Retirement Research Working Paper No. 2002-04, Center for Retirement Research at

Boston College, September 2002.

Guydish, Joseph, Claudia Ponath, Alan Bostrom, Kevin M. Campbell, and Nancy Barron. “Effects of Losing SSI Benefits on Standard Drug and Alcohol Outcomes Measures.” Contemporary Drug Problems 30,

1-2 (Spring/Summer 2003): 169-193.

Haider, Steven J., Alison Jacknowitz, and Robert F. Schoeni. The Economic Status of Elderly Divorced

Women. Michigan Retirement Research Center Working Paper No. 2003-046, University of Michigan

Retirement Research Center, May 2003.

Hanrahan, Patricia, Daniel J. Luchin, Lea Cloninger, and James Swartz. “Medicaid Eligibility of Former

Supplemental Security Income Recipients with Drug or Alcoholism Disability.” American Journal of Public Health 94, 1 (January 2004): 46-47.

Hemmeter, Jeffrey. “Health Related Unmet Needs of Supplemental Security Income Youth after the Age18 Redetermination.” Health Services Research (2011) DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-6773.2011.o1246x.

________. “Occupations of SSI Recipients Who Work.” Social Security Bulletin 69, 3 (2009): 47-75.

Hemmeter, Jeffrey, and Elaine Gilby. “The Age-18 Redetermination and Postredetermination Participation

in SSI.” Social Security Bulletin 69, 4 (2009): 1-25.

Hemmeter, Jeffrey, Jacqueline Kauff, and David Wittenburg. “Changing Circumstances: Experiences of

Child SSI Recipients Before and After their Age-18 Redetermination for Adult Benefits.” Journal of

Vocational Rehabilitation 30, 3 (2009): 201-221.

Herd, Pamela, Robert F. Schoeni, and James S. House. “Upstream Solutions: Does the Supplemental

Security Income Program Reduce Disability in the Elderly?” The Milbank Quarterly 86, 1 (March 2008):

5-45. 

Hill, Steven C. and Judith Wooldridge. “Informed Participation in TennCare by People with Disabilities.”

Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved 17, 4 (November 2006): 851-875.

________. “SSI Enrollees’ Health Care in TennCare.” Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved 14, 2 (May 2003): 229-243.

Hill, Steven C. and Judith Wooldridge. “Plan Characteristics and SSI Enrollees’ Access to and Quality of

Care in Four TennCare MCOs.” Health Services Research 37, 5 (2002): 1197-1220.

Hill, Steven C., Craig Thornton, Christopher Trenholm, and Judith Wooldridge. “Risk Selection Among

SSI Enrollees in TennCare.” Inquiry 39, 2 (Summer 2002): 152-167.

Hogan, Sean R., Richard Speiglman, and Jean C. Norris. “The Effects of Eliminating Supplemental Security Income Drug Addiction and Alcoholism Eligibility on the Mental Health of Low-Income Substance

Abusers.” Social Work in Public Health 25, 5 (2010): 438-453.
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Hogan, Sean R., George J. Unick, Richard Speiglman, and Jean C. Norris. “Social Welfare Policy and

Public Assistance for Low-Income Substance Abusers: The Impact of 1996 Welfare Reform Legislation

on the Economic Security of Former Supplemental Security Income Drug Addiction and Alcoholism Beneficiaries.” Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare 35, 1 (March 2008): 221-24.

Houston, Kyle, H. Bruce Lammers, and Shirley Svorny. “Perceptions of the Effect of Public Policy on

Employment Opportunities for Individuals Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.” Journal of Disability Policy Studies 21, 1 (June 2010): 9-21.

Hunt, Sharon R. and Jim Baumohl. “Now Invited to Testify: Former Beneficiaries Appraise the SSI Drug

Addiction and Alcoholism Program.” Contemporary Drug Problems 30, 1-2 (Spring/Summer 2003): 

169-193.

Huynh, Minh, Kalman Rupp, and James Sears. The Assessment of Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) Benefit Data Using Longitudinal Administrative Records. SIPP Working Paper No. 238.

Census Bureau, 2002.

Johnson, Richard W., Melissa M. Favreault and Corina Mommaerts. Work Ability and the Social Insurance

Safety Net in the Years Prior to Retirement. Center for Retirement Research Working Paper No. 2009-28,

Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, November 2009.

Karoly, Lynn A. and Paul S. Davies. Impact of the 1996 Childhood Disability Reforms: Evidence from

Matched SIPP-SSA Data. Michigan Retirement Research Center Working Paper No. 2004-079, University

of Michigan Retirement Research Center, June 2004.

Katz, Marsha R. Don’t Look for Logic: An Advocate’s Manual for Negotiating the SSI and SSDI Programs.

Missoula, MT: University of Montana Rural Institute, 2005.

Kaushal, Neeraj. Elderly Immigrants’ Labor Supply Response to Supplemental Security Income. Center

for Retirement Research Working Paper No. 2008-25, Center for Retirement Research at Boston College,

January 2009.

Kemp, Mary. “Recipients of Supplemental Security Income and the Student Earned Income Exclusion.”

Social Security Bulletin 70, 2(2010): 31-61.

Kingson, Eric R., Margaret Morse, and Gary Calhoun. The Evolution of Social Security Disabled

Widow(er)s Benefits. Center for Retirement Research Working Paper No. 2003-9, Center for Retirement

Research at Boston College, May 2003.

Koenig, Melissa and Kalman Rupp. “SSI Recipients in Households and Families with Multiple Recipients: Prevalence and Poverty Outcomes.” Social Security Bulletin 65, 2 (2003/2004): 14-27.

Kubik, Jeffrey D. “Fiscal Federalism and Welfare Policy: The Role of States in the Growth of Child SSI.”

National Tax Journal 56, 1 (March 2003): 61-79.

Leonesio, Michael V., Denton R. Vaughan, and Bernard Wixon. Increasing the Early Retirement Age

Under Social Security: Health, Work, and Financial Resources. Health and Income Security No. 7. Washington, DC: National Academy of Social Insurance, December 2003.
2011 SSI Annual Report

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Levy, Helen. Income, Material Hardship, and the Use of Public Programs among the Elderly. Michigan

Retirement Research Center Working Paper No. 2009-208, University of Michigan Retirement Research

Center, September 2009.

Lewin Group. Evaluation Design for the Ticket to Work Program: Preliminary Process Evaluation. Report

prepared for the Social Security Administration. March 2003.

________. Evaluation Design for the Ticket to Work Program: Preliminary Report on Evaluation Design.

Report prepared for the Social Security Administration. June 2002.

Liu, Su and David C. Stapleton. “Longitudinal Statistics on Work Activity and Use of Employment Supports for New Social Security Disability Insurance Beneficiaries.” Social Security Bulletin 71, 3 (2011):

forthcoming.

Livermore, Gina A. “Social Security Disability Beneficiaries with Work-Related Goals and Expectations.”

Social Security Bulletin 71, 3 (2011): forthcoming.

Livermore, Gina, Allison Roche, and Sarah Prenovitz. “Longitudinal Experiences of an Early Cohort of

Ticket to Work Participants.” Evaluation of the Ticket to Work Program, Report 5: Work Activity and Use

of Employment Supports Under the Original Ticket to Work Regulations Washington, DC: Mathematica

Policy Research, 2011. Washington, DC: Mathematica Policy Research, 2011.

________. “SSI and DI Beneficiaries with Work-Related Goals and Expectations.” Evaluation of the

Ticket to Work Program, Report 5: Work Activity and Use of Employment Supports Under the Original

Ticket to Work Regulations Washington, DC: Mathematica Policy Research, 2011.

________. “Longitudinal Experiences of an Early Cohort of Ticket to Work Participants.” Work Activity

and Use of Employment Supports Under the Original Ticket to Work Regulations Report No. 10. Washington, DC: Mathematica Policy Research, 2010.

________. “SSI and DI Beneficiaries with Work-Related Goals and Expectations.” Work Activity and Use

of Employment Supports Under the Original Ticket to Work Regulations Report No. 5. Washington, DC:

Mathematica Policy Research, 2009.

Livermore, Gina A. and Allison Roche. “Longitudinal Outcomes of an Early Cohort of Ticket to Work

Participants.” Social Security Bulletin 71, 3 (2011): forthcoming.

Livermore, Gina, and David Stapleton. “Highlights of the Fifth Ticket to Work Evaluation Report.” Evaluation of the Ticket to Work Program, Report 5: Work Activity and Use of Employment Supports Under the

Original Ticket to Work Regulations. Washington, DC: Mathematica Policy Research, 2011.

Livermore, Gina, and Sarah Prenovitz. “Benefits Planning, Assistance, and Outreach (BPAO) Service

User Characteristics and Use of Work Incentives.” Evaluation of the Ticket to Work Program, Report 5:

Work Activity and Use of Employment Supports Under the Original Ticket to Work Regulations Washington, DC: Mathematica Policy Research, 2011.

________. “Benefits Planning, Assistance, and Outreach (BPAO) Service User Characteristics and Use of

Work Incentives.” Work Activity and Use of Employment Supports Under the Original Ticket to Work

Regulations Report No. 6. Washington, DC: Mathematica Policy Research, 2010.
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Livermore, Gina and Silvie Colman, “Use of One Stops by Social Security Disability Beneficiaries in Four

States Implementing Disability Program Navigator Initiatives.” Washington, DC: Mathematica Policy

Research, 2010.

Livermore, Gina A., David C. Stapleton, and Henry Claypool. “Health Care When Workers Need It Most:

Before and After Entry into the Social Security Disability Insurance Program.” Inquiry, vol. 47, no. 2,

summer 2010. Document No. PP10-95, 15 Pages.

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H. GLOSSARY

Administrative Expenses (or Costs). Expenses incurred by the Social Security Administration (SSA) in

administering the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. Such administrative expenses are initially

paid from the OASI and DI Trust Funds as provided for in section 201(g)(1) of the Social Security Act.

The trust funds are subsequently reimbursed for such expenditures, including any interest lost, from the

General Fund of the Treasury.

Affidavit of Support. A contract under which a United States citizen or legal resident agrees to provide

support to maintain (i.e., to sponsor) an immigrant as a condition of the immigrant’s admission into the

United States.

Aged. Individuals aged 65 or older.

Aid—Old-Age Assistance (OAA), Aid to the Blind (AB), and Aid to the Permanently and Totally

Disabled (APTD). The former Federal-State programs of adult cash assistance under titles I, X, and XVI

respectively, that were replaced in the 50 States and the District of Columbia by the SSI program in 1974.

These programs still operate in Guam, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico and are administered at the Federal level by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Alien Lawfully Admitted for Permanent Residence. A noncitizen lawfully accorded the privilege of

residing permanently in the United States. Such individuals may be issued immigrant visas overseas by the

Department of State, or adjusted to permanent resident status while living in the United States by the U.S.

Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Appeal Rights Process. Includes administrative appeals and judicial review. The administrative review

process followed by SSA in determining an individual’s rights under the Social Security Act consists of

several steps: reconsideration, hearings, and Appeals Council review. Individuals dissatisfied with the outcome of the administrative review process may request judicial review by filing a complaint in the U.S.

District Court. Each step in the process must be requested within certain time periods after an unfavorable

determination. SSA introduced a modification of this process in 10 States for disability applications filed

October 1, 1999 and later. Under this revised process appeals of initial disability denials are made directly

to the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR), thereby eliminating the reconsideration

step. The options for appeal beyond the ODAR level are unchanged. 

Assistance Based on Need. Assistance that is provided by certain programs which use income as a factor

of eligibility. The assistance must be funded wholly by a State, a political subdivision of a State, or a combination of such jurisdictions.

Assumptions. Values relating to future trends in certain key factors which affect the eligibility for SSI

benefits and the level of such SSI payments. Demographic assumptions include fertility, mortality, net

immigration, marriage, and divorce. Economic assumptions include unemployment rates, average earnings, inflation, interest rates, and productivity. Program-specific assumptions include rates of application

for and new receipt of various SSI benefits and rates of termination of SSI benefits. The assumptions

underlying the projections presented in this report are consistent with the intermediate assumptions of the

2011 OASDI Trustees Report.

Asylee. A noncitizen already in the United States or at a port-of-entry who is granted asylum in the

United States. Asylum may be granted to an individual who is unable or unwilling to return to his/her

country of nationality, or to seek the protection of that country, because of persecution (or a well-founded

fear of persecution) based on the noncitizen’s race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social

group or political opinion.
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Attendant Care Services. Services (including personal care assistance) that are paid for from Federal,

State or local funds and which are provided by a paid attendant required to assist with work related and/or

personal functions. 

Automatic Cost-of-Living Increase. The annual increase in SSI Federal benefit rates, effective for January of the current year, reflecting the change in the cost of living. In general, the benefit increase equals the

percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)

measured from the third quarter of the previous year to the third quarter of the current year. If there is no

increase in the CPI-W, there is no cost-of-living benefit increase.

Award. An administrative determination that an individual is eligible for an SSI benefit.

Blind. For purposes of the SSI program, an individual is considered to be blind if he/she has 20/200 or

less vision in the better eye with the use of a correcting lens, has tunnel vision of 20 degrees or less, or met

the October 1972 State definition of blindness and received benefits under the State’s former program of

Aid to the Blind in December 1973.

Blind Work Expenses (BWE). Any expenses incurred by a blind individual that are reasonably attributable to earning income. The BWE provision permits the exclusion of these expenses from the earned

income of a blind individual. (See “Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE)” for the related exclusions

for disabled individuals.)

Burial Funds. A comprehensive term that for SSI purposes includes revocable burial contracts, trusts and

other burial arrangements (including amounts paid on installment sales contracts for burial spaces), cash,

accounts, or other financial instruments with a definite cash value clearly designated for the individual’s

burial expenses.

Child. A blind or disabled individual who is neither married nor the head of household and who is: (1)

under age 18; or (2) under the age of 22 and a student regularly attending a school, college or university, or

a course of vocational or technical training designed to prepare him/her for gainful employment. A child

18 or older is subject to the adult definition of disability and is not subject to parental deeming. 

Comparable Severity. The phrase in the Social Security Act that defined disability for children prior to

the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-193).

Under prior law, an individual under age 18 would have been considered disabled if he/she had an impairment of comparable severity to that required for individuals 18 or older.

Constant Dollars. Dollar amounts adjusted by the CPI to the value of the dollar in a particular year.

Consumer Price Index (CPI). An official measure of inflation in consumer prices. In this report, all references to the CPI relate to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers

(CPI-W). Historical values for the CPI-W are published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of

Labor.

Continuing Disability Review (CDR). An evaluation of an individual’s impairment(s) to determine

whether the person is still disabled within the meaning of the law for purposes of eligibility for SSI and

OASDI benefits.

Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). See “Automatic Cost-of-Living Increase.”

Countable Income. An individual’s income less all applicable exclusions. This amount is used to determine SSI eligibility and benefit amount.

Countable Resources. The amount of resources after all exclusions. This amount is used in determining

an individual’s or couple’s SSI eligibility. A resource may be cash or other liquid assets or any real or per-
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sonal property that an individual (or his/her spouse) owns and could convert to cash to be used for support

and maintenance. SSI law stipulates what items are to be excluded from resources. 

Current Dollars. Amounts expressed in nominal dollars with no adjustment for inflationary changes in

the value of the dollar over time.

Current-Payment Status. Status of an SSI recipient to whom a benefit is being paid for a given month.

SSI benefits for a month are usually payable on the first day of that month.

Dedicated Account. An account in a financial institution established for a disabled or blind child to contain retroactive SSI payments that exceed six times the Federal benefit rate (FBR) plus State supplementation (certain smaller retroactive payments may be placed in the account once it is established).

Representative payees may only use dedicated account funds for the following allowable expenses: 

 • Education or job skills training;

 • Personal needs assistance;

 • Special equipment or housing modifications;

 • Medical treatment;

 • Therapy or rehabilitation; or

 • Other items or services that the Commissioner deems appropriate—

provided that the expense benefits the child and, in the case of the last five items, is related to the child’s

impairment. Money from a dedicated account which is knowingly misapplied must be repaid. These

accounts are excluded from resources and the interest earned is excluded from income.

Deeming. The process by which the income and resources of an ineligible individual are considered to be

available to a recipient when determining eligibility or payment amount. Deeming applies only between:

 • The living-with ineligible spouse and the eligible spouse;

 • The living-with ineligible parent(s) and eligible child(ren) under age 18; and

 • The immigration sponsors of some noncitizens and the noncitizen(s).

Demographic Assumptions. See “Assumptions.”

Disability. For individuals aged 18 or older, the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity

(SGA) by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to

result in death or that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months.

An individual under age 18 must have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment, which

results in marked and severe functional limitations and that can be expected to result in death or that has

lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months. 

Disability Determination Services (DDS). Federally funded State agencies that make disability determinations for SSA.

Disaster Assistance. Assistance from Federal programs and agencies, joint Federal and State programs,

State or local government programs, and private organizations (e.g., the Red Cross) provided to victims of

a Presidentially declared disaster.
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Disposal of Resources for Less Than Fair Market Value. Transferring resources, either liquid, real, or

personal property, for less than the resources are worth.

Earned Income. For SSI purposes, wages, net earnings from self-employment, remuneration for work in

a sheltered workshop, royalties on published work, and honoraria for services rendered are considered

earned income. The distinction between earned and unearned income is significant because more liberal

exclusions are applied to earned income.

Earned Income Exclusion. The first $65 of a recipient’s monthly earnings and one-half of the earnings

in excess of $65 are excluded in computing the SSI benefit payable.

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). A special tax credit that reduces the Federal tax liability of certain

low-income working taxpayers. This tax credit may or may not result in a payment to the taxpayer.

Economic Assumptions. See “Assumptions.”

Effective Date of Application. An application for SSI benefits is effective on the first day of the month

following the date on which the application is filed, or on which the individual first becomes eligible,

whichever is later. 

Eligible Couple. Two persons married and living together in the same household or living together as

married, both being aged, blind, or disabled and meeting all qualifications, including filing an application

for SSI.

Eligible Individual. An aged, blind or disabled person who meets all the requirements for eligibility

under the SSI program, including filing an application.

Emergency Advance Payments (EAP). Special SSI payments that are available only at the time of initial application for eligible individuals who face financial emergencies and need assistance before their

first benefits would otherwise be received. The amount of the EAP an individual receives is recovered

from subsequent benefit payments.

Essential Person. An individual whose presence in the home of an SSI recipient who was transferred

from a State assistance program to SSI in January 1974 results in an increase in the FBR of the SSI recipient. The essential person must have been: (1) living in the household of the SSI recipient in December

1973 and continuously thereafter; (2) never eligible for SSI; (3) not eligible for State assistance in December 1973; and (4) taken into account when the SSI recipient’s need for State assistance was determined in

December 1973.

Federal Benefit Rate (FBR). The basic standard used in computing the amount of Federal SSI benefits

for individuals and couples. The FBRs are increased annually to reflect increases in the cost of living. (See

table IV.A2.)

Fiscal Year (FY). The accounting year of the United States Government. Since 1976, a fiscal year is the

12-month period ending September 30. For example, fiscal year 2011 began October 1, 2010 and will end

September 30, 2011.

Food Stamps. See “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).”

General Fund of the Treasury. Funds held by the Treasury of the United States, other than receipts collected for a specific purpose (such as Social Security) and maintained in a separate account for that purpose.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The total dollar value of all goods and services produced by labor and

property located in the United States, regardless of who supplies the labor or property. 

Holding-Out Marriage. A situation in which a man and woman who are not legally married to each

other are living together in the same household and holding out to the community that they are husband
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and wife and, as such, are treated as a couple for purposes of determining eligibility and payment amount

under SSI.

Home Energy Assistance. A Federal Government block grant program that provides funds to States for

energy assistance (including weatherization) to low-income households. This assistance may be provided

by a variety of agencies (e.g., State or local welfare offices, community action agencies, special energy

offices, etc.) and may be known by a variety of names (e.g., Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Project Safe, etc.).

Household. A group of two or more individuals who use a single dwelling unit as primary quarters for

living and eating separate from other individuals’ living units.

Household of Another. An individual is considered to be living in the household of another when the

individual lives with others, does not own or rent the shelter, and does not pay a pro rata share of the

household’s food and shelter expenses. An individual who provides all of his/her own food, or lives in a

public assistance household or in noninstitutional care, is not considered to be living in the household of

another. An individual who is determined to be living in the household of another is considered to be

receiving in-kind support and maintenance from that household, and his/her SSI benefit is reduced by onethird of the FBR. 

Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE). The provision that permits the exclusion from earnings

of the costs of items and services which are needed in order for a disabled individual to work, which are

paid for by the individual, and which are necessarily incurred by that individual because of a physical or

mental impairment. These IRWEs are excluded from earnings when determining substantial gainful activity (SGA) or computing eligibility and ongoing SSI monthly payments. (See “Blind Work Expenses

(BWE)” for the related exclusions for blind individuals.)

Income. See—“Earned Income,” “In-Kind Income” and “Unearned Income.”

Individual Development Account (IDA). A savings account which low-income individuals, including

SSI recipients, may establish in order to save for purchasing a first home, meeting the costs of post-secondary education, or capitalizing a business. An individual’s deposits into an IDA are matched by a sponsoring nonprofit organization, or State or local government participating in the program.

Ineligible Spouse. The husband or wife of an eligible individual who is not eligible for SSI benefits.

Inflation. An increase in the volume of money and credit relative to available goods, resulting in an

increase in the general price level.

Infrequent or Irregular Income. Income that is received either infrequently or irregularly that can be

excluded from the determination of an individual’s income. “Infrequent” means that it is not received

more than once in a calendar quarter from a single source and is not also received in the month immediately preceding or the month immediately following the month of receipt, regardless of whether or not

these payments occur in different calendar quarters.1 “Irregular” means that an individual could not reasonably expect to receive the income. In any given quarter up to $30 of earned and $60 of unearned infrequent or irregular income is excluded.

Initial Determination. A determination SSA makes about an individual’s eligibility for benefits or about

any other matter that gives that person a right to further administrative and/or judicial review.

In-Kind Income. Income that is not cash, but is food or shelter or something an individual can use to

obtain food or shelter.

1 The definition of infrequent income was modified in final rules published on August 9, 2006 (71 FR 45375). Previously, infrequent income was defined

as income not received more than once a quarter from a single source.
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In-Kind Support and Maintenance (ISM). Unearned income in the form of food or shelter.

Interim Assistance Reimbursement (IAR). The process used for reimbursing for basic assistance provided by a State to an individual either while the individual’s application for SSI was pending or during

the period in which an individual’s SSI benefits were suspended. SSA may reimburse a State that has provided this assistance. The individual’s retroactive SSI payment is sent to the State as reimbursement if: (1)

the State has an agreement with SSA to participate in IAR, (2) the individual has given SSA written authorization to have his/her retroactive payment sent to the State as reimbursement, and (3) the individual is

found eligible for SSI benefits or has had his/her benefits reinstated for the same period of suspense. 

Under IAR, after States reimburse themselves from an individual’s retroactive benefit, they must forward

any remainder to the individual within 10 days.

Living With. A required condition for parent-to-child and spouse-to-spouse deeming. Deeming of

income and resources occurs if an eligible child lives with his/her ineligible parent(s) or an eligible individual lives with his/her ineligible spouse. 

Maintenance-of-Effort. See “Passalong.”

Mandatory State Supplementation. See “State Supplementation.”

Means-Testing. The measuring of income and resources against specified amounts as eligibility factors

for certain assistance benefits. SSI is a means-tested benefit program.

Medicaid. The program authorized under title XIX of the Social Security Act, which provides medical

assistance to certain low-income individuals and families and certain disabled and medically needy individuals. Medicaid is administered by the States with support from the Federal Government in the form of

matching grants. The Federal Government provides guidelines to the States for formulating their programs. Because these guidelines afford great leeway, Medicaid programs vary widely among the States.

Medicaid Facility. A medical treatment facility such as a hospital, extended care facility, nursing home,

or intermediate care facility, where Medicaid pays more than 50 percent of the cost of a person’s care.

Medical Treatment Facility. An institution or that part of an institution that is licensed or otherwise

approved by a Federal, State, or local government to provide inpatient medical care and services.

Medicare. A nationwide, Federally-administered health insurance program authorized in 1965 to cover

the cost of hospitalization, medical care, and some related services for most people age 65 and over. In

1972, coverage was extended to people receiving Social Security Disability Insurance payments for 2

years and people with End-Stage Renal Disease. In 2010, people exposed to environmental health hazards

within areas under a corresponding emergency declaration became Medicare-eligible. Traditional Medicare consists of two separate but coordinated programs—Hospital Insurance (HI, also known as Part A)

and Supplementary Medical Insurance (SMI, also known as Part B). Part A helps pay for inpatient hospital

care, inpatient skilled nursing care, and hospice care. Part B helps pay for doctors’ services and other medical expenses, and supplies not covered by Part A. In 2006, prescription drug coverage (also known as Part

D) was added. Almost all persons who are aged 65 and over or disabled and who are entitled to Part A are

eligible to enroll in Part B and Part D on a voluntary basis by paying monthly premiums. Health insurance

protection is available to Medicare beneficiaries without regard to income.

New Recipient. An SSI recipient in the first month of SSI payment receipt.

Noncitizen. An individual who is not a United States citizen. Also referred to in welfare and immigration

law as an alien. (See “Alien Lawfully Admitted for Permanent Residence,” “Asylee,” “Parolee” and “Refugee.”)

Nonqualified Alien. A noncitizen who is not in a qualified alien category for SSI eligibility purposes. 
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2011 SSI Annual Report

OASDI. The Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance programs established under title II of the

Social Security Act.

One-Third Reduction. The reduction of an individual’s SSI payment that occurs when an individual is

living in the household of another. Instead of determining the actual dollar value of in-kind support and

maintenance, one-third of the Federal benefit rate is counted as additional income to an individual living in

another person’s household for a full calendar month and receiving both food and shelter from the household.

Optional State Supplementation. See “State Supplementation.”

Overpayment. The payment of more than the amount due for any period, including any amounts of

Federally-administered State supplementary payments.

Parent. For SSI purposes, the natural mother or father of the child, or the person who legally adopted the

child, or the stepparent who lives in the same household as the child.

Parolee. A noncitizen who appears to be inadmissible to the inspecting USCIS officer but is allowed to

enter the United States under emergency humanitarian conditions or when the noncitizen’s entry is determined to be in the public interest. Parole does not constitute a formal admission to the United States and

confers temporary admission status only, requiring parolees to leave when the conditions supporting their

parole cease to exist.

Passalong. A requirement that States must meet in order to be eligible for Medicaid reimbursement. Any

State making supplementary payments (see “State Supplementation”) after June 30, 1977, must continue

making such payments and must pass along any cost-of-living increase to the Federal benefit rate. Two

methods are available to ensure that cost-of-living increases are passed on to the recipients.

 • Payment Levels Method—States may not lower their supplementary payment for any of the living

arrangement categories below their adjusted March 1983 levels. The adjusted level is the State’s

March 1983 payment level minus that portion of the July 1983 increase in the Federal benefit rate that

was not attributable to the increase in the cost of living (i.e., $10.30 per individual and $15.40 per

couple).

 • Total Expenditures Method—State expenditures for supplementary payments in the current calendar

year must at least equal expenditures in the preceding calendar year. If expenditures are less in the

current year (shortfall), the State must increase expenditures in the next calendar year by an amount at

least equal to the shortfall.

Past-Due Benefits. The total amount of SSI payments accumulated because of a favorable administrative

or judicial determination, up to but not including the month the determination is made, and excluding any

corresponding windfall offset amounts.

Personal Needs Allowance. The amount allowed for an institutionalized recipient’s personal needs (currently $30). If an SSI recipient is in a Medicaid facility, the law requires that the SSI benefit be used only

for the recipient’s personal needs (i.e., that the institution cannot retain the benefit in repayment of the cost

of the individual’s care).

Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS). A plan that permits a disabled or blind SSI recipient to set aside

income (earned and/or unearned) and/or resources for a work goal. The income and resources set aside

under a PASS are used to pay for goods or services needed to reach that goal, such as education, vocational training, starting a business, or purchasing work-related equipment. Income and resources set aside

under a PASS are excluded from SSI income and resources. SSA must approve an individual’s PASS.
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Presumptive Disability or Blindness. A finding that SSI payments may be made before SSA makes a

formal determination as to whether or not the individual is disabled or blind. The individual’s impairment

must be apparent and meet specified criteria. In addition, the individual must meet all other requirements

for eligibility. These payments may be made for no more than 6 months. The presumptive payments will

not be considered overpayments if SSA later finds that the individual is not blind or disabled.

Property Essential to Self-Support (PESS). The real and personal property used in a trade or business,

nonbusiness income-producing property and property used to produce goods or services essential to the

individual’s daily activities. PESS may be excluded from resources under certain conditions.

Proration of Benefits. The method of computing benefit amounts in months in which the individual reacquires eligibility after a month or more of ineligibility. In such months, an individual’s SSI benefit will be

paid according to the number of days in the month that he/she is eligible, beginning with the first day in

the month on which all eligibility requirements are met. In order to determine the benefit payable in a prorated month SSA counts the number of days an individual is eligible in the month. The amount of the individual’s regular monthly payment is multiplied by the number of days for which he/she is eligible for

benefits. That figure is divided by the number of days in the month for which the benefit is being determined. The resulting amount is the amount due for the prorated month. Effective with claims filed August

22, 1996, proration for months of initial eligibility was eliminated.

Public Educational Institution. An institution that is operated by or controlled by the Federal Government, a State, or a political subdivision of a State such as a city or county for the primary purpose of providing educational or vocational training. 

Public Emergency Shelter for the Homeless. A shelter for individuals whose homelessness poses a

threat to their life or health.

Public Institution. An institution that is operated by or controlled by the Federal Government, a State, or

a political subdivision of a State such as a city or county. 

Publicly Operated Community Residence. A facility that provides food and shelter and some other service such as social services, help with personal living activities, training in socialization and life skills, or

occasional or incidental medical or remedial care. In order to be publicly operated it must be operated or

controlled by the Federal Government, a State, or a political subdivision of a State such as a city or county.

The facility must serve no more than 16 residents and must be located in a community setting.

Qualified Alien. An individual who is:

 • Lawfully admitted for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA);

 • A refugee under section 207 of the INA;

 • An asylee under section 208 of the INA;

 • A person whose deportation is withheld under section 243(h) of the INA as in effect prior to April 1,

1997, or whose removal has been withheld under section 241(b)(3) of the INA;

 • A parolee under section 212(d)(5) of the INA for at least 1 year;

 • A person granted conditional entry under section 203(a)(7) of the INA as in effect prior to

April 1, 1980;

 • A Cuban or Haitian entrant as defined by Federal statute, including Section 501(e) of the Refugee

Education Assistance Act of 1980;
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 — Former parolees and other aliens who became permanent residents under the Cuban Adjustment

Act of 1966;

 — Aliens who became permanent residents under the provisions of the Immigration Reform and

Control Act (IRCA) of 1986;

 — Aliens who became permanent residents under the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act;

or

 — Aliens who became permanent residents under the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act.

 • A certain alien, or an alien parent of a child, or an alien child of a parent who:

 — Has been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty in the United States by a spouse, parent, or certain other family members the alien, parent and/or child lived with;

 — Is not living in the same household with the abusive individual;

 — Has been determined to need SSI because of this abuse; and

 — Has a determination from the USCIS for a certain change in status.

Qualifying Quarter of Earnings. Credit for a requisite amount of earnings assigned to a calendar quarter

for the purpose of determining the SSI eligibility of a lawfully admitted permanent resident.

Quarter of Coverage. The crediting of coverage needed for insured status under the Social Security program. In 2011, a worker receives one quarter of coverage (up to four a year) for each $1,120 of annual

earnings reported from employment or self-employment. The amount of earnings required for a quarter of

coverage is subject to annual automatic increases in proportion to increases in average wages.

Recipient. A person who is receiving SSI payments based on an evaluation of his/her own countable

income and resources, age, and disability status.

Reconsideration. The first step in the administrative review process if an individual is dissatisfied with

SSA’s initial determination.

Redetermination. A periodic review of eligibility for SSI recipients to ensure that requirements for eligibility continue to be met and that payment levels are in the proper amount. Income, resources, living

arrangements and other factors are reviewed. The redetermination process does not review the determination of disability. 

Refugee. A noncitizen outside of his/her country of nationality who is unable or unwilling to return to his/

her country of nationality or to seek the protection of that country because of persecution (or a wellfounded fear of persecution) based on the noncitizen’s race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion. Unlike asylees, refugees apply for and receive this status prior to

entry into the United States.

Relocation Assistance. A type of assistance provided to persons displaced by projects that acquire real

property. Examples of types of reimbursement, allowances, and help provided are:

 • Moving expenses;

 • Reimbursement for losses of tangible property;

 • Displacement allowances;
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 • Amounts required to replace a dwelling which exceed the agency’s acquisition cost for the prior

dwelling;

 • Rental expenses for displaced tenants;

 • Amounts for down payments on replacement housing for tenants who decide to buy;

 • Mortgage insurance through Federal programs with waiver of requirements that borrowers must usually meet; and

 • Replacement housing.

Representative Payee. A person who receives SSI payments on behalf of an SSI recipient. SSA will pay

benefits to a representative payee on behalf of an individual 18 years old or older when it appears that such

method of payment will be in the interest of the individual. A representative payee will be appointed if the

individual is legally incompetent or mentally or physically incapable of managing or directing the management of his/her benefits. Also, in general, if the individual is under the age of 18, a representative

payee will be appointed. The law and regulations generally require that a beneficiary under age 15 have a

representative payee.

Resident of a Public Institution. An individual who can receive substantially all of his/her food and

shelter while living in a public institution is considered a resident of the public institution. Generally, an

individual who is a resident of a public institution throughout a month is ineligible for SSI.

Resident of the United States. A person who has established an actual dwelling place within the geographical limits of the United States with the intent to continue to live in the United States. (See “United

States.”)

Resource. The cash or other liquid assets or any real or personal property of an individual (or his/her

spouse, if any) that he/she could use or could convert to cash to be used for his/her support and maintenance.

Retroactive Payments. The SSI payments made in a month later than the month or months in which they

were due.

Retrospective Monthly Accounting (RMA). The calculation method used in the SSI program to determine an individual’s eligibility for each month. RMA has two parts: an eligibility determination and a payment computation. If the individual is ineligible based on the current month’s factors (including the

current month’s countable income), no payment is due and none is paid. If the individual is eligible based

on the current month’s factors, payment is computed. The benefit for a month is generally based on the

countable income from the second month before the current month. The basic formula is to subtract the

countable income from 2 months previous from the current month’s Federal benefit rate. However, at the

start of a period of eligibility or re-eligibility, the amount of benefits for the first and second months are

both determined using the income received in the first month.

Section 1619(a) Status. The special SSI cash benefits provided to disabled individuals who lose eligibility for SSI benefits under the regular rules because they have earnings at the level that is ordinarily considered to represent substantial gainful activity.

Section 1619(b) Status. The special SSI recipient status for Medicaid purposes provided to working disabled or blind individuals when their earnings make them ineligible for regular or special cash payments.

SNAP. See “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).”

Social Security Area Population. The population comprised of (i) residents of the 50 States and the District of Columbia (adjusted for net census undercount); (ii) civilian residents of Puerto Rico, the Virgin
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2011 SSI Annual Report

Islands, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands; (iii) Federal civilian employees and

persons in the Armed Forces abroad and their dependents; (iv) crew members of merchant vessels; and (v)

all other U.S. citizens abroad.

Sponsor. An individual who has signed an affidavit of support for a noncitizen entering the country.

State Supplementation. The payments made by a State or one of its political subdivisions to aged, blind,

or disabled individuals.

 • Administration—The governmental unit responsible for administering State supplementary payments

may be either a State or local agency or SSA. Under State administration, the State must absorb both

program benefits and administrative costs. Under Federal administration, the State is responsible for

the program benefits and, for 2011, pays a $10.56 administrative fee for each benefit paid.

 • Mandatory Supplementation—The supplementary payments that are made only to beneficiaries who

were converted to the SSI program from former State assistance programs at the inception of the SSI

program. Mandatory minimum State supplementary payments are required to maintain the December

1972 payment levels that these beneficiaries received under the former State assistance programs.

States are required to provide the supplementation to maintain their Federal matching funds for Medicaid.

 • Optional Supplementation—The payments made by States to help persons meet needs not fully covered by Federal SSI benefits. The State determines whether it will make a payment, to whom, and in

what amount. These supplements, paid on a regular basis, are intended to cover such items as food,

shelter, clothing, utilities, and other daily necessities. Some States provide optional supplementary

payments to all persons eligible for SSI benefits, while others may limit them to certain SSI recipients

such as the blind or residents of domiciliary-care facilities, or they may extend payments to persons

ineligible for SSI because of SSI income.

Statutory Blindness. See “Blind.”

Student. An individual who is regularly attending a school, college or university, or a course of vocational or technical training designed to prepare him/her for gainful employment.

Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE). An earned income exclusion for a student under age 22 with

certain limitations established by regulations. For 2011, up to $1,640 earned income in a month, but no

more than $6,600 per year, may be excluded.

Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). The level of work activity used to establish disability. A finding of

disability requires that a person be unable to engage in SGA. For 2011, a person who is not statutorily

blind and is earning more than $1,000 a month (net of impairment-related work expenses) is ordinarily

considered to be engaging in substantial gainful activity.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA),

under cooperative Federal-State agreements, issues Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

benefits in the form of paper food coupons (commonly known as food stamps) and through electronic benefit transfer, to provide nutrition for low-income families. Food stamps can be used only to buy food at

stores authorized by USDA to accept them. Prior to October 1, 2008, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program was known as the Federal Food Stamp Program.

Supplemental Security Record (SSR). The computerized database maintained by SSA and containing

identifying information, income, resources and other eligibility factors, for all SSI recipients. The SSR

includes the history of SSI payments made to an individual.

Suspension. An ineligibility status which causes the nonpayment of benefits for a period of anywhere

from 1 to 12 months for any of a number of reasons such as income or resources over allowable levels,
2011 SSI Annual Report

144

absence from the United States, residence in a public institution, etc. Benefits can resume without reapplication, when all requirements for entitlement are again met. Suspense that lasts more than 12 months (24

months for individuals who were made ineligible because of their spouses or parent being called to active

military duty) results in a termination of the SSI record. (Once a record is terminated, reapplication is necessary.)

TANF. See “Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).”

Temporary Absence. An individual’s physical move from his/her permanent place of residence that does

not constitute a change in living arrangement. In general, a temporary absence is an absence from a permanent residence which is not intended to, and does not, exceed a full calendar month. 

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). The State grant program of assistance for needy

families established by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996

(Public Law 104-193). TANF replaced the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program.

Termination. For an individual, cessation of benefits, which can occur for a number of reasons, including

death, medical improvement, or a period of suspension lasting longer than 12 months. 

Terminations. As used in section IV, the net reduction (after accounting for new entrants) in the number

of SSI recipients in current-payment status during a period. 

Ticket to Work Program. The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 established a voluntary Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency program (Ticket to Work program) under which a

blind or disabled beneficiary may obtain vocational rehabilitation (VR), employment and other support

services from a qualified private or public provider referred to as an “employment network,” or from a

State VR agency. 

Trusts. A legal arrangement involving property and ownership interests. Generally, property held in a

trust will be considered a resource for SSI purposes if the assets of the trust could be used for the benefit of

the individual or spouse. 

Unearned Income. The income that is not earned income. Unearned income may be in cash or in-kind.

Some examples of unearned income are:

 • Annuities, pensions, and other periodic payments;

 • Retirement and disability benefits;

 • Veterans’, workers’ and unemployment compensation;

 • Alimony and support payments;

 • Dividends, interest and certain royalties; and

 • Rents. 

United States. For purposes of the SSI program, the United States consists of the 50 States, District of

Columbia and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR). The process of restoring individuals with disabilities to full capabilities.

VR services are designed to provide an individual with the training or other services that are needed to

return to work, begin working or to enter a new line of work.

Windfall Offset. A provision to prevent a person from receiving monthly SSI and OASDI benefits in

excess of the total amount which would have been paid if the OASDI benefits had been paid when they

were due rather than retroactively. 
145

2011 SSI Annual Report

Work Incentives. Provisions in the SSI program that are intended to act as incentives for disabled or

blind individuals to work. Examples of work incentives under the SSI program are:

 • Earned income exclusions;

 • Impairment related work expenses;

 • Blind work expenses;

 • PASS;

 • Section 1619 benefits; and

 • Ticket to Work program.

1 

SOCIAL SECURITY ADVISORY BOARD 

STATEMENT ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL 

SECURITY INCOME PROGRAM 

Public Law 104-193 requires that members of the Social Security Advisory Board be given an 

opportunity, either individually or jointly, to include their views in the Social Security 

Administration’s annual report to the President and Congress on the Supplemental Security 

Income (SSI) program. We have asked the Social Security Administration to include in this 

year’s annual report the following statement of our views on the resource limit in the SSI 

program.1

SSI is a federal public assistance program for low-income people who are age 65 or older, blind, 

or disabled. The program provides assistance based on need, and it defines need in terms of 

income and resources. The definition of need draws a line that combined with age, blindness or 

disability, determines who is and who is not eligible for income assistance from the SSI program. 

Where that line should be drawn is a public policy question that must be answered by the 

American people’s representatives in Congress. The answer to that policy question, however, 

should be based to the extent possible on an empirical base. In this issue brief, we will provide a 

brief overview of the SSI resource limit, and consider the empirical questions that need to be 

answered in order to make a sound assessment of whether the rules that govern the resource limit 

policy are meeting the purpose Congress intended. 

What are resources and how are they counted? 

The 1972 federal law that established the SSI program included a resource limit as an eligibility 

factor for SSI benefits. Resources include any of the following owned by an SSI applicant or 

beneficiary or a spouse: cash, liquid assets, and real or personal property that can be converted to 

cash to obtain food and shelter.2

 Some resources are counted toward the limit and others are not. 

Examples of such non-countable (or in SSI terms, excluded) resources are an individual’s 

principal place of residence; one vehicle, if the beneficiary or a member of the household uses it 

for transportation; household goods and personal effects; and burial spaces.3

 Resource limits are 

 

1

 Board member Mark J. Warshawsky declined to sign this statement because he feels that the discussion therein is 

insufficient to understand the impact on the generosity of SSI of existing resource exclusions such as property 

essential for self-support, and the many other allowable exemptions from the resources limits which have either 

increased in value (e.g. homes) or been added to the rules over the years. 2

 The SSI program distinguishes between the terms “assets” and “resources.” The dollar value of the resource limit 

is set by statute. Regulation defines resources as “cash or other liquid assets or any real or personal property that an 

individual (or spouse, if any) owns and could convert to cash to be used for his or her support and maintenance.” 

(20 CFR 416.1201) We will use the term resources when this program-specific definition applies. When discussing 

other programs or broader questions of saving, we will use the term assets. 

3

 20 CFR 416.1210 and following. 
2 

useful to ensure that public dollars go only to those who really need them. If income alone was 

used as a marker of need, then it would be possible for individuals and couples to receive SSI 

benefits as long as their income was below a certain level, regardless of the amount of their 

savings or other resources. 

The SSI program replaced a system of federal financial assistance to state programs that 

provided aid to the aged, blind, and permanently and totally disabled. Those state systems had 

asset limits, but there was no uniformity across programs. For example, one state required 

applicants to use all their liquid assets before becoming eligible; another allowed a cash reserve 

equal to one month’s cost of living. Six had limits of $300 to $350 in cash reserves. Twentyfive states required an applicant to give the welfare department a lien against his or her house or 

a claim against his or her estate.4

The federalization of the former state programs established a needs-based program that had 

standardized eligibility rules and provided a uniform level of income support no matter where an 

individual lived throughout the nation. The new program also established national eligibility 

criteria for resources. Individuals had to have less than $1,500 in countable resources, and 

couples had to have less than $2,250. Those amounts were increased gradually between 1985 

and 1989 to $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple and have not changed since 1989. 

Applicants whose resources exceed the limit, by any amount, are generally not eligible for 

benefits at all.5 

In some cases, other people’s resources can affect the eligibility of a claimant or a beneficiary 

through a process known as deeming. The term deeming means considering another person’s 

resources to be available for meeting a claimant or beneficiary’s needs. This happens most often 

with children and spouses:6

 If a child is living in a household with a parent or parents who are not receiving SSI, the 

countable resources of the parents in excess of $2,000 for one parent or $3,000 for two 

parents are deemed available to the child. For example, if a child is living with one 

parent who has countable resources of $4,500, the child would be over the resource limit 

($2,000 countable for the parent, $2,000 countable for the child). 

 

4

 Vincent J. Burke and Vee Burke, Nixon’s Good Deed: Welfare Reform, New York: Columbia University Press, 

1974 

5

 An exception can occur when an applicant receives conditional benefits based on an agreement with SSA to 

dispose of excess resources. 20 CFR 416.1240 and following 

6

 The deeming rules and the exceptions to the rules are in 20 CFR 416.1202. Deeming also applies from sponsors to 

aliens (20 CFR 416.1204) and in certain cases in which an individual receiving benefits under one of the state 

programs replaced by SSI had his payments increased because of another person in the household (20 CFR 

416.1203). 
3 

 If an aged, blind, or disabled individual is living with a spouse who is ineligible for SSI, 

the resources of the spouse are considered in the determination of eligibility. An 

individual is considered eligible only if his countable resources, together with the 

spouse’s countable resources, do not exceed the resource limit for a couple. For example, 

if an applicant is 65 years old and his spouse is not yet 65 and is not blind or disabled, the 

combined resources of both spouses would have to be under $3,000 in order for the 

applicant to be eligible. 

There are about one million SSI child beneficiaries living with parents and about 300 thousand 

SSI beneficiaries living with ineligible spouses.7

Once they are on the rolls, beneficiaries whose resources exceed the limit on the first day of any 

month after they begin receiving payments will likely also lose their eligibility for payments until 

their resources are again brought down below the resource limit. 

As discussed previously in this Statement, Congress has established some exceptions to the 

limits placed on owning resources.8 In addition, Congress created three provisions that allow 

recipients to accumulate resources over $2,000 so they can become more self-sufficient and less 

reliant on federal assistance. These are: 

 SSI applicants are allowed to retain Property Essential for Self-Support that generates 

income, which is then counted in determining the appropriate amount of the monthly SSI 

check. An example would be a self-employed person’s business account or equipment; 

or a rancher’s acreage in addition to a homestead, which is rented out to others for 

grazing land. 

 SSI recipients (and applicants) may set aside otherwise countable income and/or 

resources to be used to reach a specific vocational goal under a Plan for Achieving SelfSupport (PASS). At the end of a PASS plan, when the goal has been achieved, it is 

expected that the recipient will have a reduced reliance on federal benefits. 

 Low-income individuals and families, including SSI recipients, are able to save for 

education, purchasing a home, or starting a business by establishing an Individual 

Development Account (IDA). State variations may expand what an IDA can purchase. 

IDA savings are matched by other government funds, and are specifically not counted by 

the various means-tested programs because the intent is to assist low-income individuals 

and families to build assets. 

 

7

 SSA, SSI Annual Statistical Report, 2009, tables 12 and 28. 8

 See 20 CFR 416.1210 and following for a detailed discussion of resource exclusions 
4 

Are current resource rules fulfilling Congressional intent? 

The conference report on the 1984 legislation that raised the resource limit stated that a major 

purpose of allowing SSI recipients to have a certain amount of resources was to help them cover 

major costs of an urgent nature that could not be met from their monthly benefit payments, such 

as to replace a furnace or make essential household repairs.9 Research into congressional intent 

in 1984 does not show any plan for future increases, nor was there any discussion of indexing at 

that time. As the following chart shows, if the 1972 amounts had been adjusted for inflation, 

they would now be nearly $8,000 for an individual and $12,000 for a couple.10 

If it was intended as a minimal fund for emergencies, the resource limit of 1989 can no longer 

cover the type of emergencies Congress envisioned more than 20 years ago. The questions that 

arise are should this limit be revisited, and if so, what should be the policy relative to resource 

accumulation? This is a difficult issue to address particularly at this time given the current state 

of the economy. One of the objectives of the SSI program is to support the efforts of recipients 

to (re)gain self-sufficiency. The ability to acquire resources and build assets can be instrumental 

in achieving this objective. However, raising the resource limits comes at some cost to the 

taxpayer. If Congress considers this issue, it must be mindful of the need to balance the interests 

of beneficiaries with the interests of the taxpayers who fund the program. 

 

9

 House of Representatives Report 98-861, Deficit Reduction Act of 1984, Conference Report, June 23, 1984, p. 

1388. 

10 Figures derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI calculator: http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_ 

calculator.htm. 

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

1972197519781981198419871990199319961999200220052008

Actual individual

limit

Actual couple limit

Individual limit if

indexed

Couple limit if

indexed
5 

Policy considerations 

For SSI recipients, the ability to save more under a higher resource limit would provide added 

protection against hardships resulting from a drop in income or an increase in expenses. Lowincome individuals and families are especially vulnerable to unexpected changes in income or 

expenses. Because such families are already operating near a subsistence level, with little 

discretionary spending, unexpected events can result in material deprivation if they do not have 

savings or other resources to draw on. A recent study looked at the impact of income shocks (for 

example, loss of a job or reduction of hours, loss of child support, or loss of financial support 

from extended family) and expense shocks (for example, sudden illness or injury, entry of a nonworking dependent into the household, or home or automobile repairs). The study found that, 

among households with non-elderly heads, with incomes in the lowest fifth, 24 percent 

experienced two or more material hardships (for example, a utility or phone shutoff or a missed 

housing payment) over a 12-month period. Having liquid assets up to $2,000 reduced the 

incidence of material hardship by 5 percentage points, and having liquid assets between $2,000 

and $10,000 reduced the incidence by 11 percentage points.11

Increasing the resource limit would change the incentives for participation in the program, and 

analysis is needed to estimate the effects of a change in the resource limit on two groups: those 

made newly eligible by raising the resource limit and those near the limit who might respond to 

the incentive to become eligible for the program: 

 Wherever a higher resource limit may be set, there would, by definition, be a somewhat 

larger group of people with countable resources above the current limit but below the 

new higher limit, so there is a need to estimate the effect of expanding the group of 

potential beneficiaries. The cost of the program to taxpayers would tend to increase 

depending on how many people are made newly eligible, the proportion of those newly 

eligible who actually apply for SSI, and the proportion of those new applicants who meet 

the criteria necessary to receive benefits. 

 Wherever the resource limit may be set, it has the potential to induce people near the 

limit to change their behavior. Raising the resource limit could motivate some people to 

change their work and savings behavior in such a way as to make them eligible for the 

program. Knowing that they would need to meet the specified resource limit, they might 

choose to reduce their accumulation of assets directly and/or choose to reduce their work 

effort that can lead to resource accumulation. Since changing the resource limit would 

 

11 Signe-Mary McKernan, Caroline Ratcliffe, and Katie Vinopal, “Do Assets Help Families Cope with Adverse 

Events?” Perspectives on Low-Income Working Families, Urban Institute, November 2009; Gregory Mills and Joe 

Amick, “Can Savings Help Overcome Income Instability?” Perspectives on Low-Income Working Families, Urban 

Institute, December 2010. 
6 

mean that a different group of people would be near the resource limit, there would be a 

need to estimate the change in the behavior of that group of people.12 

Deliberation on SSI resource limits should consider the natural tension among these 

considerations: the interests of SSI beneficiaries in increased protection against hardships, the 

cost to taxpayers, and whether the change in the rules would encourage potential beneficiaries to 

reduce their work and savings. Empirical research is needed to provide a basis for a sound 

policy decision and should address such subsidiary questions as: 

 What is the frequency of material hardships among current SSI beneficiaries? 

 To what extent do the current resource limits constrain SSI beneficiaries? That is, how 

many beneficiaries are close to the current resource limit? 

 What would be the effect of an increased resource limit on the work and saving behavior 

of those potentially eligible? The research should distinguish among the various 

populations who might seek SSI benefits. The existing research on the impact of raising 

resource limits on labor supply focused only on those potentially eligible for SSI because 

they are age 65 or older, only a quarter of current SSI beneficiaries. The work and 

savings behavior of those potentially qualifying because of serious health related 

limitations may well be very different from those who qualify based on age. In addition, 

the work and savings behavior of the parents of potentially eligible disabled children 

might well be different from the response of working age adults who would potentially be 

claiming benefits based on their own disability. 

SSA should conduct or fund evidence-based research to determine an appropriate resource limit 

for SSI that would improve the welfare of all concerned. 

Barbara B. Kennelly, Chair (A)

Jagadeesh Gokhale Dorcas R. Hardy

Marsha Rose Katz 

 

12 Empirical study has found some reduction in work among people approaching the eligibility age for SSI aged 

benefits. (David Neumark and Elizabeth T. Powers, “The Effect of the SSI Program on Labor Supply: Improved 

Evidence from Social Security Administrative Files,” Social Security Bulletin, 2003/2004.) There have been no 

comparable studies of changes in behavior to meet eligibility criteria among the population potentially applying for 

SSI disability benefits