Annual Report of the

Supplemental Security Income Program

Social Security Administration

May 2000
..

Additional copies of this report may be obtained from:

Social Security Administration

Office of the Chief Actuary

Room 700, Altmeyer Bldg.

Baltimore, MD 21235

Voice: (410)–965–3015

Fax: (410)–965–6693

A hypertext version of this document is available on the Internet. The address is:

http://www.ssa.gov/SSIR/index.html
SOCIAL SECURITY

Office of the Commissioner

May 30, 2000

President William J. Clinton

The White House

Washington, D.C.

The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Washington, D.C.

The Honorable Albert Gore, Jr.

President of the Senate

Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen: 

I have the honor of transmitting to you the 2000 Annual Report of the Supplemental Security Income

Program (the fourth such report), in compliance with section 231 of the Personal Responsibility and

Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.

Respectfully,

Kenneth S. Apfel

Commissioner

of Social Security

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION BALTIMORE MD 21235-0001
.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

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

the Congress required the Commissioner of Social Security to report annually to the President and to the

Congress on the status of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. A required element of these

reports is to provide projections of program participation and costs through at least 25 years. This report is

the fourth of such reports, and following are some of its major highlights and findings. 

Highlights of the SSI Program

 • The SSI program is a nationwide Federal assistance program administered by the Social Security

Administration (SSA) that guarantees a minimum level of income for needy aged, blind, or disabled

individuals. 

 • In January 2000, 6.3 million individuals received monthly Federal SSI payments averaging $350. 

 • Federal expenditures for cash payments under the SSI program during calendar year 1999 totaled

$28.2 billion, and the cost of administering the SSI program in fiscal year 1999 was $2.5 billion.

Major Findings of the Report

 • Throughout the 25-year period ending in 2024, the SSI program is estimated to grow largely due to

the overall growth in the U.S. population. By 2024, the Federal SSI recipient population is estimated

to reach 7.7 million. 

 • Expressed as a percentage of the total U.S. population, the number of Federal SSI recipients

decreased slightly from its 1998 level of 2.23 percent to 2.21 percent in 1999, and is projected to

remain fairly level at roughly 2.2 to 2.3 percent of the population through 2024. 

 • Federal expenditures for SSI payments in calendar year 2000 are estimated to total $29.4 billion, an

increase of roughly $1.2 billion from 1999 levels.

 • Growth in SSI program outlays during the next 25 years is projected to remain relatively modest. In

constant 2000 dollars, the cost of the program is projected to increase to $37.6 billion in 2024. 

 • When compared to the Gross Domestic Product, Federal SSI expenditures are projected to decline

over time, from the current level of 0.31 percent of GDP in 1999 to 0.26 percent of GDP by 2024. 
.
(VII)

CONTENTS

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

II. HIGHLIGHTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

A. RECENT PROGRAM EXPERIENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

B. SSI LEGISLATION SINCE THE 1999 ANNUAL REPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

C. CURRENT ISSUES FACING THE SSI PROGRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

D. KEY RESULTS FROM THE 25-YEAR FORECASTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

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

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

3. Filing for Other Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

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

5. Personal Needs Allowance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

6. Deeming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

a. Spouse-to-Spouse Deeming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

b. Parent-to-Child Deeming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

c. Sponsor-to-Alien Deeming. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

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

1. Earned Income Exclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

2. Impairment-Related Work Expense Exclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

3. Work Expenses of the Blind Exclusion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

4. Student Earned Income Exclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

5. Plan for Achieving Self-Support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

6. Special Provisions for Disabled People Who Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

7. Vocational Rehabilitation Referral/Reimbursement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

F. ADMINISTRATION OF THE SSI PROGRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

1. Application Process. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

2. Determinations of Eligibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

3. Representative Payees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

4. Appeal Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

5. Attorney Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

6. Advance Payments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

a. Emergency Advance Payments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

b. Presumptive Disability or Blindness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

G. STATE SUPPLEMENTATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

1. Optional State Supplementary Payment Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

2. Mandatory State Supplementary Payment Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

3. Administration of State Supplementary Payments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

4. Mandatory Passalong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
(VIII)

H. COORDINATION WITH OTHER PROGRAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

1. Windfall Offset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

2. Medicaid Determinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

3. Food Stamp Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

4. Interim Assistance Reimbursement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

IV. ESTIMATES OF PROGRAM PARTICIPATION AND FEDERAL EXPENDITURES

UNDER THE SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME PROGRAM, 2000-24 . . . . . . . 22

A. ECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC ASSUMPTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

B. NUMBERS OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE SSI PROGRAM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

C. FEDERAL PAYMENTS UNDER SSI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

D. FEDERAL SSI PAYMENTS AS A PERCENTAGE OF 

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

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

AND BENEFICIARY SERVICES COSTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

V. APPENDICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

A. HISTORY OF PROVISIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

1. Basic Eligibility Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

2. Other Eligibility Provisions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

a. Citizenship and Residence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

b. Other Benefits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

c. Drug Addiction and Alcoholism (DA&A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

d. Institutionalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

e. Vocational Rehabilitation and Treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

f. Continuing Disability Reviews and Eligibility Redeterminations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

g. Deeming of Income and Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

3. Federal Benefit Payments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

a. Windfall Offset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

b. Proration of Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

c. Retrospective Monthly Accounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

d. Uncashed Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

e. Rounding of Payment Amounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

f. Penalties Resulting in Nonpayment of Benefits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

4. Federal Benefit Rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

5. Exclusions from Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

a. General Exclusions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

b. Special Exclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

6. Limits and Exclusions from Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

a. General Exclusions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

b. Special Exclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

7. Presumptive and Emergency Payments and Interim Assistance Reimbursement. . . . . . . 62

a. Presumptive Payments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

b. Emergency Advance Payments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

c. Interim Assistance Reimbursement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

8. Medicaid Eligibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

9. State Supplementation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

10. Overpayment Recovery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
(IX)

B. INCOME AND RESOURCE EXCLUSIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

1. Earned Income Exclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

2. Unearned Income Exclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

3. Resource Exclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

C. HISTORICAL ALLOWANCE DATA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

1. Technical Notes on the Disability Research File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

2. General Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

D. HISTORICAL REDETERMINATION AND CONTINUING DISABILITY 

REVIEW DATA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

1. Redeterminations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

2. Continuing Disability Reviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

E. INCENTIVES FOR WORK AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR REHABILITATION . . . . . . . 80

1. Work Incentives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

a. Numbers of Participants in Work Incentive Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

b. Average Earnings of Participants in Work Incentive Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

2. Vocational Rehabilitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

F. INVOLVEMENT OF SSI RECIPIENTS IN OTHER PROGRAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

G. BIBLIOGRAPHY OF RESEARCH ON RELATED TOPICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

1. Research Topics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

a. Policy Evaluation of the Effects of the 1996 Welfare Reform Legislation 

on SSI Benefits for Children with Disabilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

b. Design and Implementation of Survey of Children with Disabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

c. Policy Evaluation of the Overall Effects of Welfare Reform on 

SSA Programs—Phase I Evaluation Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

d. Project NetWork . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

e. State Partnership Return-to-Work Demonstrations—Design and 

Implementation of the Net Outcomes Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

f. Ticket to Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

2. Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

H. GLOSSARY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

ADDITIONAL STATEMENT BY THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADVISORY BOARD
.
(XI)

TABLES

III.H1 SSI State Supplementation and Coordination with Other Programs . . . . . . . . . 21

IV.A1 Historical and Estimated Population in the Social Security Area 

as Projected for the Intermediate Assumptions of the 

2000 OASDI Trustees Report, as of July 1, 1974-2024 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

IV.A2 Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustments and Federal Benefit Rates 

Estimated on the Basis of the Intermediate Assumptions of the 

2000 OASDI Trustees Report, 1974-2024 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

IV.B1 SSI Federally-Administered Applications, Calendar Years 1974-2024 . . . . . . . 26

IV.B2 SSI Federally-Administered New Entrants, Calendar Years 1974-2024 . . . . . . 28

IV.B3 SSI Federally-Administered Terminations Due to Death, 

Calendar Years 1974-2024 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

IV.B4 SSI Federally-Administered Terminations Due to Reasons 

Other Than Death, Calendar Years 1974-2024 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

IV.B5 SSI Federally-Administered Terminations for All Reasons, 

Calendar Years 1974-2024 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

IV.B6 SSI Recipients with Federal Benefits in Current-Payment Status 

as of December, 1974-2024 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

IV.B7 SSI Recipients with Federal Benefits in Current-Payment Status 

as a Percentage of Selected Social Security Area Population Totals, 

as of December, 1975-2024 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

IV.B8 SSI Recipients with Federally-Administered State Supplementary 

Benefits Only, in Current-Payment Status as of 

December, 1974-2024 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

IV.B9 SSI Recipients with Federally-Administered Benefits in 

Current-Payment Status as of December, 1974-2024 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

IV.C1 SSI Federal Payments in Current Dollars, Calendar Years 1974-2000. . . . . . . . 39

IV.C2 SSI Federal Payments in Current Dollars, Fiscal Years 1978-2000 . . . . . . . . . . 40

IV.C3 SSI Federal Payments in Constant 2000 Dollars, 

Calendar Years 1974-2024 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

IV.C4 SSI Federally-Administered State Supplementary Payments in 

Current Dollars, Calendar Years 1974-99 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

IV.C5 SSI State-Administered Payments in Current Dollars, 

Calendar Years 1974-99 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

IV.D1 SSI Federal Payments as a Percentage of GDP, 

Calendar Years 1974-2024 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

IV.E1 Selected SSI Administrative Costs, Fiscal Years 1978-2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
(XII)

V.A1 Federal Benefit Rates Set by Legislation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

V.C1 Disabled Adult Claims: Disposition of Applications for 

SSI Disability Benefits by Year of Filing and Level of Decision . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

V.C2 Disabled Child Claims: Disposition of Applications for 

SSI Disability Benefits by Year of Filing and Level of Decision . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

V.D1 SSI Redeterminations Completed, Fiscal Years 1986-99 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

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

Medical Reviews by Fiscal Year of Initial Decision and Level of Decision. . . . 76

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

Medical Reviews by Fiscal Year of Initial Decision and Level of Decision. . . . 78

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

as of December, 1987-99 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

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

SSI Recipient Status Participating in Other Work Incentives 

as of December, 1990-99 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

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

Disabled Working Recipients, as of December, 1987-99 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

V.E4 Vocational Rehabilitation Reimbursement Claims Allowed, 

Fiscal Years 1987-99. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
(XIII)

FIGURES

IV.B1 SSI Federally-Administered Applications by Age Group, 

Calendar Years 1980-2025 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

IV.B2 SSI Federally-Administered New Entrants by Age Group, 

Calendar Years 1980-2025 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

IV.B3 SSI Federally-Administered Terminations by Age Group, 

Calendar Years 1980-2025 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

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

by Age Group, as of December, 1980-2025 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

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, 1980-2025 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

IV.C1 SSI Federal Payments, by Age Group, in Constant 2000 Dollars, 

Calendar Years 1980-2025 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

IV.D1 SSI Federal Payments, by Age Group, as a Percentage of GDP, 

Calendar Years 1980-2025 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

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

as of December, 1987-99 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
.
1

I. INTRODUCTION

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program was established by Congress in 1972, 1 with payments

beginning 26 years ago in January 1974, and is administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA).

SSI replaced the former Federal-State programs of Old-Age Assistance (OAA), Aid to the Blind (AB), and

Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled (APTD) 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,

each eligible person living in his/her own household and having no other countable income is provided, as

of January 2000, a monthly Federal cash payment of $512 ($769 for a couple if both members are eligible). Since 1975, these Federal SSI benefit rates have been increased to reflect changes in the cost of living

at the same time, and by the same percentage, as have benefits under the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program. 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 supplementation payments can be either voluntary at the

option of the individual States or, in certain cases, mandatory under a requirement in the original SSI legislation.

Under section 231 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-193), the Commissioner of Social Security is required to submit a report on the SSI program

to the President and Congress. Such report is to be submitted annually no later than May 30 of each year.

Pursuant to this legislative mandate, this is the fourth in a series of such annual reports on the SSI program.

The legislative mandate is very detailed concerning certain types of information about SSI that should be

provided in the report. More specifically, section 231 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 participation rates and program costs; 

• An 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 individual

members of the Social Security Advisory Board, if so desired by any such Board member, or a joint report

if one is agreed upon by the Board.

As discussed in the previous SSI Annual Reports, much of the required information is the subject of extensive ongoing research. For example, while historical program data are available from summaries of administrative records and have previously been published in a number of documents, many of the required

subcategory totals have not always been collected on a consistent basis. To provide the detailed data for

this report, extensive work was necessary to prepare retrospective estimates based on existing historical

totals. Furthermore, except for the 75-year projections prepared for the OASDI 2 and Medicare 3 Trustees

Reports, most routine forecasts for government programs extend only 5-10 years into the future for use in

connection with the President’s Budget. Thus, mathematical models capable of projecting SSI program

1 Public Law 92-603, enacted October 30, 1972.

2 The 2000 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability Insurance Trust Funds, issued

March 30, 2000.

3 The 2000 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the 2000 Annual Report of the Board of

Trustees of the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund, originally issued March 30, 2000. The Hospital Insurance report was subsequently revised and reissued on April 20, 2000.
2000 SSI Annual Report

2

costs 25 years into the future did not exist at the time of the enactment of Public Law 104-193. For purposes of the longer-range forecasts required in this report, SSA’s Office of the Chief Actuary has begun a

program of research and model development in an effort to enhance these 25-year forecasts. Furthermore,

the Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics has begun an extensive project to analyze and validate

historical data for the SSI program. The 2000 Annual Report represents the continuation of the model

development process which was begun for the 1999 Annual Report. Future editions of this report will

reflect the results of our ongoing efforts in both these areas.

In responding to each of the specific requests for information, every effort has been made to provide the

best information available at this time. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, it is expected that in future

versions of this annual report improvements will continue to be made 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.

In broad outline, the contents of the remainder of this report are as follows:

• Section II 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 forecasts.

• Section III contains a comprehensive description of the SSI program.

• Section IV presents the details of our 25-year forecasts of SSI program participation and expenditures.

• Section V contains a series of technical appendices responding to each of the remaining legislative

mandates for information about SSI. 
3

2000 SSI Annual Report

II. HIGHLIGHTS

A brief history of the SSI program is presented in section III, including descriptions of the eligibility criteria and other features of the program, and rationales for why some of those provisions were included in the

SSI statute. Another aspect of this picture, however, is an indication of how SSI affects the individuals it is

intended to serve and the cost of paying these benefits, along with a discussion of current issues facing

SSA in administering the program.

A. RECENT PROGRAM EXPERIENCE

SSI program experience during the past year included the following:

• On average during calendar year 1999, 6.3 million aged, blind, or disabled individuals received Federal SSI benefits on a monthly basis. An estimated 7.1 million aged, blind, or disabled individuals

received at least 1 month’s Federal SSI benefit during the year.

• Federal expenditures for cash payments under the SSI program during calendar year 1999 totaled

$28.2 billion.

• On average during calendar year 1999, 2.4 million aged, blind, or disabled individuals received Federally-administered State supplementary payments on a monthly basis. An estimated 2.7 million individuals received at least 1 month’s Federally-administered State supplementary payment during

calendar year 1999.

• State expenditures for Federally-administered supplements during calendar year 1999 totaled

$3.3 billion, excluding fees for Federal administration.

• The cost of administering the SSI program in fiscal year 1999 was $2.5 billion.

B. SSI LEGISLATION SINCE THE 1999 ANNUAL REPORT

A significant number of legislative changes affecting the SSI program were made during 1999. Public Law

106-169 1 included provisions affecting the treatment of assets held in trust and providing for penalties

resulting in nonpayment of SSI benefits. Also included were provisions related to recovery of overpayments and various other aspects of the SSI program. Public Law 106-170 2 included a provision establishing the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency program as well as other provisions related to the SSI

program.

Public Law 106-169

Treatment of Assets Held in Trust—This provision includes in the countable resources of an individual

for SSI purposes, certain assets of a trust containing property transferred from the individual or spouse.

SSA is authorized to waive application of this provision in cases of undue hardship. Certain trusts (e.g.,

those established by will, or trusts that would repay the State the cost of medical assistance provided the

recipient upon his/her death) will be excluded.

1 The Foster Care Independence Act of 1999, enacted December 14, 1999.

2 The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999, enacted December 17, 1999.
2000 SSI Annual Report

4

Penalties Resulting in Nonpayment of SSI Benefits and Nonparticipation in SSI Program—These provisions:

• Provide 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 a number of months (up to a maximum of 36) obtained by dividing the uncompensated value of disposed-of-resources by the Federal benefit rate plus the maximum

State supplementary payment, if any, applicable to the individual’s living arrangement. Certain exceptions (e.g., undue hardship) apply.

• Provide for the nonpayment of OASDI and SSI benefits (6 months for the first violation, 12 months

for the second, and 24 months for the third or subsequent violation) for individuals found to have

made a statement or representation of material fact for use in determining eligibility for benefits that

the individual knew, or should have known, was false or misleading or omitted a material fact. 

• Bar representatives and health care providers from the OASDI and SSI programs (5 years, 10 years,

and permanent exclusion for the first, second, and third offenses, respectively) if they were found to

have helped commit fraud. 

Recovery of Overpayments—These provisions:

• Make representative payees liable for an SSI overpayment caused by a payment made to a recipient

who has died, and require SSA to establish an overpayment control record under the representative

payee’s Social Security number.

• Require 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.

• Extend all of the debt collection authorities currently available for the collection of overpayments

under the OASDI program to the SSI program.

Data Matches—These provisions:

• Require SSA to conduct periodic matches with Medicare and Medicaid data held by the Secretary of

HHS and allow the use of this information in lieu of a physician’s certification in order to maintain the

full benefit level of an individual whose institutionalization is expected not to exceed 3 months.

• Allow SSA to require SSI applicants and recipients to provide authorization for SSA to obtain any

and all financial records from any and all financial institutions. Refusal to provide, or revocation of,

an authorization may result in ineligibility for SSI.

• Deem the SSA’s data privacy standards to meet all State privacy standards for purposes of data

matches.

Studies and Reports—These provisions:

• Require SSA to undertake a study to identify possible measures to reduce fraud and to improve processing of recipients’ reported changes of income.

• Require SSA to include in its annual budget an itemization of the amount of funds required to support

efforts to combat fraud by applicants and recipients.

• Require SSA to study the reasons why family farmers with resources under $100,000 are denied SSI

benefits, including whether the deeming policies discriminate against family farmers.
5

2000 SSI Annual Report

Other Provisions Related to the SSI Program—These provisions:

• Require SSA to provide to Federal or Federally assisted cash, food, or medical assistance programs,

on a reimbursable basis, information obtained under agreements with institutions for reporting prisoners.

• Establish a new program under title VIII of the Act to pay special benefits to certain SSI recipients

who are World War II veterans and who subsequently leave the United States. The maximum special

benefit would be 75 percent of the SSI Federal benefit rate. To be eligible, a World War II veteran

would have to be at least 65 years old on the date of enactment (December 14, 1999), have total “benefit income” less than the maximum special benefit, and have been eligible for SSI in both the month

of enactment and the month he/she applies for the special benefit.

Public Law 106-170

Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program—This provision directs SSA to establish a Ticket to Work

and Self-Sufficiency program which provides the SSI (and OASDI) disability beneficiary with a ticket he/

she may use to obtain vocational rehabilitation services, employment services, and other support services

from an employment network of their choice.

State Options Under Medicaid—This provision provides States the option of allowing individuals who

are at least age 16, but under 65, to buy into Medicaid even though they are no longer eligible for OASDI

or SSI disability benefits due to medical improvement.

Schedule for State Supplementary Payments—This provision requires (effective for months after September 2009) a State that has entered into an agreement with the Commissioner of Social Security for Federal administration of State supplementary payments to remit the payments and fees required of them no

later than the business day preceding the SSI payment date. SSA is authorized to charge a penalty equal to

5 percent of the payment and fees if the remittance is received after the required date.

C. CURRENT ISSUES FACING THE SSI PROGRAM

Strengthening and maintaining the integrity of the SSI program remains one of SSA’s highest priorities.

During the past 2 years, SSA has made significant progress in strengthening the management of the SSI

program under the multifaceted approach detailed in Commissioner Apfel’s October 1998 report, Management of the Supplemental Security Income Program, Today, and in the Future. Preliminary results for FY

1999 show that SSA has made progress in improving payment accuracy, detecting, preventing, and collecting overpayments, and deterring fraud. However, the agency’s ability to continue developing the successful initiatives outlined in the management plan will depend upon the Congress providing sufficient

administrative resources to do so. In particular, resource limitations in FY 2000 will result in fewer redeterminations being processed than originally anticipated.

Resource restrictions notwithstanding, provisions which SSA originally proposed in May 1998 were

included in the recently enacted Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 (see section B above). These provisions give the agency additional tools to improve program management and integrity. The implementation

and effectiveness of these provisions will be closely monitored as part of the overall SSI management plan.

Another issue that surfaced this year involved representative payees who have misused or embezzled SSI

recipients’ funds. In response, we implemented a number of administrative improvements in our oversight

procedures and, in addition, transmitted to Congress a set of legislative proposals that would provide additional safeguards for recipients with representative payees. We are continuing to review the representative

payee program and will be increasing our oversight activities, including triennial reviews.
2000 SSI Annual Report

6

As mentioned in the previous annual reports, SSI is a very complex program. Over the years, it has

become apparent that simplification proposals that take account of program objectives, equity, and available resources are elusive. SSA is analyzing selected issues related to simplifying the SSI program. It is

anticipated that the analysis will result in proposed alternatives to certain existing complex policies.

D. KEY RESULTS FROM THE 25-YEAR FORECASTS

The major findings in the 25-year forecasts prepared for this report are summarized below:

• Following recent declines in the SSI recipient population due to the combined impact of Public Law

104-121 and Public Law 104-193, modest growth in the SSI rolls resumed in 1998, and is expected to

continue throughout the projection period largely due to the growth in the U.S. population. By 2024,

the Federal SSI recipient population is estimated to reach 7.7 million. Expressed as a percentage of

the total U.S. population, the number of Federal SSI recipients is projected to remain fairly level at

roughly 2.2 to 2.3 percent of the population through 2024. 

• Federal expenditures for SSI payments in calendar year 2000 are estimated to total $29.4 billion, an

increase of roughly $1.2 billion from 1999 levels. In order to provide estimates of future expenditures

under the SSI program over 25 years which can be meaningfully compared, projections of Federal

SSI expenditures are presented in constant 2000 dollars. Expressed in these terms, growth in SSI program outlays during the next 25 years is projected to remain relatively modest, roughly in line with

overall growth in the U.S. population. In constant 2000 dollars, the cost of the program is projected to

increase to $37.6 billion in 2024. 

• Furthermore, when compared to the Gross Domestic Product, Federal SSI expenditures are projected

to decline over time, from the current level of 0.31 percent of GDP in 1999 to 0.26 percent of GDP by

2024.
7

2000 SSI Annual Report

III. THE SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME PROGRAM 

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program is a nationwide Federal assistance program administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that guarantees a minimum level of income for needy

aged, blind, or disabled individuals. In January 2000, 6.6 million individuals received Federally-administered monthly SSI benefits 1 averaging $377.

A. BACKGROUND

Entitlement programs for the aged, blind, or disabled have their roots in the original Social Security Act of

1935. That Act established an old-age social insurance program to be administered by the Federal Government and an old-age means-tested assistance program to be administered by the States. Similar programs

for the blind or disabled were added to the Act in later years. Means-tested assistance was intended to supplement the incomes of individuals who were either ineligible for Social Security or whose benefits could

not provide a basic living.

This means-tested assistance—also known as categorical adult assistance—actually comprised three separate programs—Old-Age Assistance (OAA), Aid to the Blind (AB), and Aid to the Permanently and

Totally Disabled (APTD). Despite substantial Federal financing, these programs were essentially State

programs; Federal law established only broad guidelines and assistance. Federal financing was open-ended

in the sense that the Federal Government would provide matching funds to support whatever payment levels the States established. Federal law specified no maximum or minimum standards. Consequently, each

State was responsible for deciding its own standards for determining who would get assistance and how

much they would get. As a result, there were differing eligibility requirements and variations of payment

levels from State to State.

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

within and outside of government. Some of the criticism 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. The disparity in the degree of Federal financial support provided States also was an acknowledged

problem.

Responding to these concerns, Congress passed and the President approved the SSI program (Public Law

92-603, enacted October 30, 1972), which reversed the historic 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 cash 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;

1 Including Federally-administered State supplementary payments.
2000 SSI Annual Report

8

• 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

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

Although SSI has undergone several significant changes since its enactment in 1972, these principles have

been retained. The following description of the SSI program is organized according to the originating principles.

C. UNIFORM STANDARDS AND OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Prior to the SSI program, aged, blind, or disabled individuals may or may not have been eligible for Federally-funded adult assistance depending on the State in which they lived. Benefit amounts also varied from

State to State. The SSI program replaced the State-run programs of assistance with a program having

nationally 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 Federal assistance. Effective January 1, 2000, the countable income limit for

individuals is $512 a month and $769 a month for eligible couples. The resource limit is $2,000 in

countable resources for individuals and $3,000 for couples.

• Sixty-five as the minimum age limit for assistance based on age.

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

same as those used for the Social Security Disability Insurance 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 result in death and (1) if 18 or older prevents him/her from doing any substantial gainful activity 1 or (2) if under 18 results in marked and

severe functional limitations. 2 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. 3 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 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 categories: 4

1 “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. Generally earnings from work

activity of over $700 a month is evidence of ability to engage in SGA. If an SSI applicant is earning over $700 a month, he/she generally would not

be considered disabled. However, if an SSI recipient is earning over $700 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 $700 was increased from $500 effective July 1, 1999 (64 FR 18566).

2 The definition of disability and blindness for individuals under age 18 reflects amendments made by Public Law 104-193, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. Prior to this, the law required a medically determinable physical or mental impairment of

comparable severity to that required for individuals 18 or older.

3 This provision reflects amendments made by title I of Public Law 104-121, the Senior Citizens’ Right to Work Act of 1996, enacted

March 29, 1996.

4 These standards reflect amendments made by Public Law 104-193, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of

1996 as amended by Public Law 104-208, Public Law 105-33 and Public Law 105-306. Prior to this, the law permitted SSI eligibility for individuals who were residents of the United States and—citizens or nationals of the United States; aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the

United States; or aliens permanently residing in the United States under color of law.
9

2000 SSI Annual Report

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

August 22, 1996;

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

— Asylees (eligibility 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 limited to the 7-year period after the date that deportation or removal is withheld);

— Cuban and Haitian entrants under section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980

(eligibility 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 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.

Note: Qualified alien status includes noncitizens 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 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 States 1 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. 

— 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 cannot 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

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

assistance.

1 Fifty States, the District of Columbia or the Northern Mariana Islands.
2000 SSI Annual Report

10

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 rate (currently $512 for an individual; $769 for an eligible couple) 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,

clothing, or shelter-related items the individual receives in kind from persons other than the householder

(including in-kind 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 ($190.66 in 2000). 

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. The distinction between earned and unearned income is

significant because different exclusions apply to each type of income. 

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

cannot be used as, or to obtain, food, clothing, 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 Exclusions 1

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 for achieving self-support by a disabled or blind individual, and 

• Infrequent or irregularly received income ($10 or less a month). 

The principal unearned income exclusions are: 

• The first $20 per month, 2

• Income set aside or being used to pursue a plan for achieving self-support by a disabled or blind individual, 

• State or locally funded assistance based on need, 

• Rent subsidies under HUD programs and the value of food stamps, and 

• Infrequent or irregularly received income ($20 or less a month). 

1 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.
11

2000 SSI Annual Report

2. Resources 

The amount 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). The law does not define what resources

are, but does stipulate what items are not considered resources. 

Regulations stipulate that a resource is cash or other liquid asset 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, clothing 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 individual 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 benefits for a number of months (up to a 36-month maximum) obtained by dividing the uncompensated value

of disposed-of-resources by the Federal benefit rate plus the maximum State supplementary payment, if

any, applicable to the individual’s living arrangement. The penalty does not apply if, among other things,

the individual can show that the resources were disposed of exclusively for a purpose other than establishing SSI eligibility.

Resource Exclusions 1

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 and personal effects in which one’s equity does not exceed $2,000;

• An automobile depending upon its use, otherwise, the current market value not in excess of $4,500;

• Property essential to self-support; and 

• Resources set aside to fulfill a plan to achieve self-support.

3. Filing for Other Benefits 

As the “program of last resort,” SSI benefits are provided to eligible individuals only to the extent that

their needs are not met by other sources. That is, 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 file for other payments for which they may be entitled, such

as annuities, pensions, retirement or disability benefits, worker’s 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. 

1 A complete list of the SSI resource exclusions can be found in section V.B.
2000 SSI Annual Report

12

4. Eligibility Issues for Residents of Public Institutions or Medical 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. People who are 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 and/or private health insurance pays

more than 50 percent of the cost of care;

• 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) 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 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.

5. Personal Needs Allowance 

When individuals enter medical treatment facilities in which more than half of the bill is paid by the Medicaid program, their monthly Federal payment standard 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

standard 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 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 institution. 

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. 1 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 21 living in the household. The allowance reduces the amount of income to be deemed. Spouseto-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. 

1 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 100 of these cases remaining.
13

2000 SSI Annual Report

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 would continue to apply. 

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. 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

21 who is living in the household. Deeming from an eligible parent 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 support 1 or the previous version of the affidavit. Generally, individuals 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 country under legally enforceable affidavits of support, deeming generally applies until the noncitizens become U.S. citizens. Unlike spouse-to-spouse, parent-to-child, and

three-year sponsor-to-alien deeming, all countable income and resources of the sponsor or his/her spouse

are deemed to the noncitizen. 4

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

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. 

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

2 The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) 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 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.

4 For example, no living allowances are provided for the sponsor or the sponsor’s family.
2000 SSI Annual Report

14

E. INCENTIVES FOR WORK AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR REHABILITATION 1

SSI benefits provide a basic level of assistance for individuals who are blind or disabled with limited earnings ability 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. SSI includes a number of work incentive provisions 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 as

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

support for work efforts. 

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 assures that SSI recipients

who are working will be rewarded for their efforts by having greater total income than those who do not

work.

2. Impairment-Related Work Expense Exclusion 

The cost 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 monthly countable income. 

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

devices, equipment, prostheses 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 expenses relating to work that a blind individual has are excluded from earned income in determining

SSI eligibility and benefit amounts. Unlike an impairment-related work expense (described above), 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, regularly attending school and neither married nor the head of a household. It is intended to help defray the

cost of educational training. Under current regulations, up to $400 of earned income per month but no

more than $1,620 per year may be excluded. 

1 Additional work incentive provisions enacted in Public Law 106-170 and described in section II.B, generally are not effective until January 2001

or later. These new provisions will make available to certain disabled SSI recipients additional options for obtaining vocational rehabilitation,

employment services and other support services. In addition, continuing disability reviews will be restricted during SSI recipients’ use of these services. More complete descriptions of these provisions will be included in this section in next year’s report after they have become features of the

SSI program.
15

2000 SSI Annual Report

5. Plan for Achieving Self-Support 

A plan for achieving 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. This may involve setting aside funds for education or vocational training. Funds can even be set aside 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. 

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

clearly identifiable accounting for the funds which are set aside. The PASS also must be approved by SSA.

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

approved by reviewing them periodically to ensure the individual’s progress towards attaining the work

goal. 

6. Special Provisions for Disabled People 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 can receive special cash benefits as 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

the SSI, social services, and Medicaid benefits that the individuals 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

which would be lost 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 below the threshold. If

earnings exceed the State threshold, an individualized assessment of the need for Medicaid is made and

1619(b) status may continue. 
2000 SSI Annual Report

16

7. Vocational Rehabilitation Referral/Reimbursement 

Since the beginning of the SSI program, SSA has made provision for blind or disabled individuals who are

receiving SSI benefits to be referred to the State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies. If the State

agency does not accept the referral, SSA can refer recipients to an alternate provider. SSA reimburses 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. 

Individuals receiving SSI benefits who improve medically and, therefore, are no longer considered disabled or blind can continue to receive SSI benefits if they are actively participating in an approved VR

program and completion of the program would increase the likelihood that they will be permanently

removed from the SSI rolls. SSI benefits and Medicaid generally continue until the rehabilitation services

are completed or until the individual ceases to participate in the program.

Individuals age 16 or older who receive SSI benefits due to blindness or disability and who refuse, without

good cause, to accept available rehabilitation services based upon a referral from SSA shall be ineligible

for SSI.

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 reputation for dealing with the public in a fair and humane

manner. 

1. Application Process 

Individuals can make appointments to apply for SSI benefits at any one of the approximately 1,300 SSA

field offices around the country or through SSA teleservice centers. The claims process includes the application interview, the obtaining of necessary evidence and documentation, and the adjudication of the

claim. Although the eligibility requirements of 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. Potential claimants initially contact SSA by phone, mail or in person. Field office

personnel conduct an interview with the claimant and/or his/her representative. 

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 on ways to obtain the needed information. Because of the special circumstances of the SSI population (for example, financial need, old age, or illness), SSA makes special efforts to assist claimants in

obtaining the necessary proofs. 

With regard to disability and blindness claims, SSA makes determinations of all of the nonmedical eligibility factors while each State’s Disability Determination Service (DDS) makes determinations of the

medical eligibility factors. 

2. Determinations of Eligibility 

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 is determined on

a current monthly basis. The amount of the monthly benefit generally is determined using income in the

second month preceding the month for and in which the benefit is paid (a method called retrospective

monthly accounting). However, at the start of a period of eligibility or re-eligibility, the benefits for the

first and second months both are determined using the income received in the first month. 
17

2000 SSI Annual Report

SSI recipients are required to have their nonmedical eligibility factors redetermined periodically, generally

every 1 to 6 years 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 the medical

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

likely to improve. Medical reviews are required for disabled or blind recipients, for example, under the

following circumstances:

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

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

likely to improve;

• Within 12 months after birth for recipients whose low birth weight is a contributing factor material to

the determination of their disability unless the Commissioner determines that the impairment is not

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

• Within 1 year after attainment of age 18 and using the adult eligibility criteria, for recipients whose

eligibility for SSI benefits was established under the disabled child eligibility criteria.

3. Representative Payees 

When SSI recipients are incapable of managing their benefits, SSA appoints representative payees for

them, and their SSI benefits are sent 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, an

SSA-approved organization may be appointed and some organizations have been authorized by SSA 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 ($28 a month in 2000 ($54 a month for disabled recipients who also

have a drug addiction or alcoholism condition)).

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

must account for all benefits received. Representative payees also are required to report any changes that

may affect SSI recipients’ eligibility and payment amount and may be held 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, the representative payee is required to establish a separate (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.

4. Appeal Rights 

Recipients must be informed in writing in advance of adverse actions SSA plans to take and must be given

the opportunity to request that their benefits continue pending a decision at the first level of appeal.

5. Attorney Fees 

At any time, an individual may appoint a representative in any dealings with the Social Security Administration. 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 Social

Security 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 the Commissioner (e.g., be of good character and able to

provide valuable service to claimants).

A representative may charge and receive a fee for his/her services, but the Social Security Administration

generally decides how much the fee shall be. Generally, the maximum fee that would be authorized is 25
2000 SSI Annual Report

18

percent of the retroactive payment or $4,000, whichever is less. A representative cannot charge or receive

more than the fee amount authorized. SSI differs from the Social Security program in that amounts cannot

be withheld from an individual’s SSI benefits to pay for attorney fees. SSI claimants are responsible for

paying such fees directly to their attorneys.

6. Advance Payments 

The SSI program has provisions 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 pending 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 to be found

eligible, may receive up to 1 month’s SSI benefits, the Federal payment amount plus any applicable State

supplement. The amount paid is recovered 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 the

claim is subsequently not allowed because of not finding disability or blindness, repayment would be

waived. If the claim is disallowed for other reasons, the amount paid would be an overpayment and processed as such.

b. Presumptive Disability or Blindness 

Up to 6 months’ payments may be made to an individual applying for benefits based on disability or blindness 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. These payments are not considered overpayments if the individual is later determined not to be disabled or blind. 

G. STATE1 SUPPLEMENTATION

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

higher level of income maintenance than was available under the Federal program. At the same time States

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

that their citizens would not receive 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 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. In 2000, 45 States have optional State supplementary payment programs.

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

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. States’ flexibility in setting supplementary payments, however, has been significantly restricted by mandatory passalong provisions

(described below).

1 References to State include, in addition to the 50 States, the District of Columbia.
19

2000 SSI Annual Report

2. Mandatory State Supplementary Payment Programs 

States are required 1 to maintain the December 1973 income levels of individuals who were transferred

from the former State adult assistance programs to the SSI program in 1974, except for Texas which has a

constitutional bar against mandatory State supplementation. Because of the increases in Federal benefits

over the years, there are few individuals who continue to receive mandatory State supplementary payments. In December 1999, there were roughly 1,800 such recipients receiving a Federally-administered

payment. 

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 $7.80 fee for each supplementary payment issued in fiscal year 2000. Fees are

scheduled to rise in succeeding fiscal years.

States that administer their own supplementary payment programs establish their own eligibility criteria.

States with Federally-administered programs must adhere to SSI eligibility criteria in all aspects except

that they may establish additional income disregards. 

4. Mandatory Passalong 

It was originally Congress’ view that increases in the Federal SSI benefit rate eventually would replace

State supplementary payments. However, public reaction to States reducing their supplementary payment

amounts when SSI payments were increased led Congress to mandate 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 39 States use the levels method and 11 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 assure 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 is later determined to be entitled to retroactive Social Security benefits, such retroactive benefits are reduced 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. This process is called

the “windfall offset” and was enacted to prevent windfall payments to individuals when Social Security

and SSI payments were paid for the same period. 

1 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.
2000 SSI Annual Report

20

2. Medicaid Determinations 

Generally, 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 is no more restrictive than the State’s January 1972 medical assistance standards. Forty States use SSI criteria and 11 States

use their own criteria. 

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

their behalf as long as the eligibility requirements of the State’s Medicaid plans are the same as 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. 

Continued Medicaid eligibility is provided in SSI law for certain Social Security beneficiaries who lose

SSI due to entitlement to Social Security benefits, or due to an increase in Social Security benefits resulting from:

• Cost-of-living adjustments,

• Actuarial increases in widow(er)s benefits,

• Changes in the definition of disability for widow(er)s benefits, or

• Increases in disabled adult child 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 Secretary 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 potentially eligible

or eligible SSI households which are not already receiving food stamps and which do not have a food

stamp application pending. Food stamp applications from SSI households may be taken in connection with

initial SSI claims or at the time of a redetermination. Food stamp applicants have the option of applying at

Social Security offices or applying at State food stamp offices if expedited service is required. Social

Security offices forward the food stamp applications and any supporting documents to the local food

stamp offices within 1 day of taking the application. Eligibility is determined by the food stamp office. 

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 the individual’s SSI benefits were suspended and subsequently reinstated (the interim period).

Under these interim assistance reimbursement agreements, if the individual has given SSA written authorization, SSA sends an individual’s first SSI benefit check relating to the interim period to the State or local

jurisdiction that had provided the interim assistance. The State then deducts the amount it is owed and is

required to forward the remainder to the claimant within 10 days. 2 Thirty-seven 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.

2 Beginning in August, 1996, in certain disabled children’s cases, SSA first reimburses the State, then pays the remainder into special dedicated

financial institution accounts for the children. In all cases where the retroactive benefits exceed a certain amount, SSA reimburses the State, then

pays the remainder in installments to the recipient or his/her representative payee.
21

2000 SSI Annual Report

1 See body of text for description of the various forms of State supplementation.

2 State no longer has any recipients receiving mandatory minimum State supplementation.

3 Mandatory minimum State supplementation program is Federally-administered. No optional program.

4 Mandatory minimum State supplementation program is Federally-administered.

5 State provides assistance only in initial application cases. No assistance provided during periods that SSI benefits are suspended or terminated.

6 State does not have a mandatory minimum State supplementation program.

Table III.H1.—SSI State Supplementation1 and Coordination with Other Programs

 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 2 * * ** Alaska * * * * Arizona * * * ** Arkansas 3 * * * California * * * ** Colorado * * * * * Connecticut 2 * * ** Delaware * * * * District of Columbia * ** * Florida 2 * * * * * Georgia 3 * * ** Hawaii * * * * Idaho * ** Illinois * * * * Indiana * * ** Iowa * * * * * Kansas 3 ** * Kentucky 2 * * * * * Louisiana 4 * * ** Maine * * * * * Maryland 4 * * * ** Massachusetts * * * * * Michigan * * * * * 5

Minnesota * * * * Mississippi 3 * ** Missouri * * * * Montana * * * ** Nebraska * * * * Nevada 2 ** * * New Hampshire * * * * 5

New Jersey * * * ** New Mexico * * * * * 5

New York ** * * * North Carolina * * * * * North Dakota 2 ** * Ohio 4 * * * * Oklahoma * ** Oregon * * * * Pennsylvania * * * ** Rhode Island 2 * * * * * 5

South Carolina 2 * * ** South Dakota 4 * * * * Tennessee 3 * * ** Texas 6 * * * * Utah 2 ** * * Vermont 2 * * * * * Virginia * ** * Washington * * * * * West Virginia 6 * * Wisconsin * * * * * Wyoming * * **

Total number of 

States 29 11 5 39 11 40 11 33 37
2000 SSI Annual Report

22

IV. ESTIMATES OF PROGRAM PARTICIPATION AND FEDERAL EXPENDITURES UNDER 

THE SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME PROGRAM, 2000-24

As described in section III, eligibility for payments under the SSI program depends on a collection of provisions related to the socioeconomic status of the individual, as well as the evaluation of disability or

blindness for all persons under age 65, and for certain individuals at ages 65 or older. Consequently, future

SSI program participation will depend on a variety of difficult-to-predict factors including the performance

of national and local economies, distribution of personal income within that macroeconomic framework,

the prevalence of disability in the general population, and the determination of disability as defined by the

Social Security Act. 

Estimates of expenditures under the SSI program, prior to the issuance of the first SSI Annual Report in

May 1997, were of a short-term nature prepared in conjunction with the President’s Budget. These shortterm projections relied exclusively on the evaluation of recent historical trends in the SSI program, and the

extrapolation of such trends into the next few years. The provisions of Public Law 104-193 mandating this

report required that such projections of future program participation be prepared for a period of at least

25 years. As was discussed in the 1997 Annual Report, due to the complex interaction between the economy and the SSI program, models for projecting SSI program participation over such an extended time

period should incorporate more sophisticated concepts than the trend analysis traditionally used for budget

purposes. In the 1998 Annual Report, the Office of the Chief Actuary announced the beginning of a multiyear program of research intended to develop the appropriate data and models to reflect the impact of the

relevant cofactors on the future of the SSI program. We expect to incorporate partial improvements to our

models on an annual basis, and the estimates presented in this and future reports will reflect such step-wise

improvements.

For this fourth annual report, our estimates are based on the revised structural model first introduced in the

1999 Annual Report. As described in that report, the revised model disaggregated the basic population by

single year-of-age and gender in order to better understand and forecast the various transitions in and out

of payment status. In addition, movements out of payment status were further examined by reason for such

movements, although at this stage the analysis was limited to two broad groups: (1) terminations due to

death and (2) suspension of payment due to all other reasons. 1 The additional detail in the revised model

enabled us to better analyze the transition from disabled child status to status as a disabled adult at age 18,

and provided us with an enhanced ability to analyze the age structure of the historical and forecasted disabled adult population. Since last year’s report, we have analyzed certain age subgroups in greater detail,

with the result that our longer term assumptions with respect to the growth in the SSI population better

reflect the growth patterns to be expected of the respective age groups. As a consequence, the current forecasts presented in this section suggest slightly slower growth among disabled children, but slightly faster

growth among disabled adults. The presentation of forecast results in the remainder of this section corresponds to our new model structure. In particular, all tables present SSI population information by selected

age groups, rather than groups based exclusively on SSI recipient categories. Where certain recipient categories have overlapping age distributions, recipient category totals are still shown.

A. ECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC ASSUMPTIONS

As in previous annual reports, the estimates presented in this section have been prepared in a manner

which accounts for the basic demographic changes expected to occur over the next 25 years. In addition,

the indexation of the Federal benefit rate depends on a projection of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) over

that same 25-year period. For purposes of developing these estimates, we have relied on the demographic

projections and CPI assumptions underlying the intermediate estimates prepared for the 2000 Annual

Report of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability Insurance

1 The two main reasons other than death for termination of SSI payments are failure to satisfy income and resource limitations of the SSI program

and recovery from a qualifying disability.
23

2000 SSI Annual Report

Trust Funds. 1 Detailed discussion of these economic and demographic parameters is presented in section

II.D of that report. 2 The key assumptions utilized directly for the projections presented in this report are

summarized in the following two tables. Table IV.A1 presents population projections summarized by certain age subgroups that match the presentation of SSI participant projections discussed in the next section. 

Notes:

1. Historical population data subject to revision.

2. Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

As described in section III.D.1, the monthly Federal benefit rate is adjusted annually in January to reflect

changes in the level of consumer prices. The adjustment factor is based on the year-to-year increase in the

CPI for the third quarter of the calendar year. This “cost-of-living” adjustment is identical to the adjust1 House Document 106-221, published March 30, 2000.

2 Ibid, Section II.D, Principal Economic and Demographic Assumptions.

Table IV.A1.—Historical and Estimated Population in the Social Security Area as Projected for the 

Intermediate Assumptions of the 2000 OASDI Trustees Report, as of July 1, 1974-2024

[In thousands]

Year

Age groups Total

0-17 18-34 35-49 50-64 65-74 75 or older all ages

Historical data:

1974.............. 70,714 60,135 36,339 32,809 13,865 8,871 222,734

1975.............. 69,727 62,097 36,322 33,154 14,164 9,102 224,566

1976.............. 68,736 63,985 36,488 33,425 14,480 9,343 226,457

1977.............. 67,830 65,649 36,897 33,694 14,805 9,595 228,470

1978.............. 67,001 67,227 37,479 33,931 15,127 9,860 230,625

1979.............. 66,271 68,859 38,053 34,102 15,437 10,140 232,861

1980.............. 65,746 70,454 38,557 34,245 15,721 10,428 235,150

1981.............. 65,419 71,564 39,518 34,319 15,991 10,721 237,531

1982.............. 65,213 72,167 41,020 34,275 16,278 11,044 239,997

1983.............. 65,164 72,649 42,550 34,151 16,544 11,370 242,428

1984.............. 65,272 72,990 44,010 34,057 16,793 11,680 244,803

1985.............. 65,527 73,210 45,449 33,959 17,082 11,983 247,210

1986.............. 65,849 73,318 47,030 33,756 17,438 12,277 249,668

1987.............. 66,124 73,382 48,708 33,617 17,752 12,587 252,169

1988.............. 66,358 73,482 50,398 33,595 17,998 12,896 254,726

1989.............. 66,809 73,395 52,167 33,588 18,241 13,209 257,408

1990.............. 67,627 72,868 53,971 33,663 18,441 13,580 260,150

1991.............. 68,621 72,039 55,733 33,902 18,605 13,977 262,877

1992.............. 69,622 71,141 57,392 34,342 18,786 14,357 265,639

1993.............. 70,542 70,269 58,969 34,926 18,930 14,710 268,346

1994.............. 71,348 69,427 60,576 35,509 19,022 15,033 270,916

1995.............. 72,006 68,639 62,253 36,045 19,055 15,373 273,370

1996.............. 72,566 67,971 63,669 36,895 18,986 15,744 275,831

1997.............. 73,010 67,464 64,648 38,228 18,864 16,088 278,302

1998.............. 73,328 67,067 65,472 39,742 18,726 16,399 280,733

1999.............. 73,572 66,771 66,261 41,225 18,605 16,688 283,122

Estimated:

2000.............. 73,768 66,664 66,854 42,707 18,535 16,947 285,475

2001.............. 73,961 66,753 67,203 44,252 18,500 17,179 287,848

2002.............. 74,160 66,966 67,322 45,887 18,485 17,403 290,223

2003.............. 74,310 67,264 67,282 47,569 18,530 17,618 292,573

2004.............. 74,420 67,557 67,171 49,311 18,641 17,803 294,903

2005.............. 74,512 67,794 67,036 51,106 18,810 17,960 297,218

2006.............. 74,560 68,112 66,779 52,908 19,087 18,076 299,522

2007.............. 74,526 68,704 66,243 54,639 19,573 18,136 301,821

2008.............. 74,407 69,581 65,473 56,255 20,247 18,155 304,119

2009.............. 74,268 70,561 64,623 57,869 20,916 18,181 306,417

2010.............. 74,181 71,492 63,764 59,551 21,488 18,240 308,716

2011.............. 74,175 72,317 62,948 61,020 22,246 18,309 311,014

2012.............. 74,245 73,005 62,239 62,056 23,372 18,393 313,310

2013.............. 74,376 73,567 61,665 62,913 24,554 18,524 315,600

2014.............. 74,556 73,997 61,276 63,713 25,646 18,692 317,881

2015.............. 74,768 74,304 61,132 64,320 26,733 18,893 320,149

2016.............. 74,977 74,569 61,210 64,680 27,809 19,156 322,400

2017.............. 75,184 74,809 61,439 64,815 28,838 19,546 324,632

2018.............. 75,415 75,028 61,709 64,801 29,826 20,059 326,838

2019.............. 75,663 75,240 61,927 64,723 30,888 20,574 329,015

2020.............. 75,920 75,399 62,110 64,626 32,060 21,043 331,158

2021.............. 76,179 75,513 62,357 64,416 33,128 21,668 333,261

2022.............. 76,431 75,603 62,796 63,942 33,957 22,590 335,319

2023.............. 76,670 75,645 63,462 63,244 34,727 23,580 337,328

2024.............. 76,889 75,599 64,281 62,470 35,531 24,513 339,283
2000 SSI Annual Report

24

ment of Social Security benefits under the OASDI program. In previous years, occasional ad hoc increases

were also applied to the Federal benefit rates, either in place of or in addition to such automatic adjustments. The history of legislation affecting the Federal benefit rates is presented in table V.A1. Table IV.A2

presents a complete history of the “cost-of-living” 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 discussed in section IV.C.

Table IV.A2.—Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustments and Federal Benefit Rates Estimated on the 

Basis of the Intermediate Assumptions of the 2000 OASDI Trustees Report, 1974-2024 

Year

Benefit rate

increase 1

1 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 2

2 A concept carried over from the former State assistance plans. There are currently fewer than 100 of those cases remaining.

Historical data:

Initial benefit paid 

January 1, 1974 3 

3 Benefits paid in January, 1974 were based on 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. Retroactive payments were subsequently

made 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 .............. 4 4.3%

4 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 .............. 4 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 .............. 2.4 512.00 769.00 257.00

Estimated:

2001 .............. 3.1 528.00 793.00 264.00

2002 .............. 3.0 544.00 816.00 272.00

2003 .............. 3.0 560.00 841.00 281.00

2004 .............. 3.1 578.00 867.00 289.00

2005 .............. 3.2 596.00 895.00 299.00

2006 .............. 3.3 616.00 924.00 308.00

2007 .............. 3.3 636.00 955.00 319.00

2008 .............. 3.3 657.00 986.00 329.00

2009 .............. 3.3 679.00 1,019.00 340.00

2010 .............. 3.3 702.00 1,052.00 351.00

2011 .............. 3.3 725.00 1,087.00 363.00

2012 .............. 3.3 749.00 1,123.00 375.00

2013 .............. 3.3 773.00 1,160.00 387.00

2014 .............. 3.3 799.00 1,198.00 400.00

2015 .............. 3.3 825.00 1,238.00 413.00

2016 .............. 3.3 853.00 1,279.00 427.00

2017 .............. 3.3 881.00 1,321.00 441.00

2018 .............. 3.3 910.00 1,365.00 456.00

2019 .............. 3.3 940.00 1,410.00 471.00

2020 .............. 3.3 971.00 1,456.00 486.00

2021 .............. 3.3 1,003.00 1,504.00 502.00

2022 .............. 3.3 1,036.00 1,554.00 519.00

2023 .............. 3.3 1,070.00 1,605.00 536.00

2024 .............. 3.3 1,106.00 1,658.00 554.00
25

2000 SSI Annual Report

Estimates presented in the sections that follow are based on the assumptions described in this section. Furthermore, for purposes of making these estimates, it is assumed that no changes will occur during the projection period in the present statutory provisions and regulations under which the SSI program operates.

B. NUMBERS OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE SSI PROGRAM

In this section, we present our projections of the various subpopulations which lead to the numbers of persons receiving Federal SSI payments. As described above, the forecasting models that produce these projections were restructured to handle population flows by single-year-of-age. Correspondingly, as in the

1999 Annual Report, the tables in this section present these population totals by selected age groupings.

This is in contrast with annual reports prior to 1999 which presented forecast results exclusively by recipient categories of aged, blind or disabled adults, and blind or disabled children. Since these recipient categories are in large part based on age, the additional age breakouts shown in this year’s report can be

viewed as a refinement of the information presented in the first two SSI Annual Reports. The following

paragraphs discuss a few of the subtle points in the translation between the previous recipient categories

and current age categories.

• The aged category includes those individuals whose eligibility for SSI benefits is established based on

meeting the age-65-or-older requirement for assistance, and the income and resource limits applicable

for adults. In December 1999, there were 1.308 million aged recipients of Federally-administered SSI

payments. 

• The blind or disabled adults category includes those individuals whose eligibility is established based

on meeting the definition of blindness or disability for individuals age 18 or older, and the income and

resource limits applicable for adults. After attainment of age 65 these individuals generally continue

to be classified as blind or disabled adults (rather than aged). In December 1999, there were 4.377

million blind or disabled adult recipients of Federally-administered SSI payments, including 691

thousand disabled and 19 thousand blind recipients aged 65 or older.

• The blind or disabled children category includes those individuals whose initial eligibility is established based on meeting the definition of blindness or disability for individuals under age 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 a result, blind or disabled children are generally reclassified as

blind or disabled adults at age 18. However, students aged 18 to 21 are still classified as blind or disabled children, but only for purposes of applying a special student earned income exclusion. 1The

numbers of students, however, represent a small percentage of the total number of disabled children.

For example, in December 1999, there were 871 thousand blind or disabled child recipients of Federally-administered SSI payments, including 24 thousand students aged 18 to 21. Since these students

are small in number, and for most purposes treated under the program as disabled adults, most agency

management information is moving in the direction of equating disabled children with the age grouping 0 to 17. As in the 1999 Annual Report, our tables showing historical and projected SSI data conform to this new standard.

Much of the historical age-specific information presented in the discussion that follows had to be reconstructed using samples of various sizes. Most age-specific splits prior to 1980 have not yet been developed,

but may be constructed for future reports as we develop more complete retrospective data. Historical age

breakouts may be revised in future reports as more complete data become available. Unless otherwise indicated, the historical calendar year program totals should agree with those shown in previous SSI Annual

Reports.

Table IV.B1 presents historical and projected numbers of persons applying for SSI benefits, by calendar

year of application. Figure IV.B1 presents this same information in graphical form. Actual numbers of

applications received in 1999 were about 3.3 percent higher than were received in 1998. The actual result

1 Parent-to-child deeming ends in all cases when an individual turns 18.
2000 SSI Annual Report

26

for 1999 was about 0.9 percent lower than estimated for 1999 in the 1999 Annual Report. This slightly

more favorable experience is probably largely attributable to better performance of the economy than

anticipated at the beginning of 1999, since no legislative or regulatory changes occurred in 1999 that

would have had a significant impact on SSI applications. Longer term trends in applications are estimated

to continue to grow from current levels roughly in line with overall population growth.

Notes:

1. Historical split among age groups is estimated.

2. Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

Table IV.B1.—SSI Federally-Administered Applications, 1 Calendar Years 1974-2024

[In thousands]

1 Based on data reported in the Integrated Workload Management System (formerly known as the District Office Workload Report).

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....... ( 2 )

2 Consistent data on applications for 1974 (the first year of operation of the program) are not available.

( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 )

1975 3 ...

3 Totals estimated using a 1-percent sample.

( 4 )

4 Age-specific information for these years not yet available.

( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) 1,075 325 1,400

1976....... ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) 984 254 1,239

1977....... ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) 1,040 259 1,298

1978....... ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) 1,046 258 1,304

1979....... ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) 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 ( 5 )

5 Fewer than 500.

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 ( 5 ) 178 108 944 286 1,230

1985....... 114 294 297 409 7 ( 5 ) 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 ( 5 ) 146 76 1,072 222 1,294

1990....... 149 335 380 356 6 ( 5 ) 156 71 1,226 227 1,454

1991....... 237 391 453 391 7 ( 5 ) 159 68 1,479 227 1,706

1992....... 339 453 522 407 8 ( 5 ) 163 64 1,728 226 1,955

1993....... 473 506 570 416 7 ( 5 ) 158 61 1,973 218 2,191

1994....... 517 492 571 402 6 ( 5 ) 136 52 1,989 188 2,177

1995....... 473 435 524 363 6 ( 5 ) 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 ( 5 ) 107 39 1,468 145 1,614

Estimated:

2000....... 341 328 472 347 6 ( 5 ) 105 39 1,494 144 1,637

2001....... 342 333 470 360 6 ( 5 ) 104 39 1,510 143 1,653

2002....... 342 334 471 373 6 ( 5 ) 104 39 1,526 143 1,669

2003....... 342 336 471 387 6 ( 5 ) 104 39 1,542 143 1,685

2004....... 342 336 470 401 6 ( 5 ) 103 39 1,556 142 1,698

2005....... 342 337 470 415 6 ( 5 ) 102 39 1,570 141 1,710

2006....... 342 338 467 429 6 ( 5 ) 102 38 1,583 140 1,722

2007....... 341 342 462 443 7 ( 5 ) 103 37 1,595 140 1,735

2008....... 341 347 456 456 7 ( 5 ) 103 36 1,607 140 1,747

2009....... 341 352 450 468 7 ( 5 ) 103 36 1,618 138 1,756

2010....... 341 356 444 480 7 ( 5 ) 103 35 1,628 138 1,766

2011....... 341 360 439 489 8 ( 5 ) 107 35 1,638 142 1,780

2012....... 342 363 434 496 9 ( 5 ) 112 35 1,645 147 1,792

2013....... 343 366 430 503 9 ( 5 ) 115 35 1,651 150 1,801

2014....... 344 367 427 509 9 ( 5 ) 119 35 1,657 154 1,811

2015....... 345 368 427 512 9 ( 5 ) 123 35 1,662 159 1,821

2016....... 346 370 427 514 10 ( 5 ) 128 36 1,667 164 1,830

2017....... 347 371 429 513 10 ( 5 ) 131 37 1,670 168 1,838

2018....... 348 372 430 512 10 ( 5 ) 135 38 1,673 172 1,845

2019....... 350 373 431 510 11 ( 5 ) 140 39 1,675 178 1,853

2020....... 351 374 432 509 11 ( 5 ) 144 40 1,677 184 1,861

2021....... 352 375 434 506 11 ( 5 ) 149 41 1,678 190 1,868

2022....... 353 376 438 501 11 ( 5 ) 152 43 1,679 195 1,874

2023....... 354 376 444 494 11 ( 5 ) 155 45 1,679 200 1,879

2024....... 354 375 450 487 12 ( 5 ) 159 46 1,679 205 1,884
27

2000 SSI Annual Report

The adjudication of these applications involves an evaluation of 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, in over 90 percent of the cases, an evaluation of an alleged impairment must be

done by the appropriate State Disability Determination Service. An unfavorable disability determination

may then be appealed by the applicant through several administrative levels of appeal. If all administrative

levels of appeal are exhausted, the applicant may in turn carry his/her appeal to the Federal courts. Data on

recent historical experience for this disability decision process is presented in section V.C. 

Table IV.B2 and figure IV.B2 present historical and projected numbers of persons who are ultimately

awarded SSI eligibility as a result of this decision process. In that table and graph, we are essentially

counting individuals as being awarded in the first month that they move into SSI payment status. For this

reason, we refer to these individuals as “new entrants” rather than “awards.” 1 The numbers of new

entrants into SSI payment status increased in 1998 and again slightly in 1999 following a period of decline

ending in 1997.

Figure IV.B1.—SSI Federally-Administered Applications by Age Group, Calendar Years 1980-2025

[In thousands]

1 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. 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 entrant” in the first month of presumptive disability payment. In contrast, ORES would not count

this person as an award until a final disability allowance decision had been rendered.

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025

Calendar year

35-49

65-74

50-64

18-34

0-17

75 or older

Historical Estimated
2000 SSI Annual Report

28

Notes:

1. Historical split among age groups is estimated.

2. Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

Table IV.B2.—SSI Federally-Administered New Entrants, Calendar Years 1974-2024

[In thousands]

Calendar 

year 1 

1 Represents period in which first payment was made, not date of first eligibility for payments.

Blind or disabled, by age group Aged, by age group Totals 2 

2 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 3 ...

3 Totals for 1974 include recipients converted from previous State programs as well as new entrants to the SSI program during 1974.

( 4 )

4 Age-specific information for these years not yet available.

( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) 1,919 2,479 4,398

1975....... ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) 584 347 931

1976....... ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) 452 218 669

1977....... ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) 429 209 637

1978....... ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) 370 193 563

1979....... ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) 330 169 499

1980....... 41 92 61 142 4 ( 5 ) 125 59 341 184 524

1981....... 37 77 49 106 3 ( 5 )

5 Fewer than 500.

80 37 272 117 389

1982....... 38 63 51 90 4 ( 5 ) 72 31 245 103 348

1983....... 47 88 62 117 3 ( 5 ) 95 51 317 146 463

1984....... 47 109 78 142 4 ( 5 ) 131 78 380 209 589

1985....... 48 104 80 148 4 ( 5 ) 106 46 384 152 536

1986....... 55 127 109 153 5 ( 5 ) 110 51 449 161 610

1987....... 48 119 106 157 5 ( 5 ) 116 52 435 167 602

1988....... 50 101 108 146 5 1 112 56 412 167 579

1989....... 48 113 115 155 5 ( 5 ) 127 62 436 189 625

1990....... 76 136 134 182 5 ( 5 ) 149 66 533 215 748

1991....... 126 146 172 200 6 ( 5 ) 139 54 650 193 844

1992....... 221 199 221 233 6 ( 5 ) 133 48 881 181 1,062

1993....... 235 194 221 225 6 ( 5 ) 136 49 881 185 1,066

1994....... 204 164 207 215 6 ( 5 ) 116 42 796 157 953

1995....... 177 147 207 218 5 ( 5 ) 105 36 755 141 895

1996....... 145 134 193 203 6 1 93 35 681 128 809

1997....... 116 111 171 178 4 ( 5 ) 68 25 580 93 673

1998....... 135 117 181 194 7 1 78 30 634 108 742

1999....... 140 114 186 195 5 ( 5 ) 87 33 640 120 760

Estimated:

2000....... 147 119 185 199 6 ( 5 ) 87 33 656 120 776

2001....... 143 120 185 205 5 ( 5 ) 85 33 659 118 777

2002....... 143 120 185 213 6 ( 5 ) 85 33 668 118 785

2003....... 143 121 186 221 6 ( 5 ) 85 33 676 118 794

2004....... 143 121 186 229 6 ( 5 ) 84 33 685 117 801

2005....... 143 121 185 237 6 ( 5 ) 83 32 693 115 808

2006....... 143 121 184 244 6 ( 5 ) 83 32 698 114 812

2007....... 143 121 179 249 7 ( 5 ) 83 31 699 114 813

2008....... 143 121 175 253 7 ( 5 ) 83 30 698 113 811

2009....... 143 120 170 256 6 ( 5 ) 82 29 695 111 806

2010....... 143 120 165 259 6 ( 5 ) 82 28 692 110 802

2011....... 143 120 160 260 6 ( 5 ) 85 28 690 113 803

2012....... 144 120 158 263 7 ( 5 ) 88 28 691 116 807

2013....... 144 121 156 267 7 ( 5 ) 90 28 694 117 812

2014....... 144 121 155 270 7 ( 5 ) 94 28 697 121 818

2015....... 145 121 155 272 7 ( 5 ) 97 28 699 125 825

2016....... 145 122 155 273 7 ( 5 ) 101 29 702 129 831

2017....... 146 122 155 273 7 ( 5 ) 104 29 703 133 837

2018....... 146 122 156 273 7 ( 5 ) 107 30 705 137 842

2019....... 147 123 156 272 8 ( 5 ) 111 31 706 142 847

2020....... 147 123 157 272 8 ( 5 ) 114 32 707 146 853

2021....... 148 124 158 270 8 ( 5 ) 118 33 707 150 858

2022....... 148 124 159 268 8 ( 5 ) 121 34 708 155 863

2023....... 148 124 161 265 8 ( 5 ) 123 36 707 159 866

2024....... 148 124 164 262 8 ( 5 ) 126 37 707 164 870
29

2000 SSI Annual Report

Some of the persons receiving SSI benefits in a year will be removed from current-payment status during

the year because of death or the loss of SSI eligibility. The loss of eligibility can occur either as the result

of an evaluation of the individual’s nonmedical factors of eligibility, including income and resources, or

due to a determination that he/she is no longer disabled as defined under the Social Security Act. For

example, disabled children, upon attainment of age 18, lose eligibility if they do not qualify for benefits

under the disabled adult eligibility criteria. For purposes of this presentation, we refer to the net reduction

in the number of SSI recipients in payment status during a period as the number of SSI terminations for

that period. As discussed previously, beginning with the 1999 Annual Report, we have separated these

numbers of people moving out of payment status into those leaving due to death (table IV.B3), and those

leaving 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. 

Actual experience for terminations in 1999 was roughly in line with that anticipated in the 1999 Annual

Report with the exception of terminations, for reasons other than death, among disabled recipients. The

higher numbers of terminations among disabled SSI recipients are largely attributable to the unexpected

effectiveness of continuing disability reviews being conducted for the first time among certain segments of

the SSI recipient population. 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.

Figure IV.B2.—SSI Federally-Administered New Entrants by Age Group, Calendar Years 1980-2025

[In thousands]

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025

Calendar year

35-49

65-74

50-64

18-34

0-17

Historical Estimated

75 or older
2000 SSI Annual Report

30

Notes:

1. Historical split among age groups is estimated.

2. Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

Table IV.B3.—SSI Federally-Administered Terminations Due to Death, Calendar Years 1974-2024

[In thousands]

Calendar 

year

Blind or disabled, by age group Aged, by age group Totals 1 

1 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....... ( 2 )

2 Data not available.

( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 )

1975....... ( 3 )

3 Age-specific information for these years not yet available.

( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) 65 147 212

1976....... ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) 64 137 201

1977....... ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) 65 137 203

1978....... ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) 67 126 193

1979....... ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) 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

Estimated:

2000....... 5 9 27 47 28 21 13 63 138 76 214

2001....... 5 9 28 48 28 21 13 62 139 75 214

2002....... 5 9 28 50 29 21 12 62 142 74 216

2003....... 6 9 28 51 29 21 12 62 145 73 218

2004....... 6 9 28 53 30 22 11 61 147 73 220

2005....... 6 9 28 55 30 22 11 61 150 72 222

2006....... 6 9 28 57 31 22 11 60 153 71 224

2007....... 6 9 28 59 32 22 11 60 156 71 227

2008....... 6 9 28 61 33 23 11 59 159 70 229

2009....... 6 9 27 63 33 23 11 59 161 69 231

2010....... 6 9 26 65 34 23 11 58 164 69 232

2011....... 6 9 26 66 35 23 11 57 166 68 234

2012....... 6 9 25 67 36 24 11 56 168 68 235

2013....... 6 9 25 67 38 24 11 56 170 67 237

2014....... 6 9 25 68 39 24 11 55 172 66 238

2015....... 6 10 24 68 40 25 12 54 173 66 239

2016....... 7 10 24 69 41 25 12 54 175 66 241

2017....... 7 10 24 69 42 26 12 53 177 65 243

2018....... 7 10 24 69 43 27 13 53 179 65 244

2019....... 7 10 24 69 45 27 13 52 181 65 246

2020....... 7 10 24 68 46 27 14 52 182 66 248

2021....... 7 10 24 68 47 28 14 52 184 66 250

2022....... 7 10 24 67 48 29 15 52 186 67 252

2023....... 7 10 24 67 49 30 15 53 187 68 255

2024....... 7 10 25 66 50 31 15 53 188 69 257
31

2000 SSI Annual Report

Notes:

1. Historical split among age groups is estimated.

2. Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

Table IV.B4.—SSI Federally-Administered Terminations Due to Reasons Other Than Death, Calendar Years 1974-2024

[In thousands]

Calendar 

year

Blind or disabled, by age group Aged, by age group Totals 1 

1 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 ...... ( 2 )

2 Data not available.

( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 )

1975 ...... ( 3 )

3 Age-specific information for these years not yet available.

( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) 221 180 401

1976 ...... ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) 306 240 546

1977 ...... ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) 265 168 433

1978 ...... ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) 241 150 391

1979 ...... ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) 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

Estimated:

2000 ...... 90 100 115 116 22 8 22 39 451 61 512

2001 ...... 54 100 121 122 21 8 21 41 427 62 489

2002 ...... 56 101 122 127 21 8 21 40 435 61 496

2003 ...... 62 102 122 131 21 8 20 40 447 60 507

2004 ...... 62 102 123 136 21 8 20 40 452 60 512

2005 ...... 61 102 122 141 22 9 19 40 457 59 516

2006 ...... 59 103 122 146 22 9 19 39 461 58 519

2007 ...... 56 105 120 151 23 9 19 39 464 58 522

2008 ...... 53 106 118 155 24 9 19 38 466 57 523

2009 ...... 49 108 116 160 24 9 19 37 465 57 522

2010 ...... 46 109 114 164 24 9 19 37 465 56 521

2011 ...... 44 110 111 166 25 9 19 36 466 56 521

2012 ...... 45 110 109 168 27 9 20 36 469 55 524

2013 ...... 46 111 108 170 27 9 20 35 471 55 526

2014 ...... 47 112 106 171 28 9 21 35 474 55 529

2015 ...... 47 113 105 172 29 10 21 34 476 55 531

2016 ...... 47 114 105 172 30 10 22 34 478 55 534

2017 ...... 47 115 105 172 31 10 22 33 481 56 536

2018 ...... 48 117 105 172 31 10 23 33 483 56 539

2019 ...... 48 118 105 171 32 10 24 33 484 57 541

2020 ...... 48 119 104 170 33 11 25 33 486 58 543

2021 ...... 48 120 105 169 34 11 25 33 487 59 545

2022 ...... 48 121 105 167 35 11 26 34 488 60 548

2023 ...... 48 122 107 165 36 12 27 34 489 61 550

2024 ...... 48 122 108 163 36 12 27 35 489 62 552
2000 SSI Annual Report

32

Notes:

1. Historical split among age groups is estimated.

2. Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

Table IV.B5.—SSI Federally-Administered Terminations for All Reasons, Calendar Years 1974-2024

[In thousands]

Calendar 

year

Blind or disabled, by age group Aged, by age group Totals 1 

1 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...... ( 2 )

2 Data not available.

( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 )

1975...... ( 3 )

3 Age-specific information for these years not yet available.

( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) 287 326 613

1976...... ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) 371 377 748

1977...... ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) 330 305 636

1978...... ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) 308 276 584

1979...... ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) 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

Estimated:

2000...... 95 109 143 164 49 29 35 102 589 137 726

2001...... 59 109 149 170 49 29 34 103 566 137 703

2002...... 62 110 150 176 49 29 33 102 577 135 712

2003...... 68 111 151 182 50 30 32 102 591 134 725

2004...... 68 111 151 189 51 30 31 101 600 132 732

2005...... 67 111 151 196 52 31 30 100 607 131 738

2006...... 65 112 150 203 53 31 30 99 614 130 744

2007...... 62 114 148 210 55 31 30 98 620 128 748

2008...... 59 115 146 216 56 31 30 97 624 127 752

2009...... 55 117 143 222 58 32 30 96 627 126 753

2010...... 52 118 140 228 58 32 30 95 629 125 754

2011...... 50 119 137 232 60 32 30 93 631 124 755

2012...... 52 120 135 234 63 33 31 92 637 123 759

2013...... 53 121 133 237 65 33 31 91 641 122 763

2014...... 53 121 131 239 67 34 32 90 645 121 767

2015...... 54 122 130 240 69 35 33 88 649 121 770

2016...... 54 124 129 241 71 35 34 87 654 121 774

2017...... 54 125 129 241 73 36 35 86 658 121 779

2018...... 54 126 129 240 75 37 36 86 662 122 783

2019...... 54 128 128 240 77 37 37 85 665 122 787

2020...... 55 129 128 239 80 38 39 85 668 123 791

2021...... 55 130 128 237 82 39 40 85 671 125 796

2022...... 55 131 129 235 83 40 41 86 673 127 800

2023...... 55 132 131 232 85 42 42 87 676 129 805

2024...... 55 132 133 229 86 43 43 88 678 131 809
33

2000 SSI Annual Report

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

specified period. Individuals receiving Federal SSI payments, who comprise the great majority of Federally-administered recipients, are presented in table IV.B6 and in figure IV.B4. The net effect of actual

experience in 1999 was that there were roughly 1.3 percent fewer Federal SSI recipients at the end of 1999

than estimated for the 1999 Annual Report.

Figure IV.B3.—SSI Federally-Administered Terminations by Age Group, Calendar Years 1980-2025

[In thousands]

Table IV.B6.—SSI Recipients with Federal Benefits in Current-Payment Status as of December, 1974-2024

[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 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 )

1975....... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,869 2,025 3,893

1976....... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,932 1,867 3,799

1977....... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 2,013 1,765 3,778

1978....... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 2,069 1,686 3,755

1979....... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 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

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025

Calendar year

35-49

65-74

50-64

18-34

0-17

Historical Estimated

75 or older
2000 SSI Annual Report

34

Notes:

1. Historical split among age groups is estimated.

2. Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

Estimated:

2000....... 840 995 1,304 1,314 483 197 483 702 5,132 1,186 6,318

2001....... 870 989 1,321 1,354 490 198 466 702 5,222 1,168 6,389

2002....... 895 986 1,330 1,399 497 201 451 701 5,309 1,151 6,460

2003....... 911 987 1,336 1,444 508 204 438 699 5,391 1,137 6,527

2004....... 926 986 1,340 1,496 516 207 427 695 5,472 1,122 6,595

2005....... 940 987 1,342 1,551 525 211 417 690 5,554 1,108 6,662

2006....... 953 991 1,336 1,607 536 212 414 680 5,635 1,094 6,729

2007....... 966 999 1,322 1,658 551 214 413 668 5,710 1,081 6,791

2008....... 980 1,010 1,302 1,706 568 214 413 655 5,781 1,067 6,848

2009....... 997 1,020 1,279 1,755 579 216 412 642 5,846 1,053 6,900

2010....... 1,017 1,028 1,254 1,802 586 220 411 629 5,907 1,040 6,947

2011....... 1,039 1,035 1,230 1,832 605 222 414 616 5,963 1,030 6,993

2012....... 1,058 1,041 1,209 1,850 632 226 420 603 6,015 1,023 7,038

2013....... 1,076 1,047 1,191 1,870 653 230 426 592 6,066 1,019 7,085

2014....... 1,092 1,054 1,175 1,887 673 234 436 582 6,116 1,018 7,134

2015....... 1,107 1,062 1,165 1,899 693 238 448 573 6,164 1,022 7,186

2016....... 1,119 1,071 1,161 1,904 713 243 462 567 6,211 1,029 7,240

2017....... 1,129 1,080 1,160 1,903 733 249 474 565 6,254 1,040 7,294

2018....... 1,139 1,091 1,159 1,900 753 255 488 566 6,296 1,054 7,350

2019....... 1,149 1,101 1,157 1,895 775 259 506 565 6,335 1,071 7,406

2020....... 1,158 1,110 1,155 1,889 799 262 526 565 6,373 1,091 7,464

2021....... 1,166 1,119 1,157 1,878 819 270 541 573 6,408 1,114 7,522

2022....... 1,174 1,127 1,165 1,858 835 281 552 587 6,440 1,140 7,580

2023....... 1,181 1,134 1,178 1,835 852 290 567 600 6,471 1,167 7,638

2024....... 1,188 1,140 1,193 1,811 868 299 582 615 6,498 1,197 7,695

1 Data not available.

2 Age-specific information for these years not yet available.

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

as of December, 1980-2025

[In thousands]

Table IV.B6.—SSI Recipients with Federal Benefits in Current-Payment Status as of December, 1974-2024 (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

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025

Calendar year

35-49

65-74

50-64

18-34

0-17

75 or older

Historical Estimated
35

2000 SSI Annual Report

As illustrated in figure IV.B4, 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 1999, the Federal SSI recipient population grew at an annual rate of less than 1 percent. Our

forecasts indicate that this modest growth rate is expected to continue throughout 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. For the totals shown in this presentation, the percentages are calculated

using the population age group totals corresponding to the age groups in the Federal recipient categories.

Because the ratios for the separate recipient categories are computed as percentages of differing base populations, the percentage for the total SSI recipient population is not the arithmetic sum of the percentages

for the respective recipient categories.

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, 1975-2024 

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

disabled1

1 Blind or disabled recipients as a percentage of the total Social Security Area population.

Aged 2

2 Aged recipients as a percentage of the 65 or older Social Security Area population.

All 3

3 Total recipients as a percentage of the total Social Security Area population. Totals do not equal sums of components due to overlapping populations.

Historical data:

1975...... ( 4 )

4 Age-specific information for these years not yet available.

( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) 0.83 8.62 1.73

1976...... ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) .85 7.76 1.67

1977...... ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) .88 7.16 1.65

1978...... ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) .89 6.68 1.62

1979...... ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) .90 6.17 1.58

1980...... 0.29 0.70 0.91 2.19 2.16 0.17 3.84 8.78 .91 5.82 1.56

1981...... .30 .72 .87 2.10 2.27 .16 3.36 8.20 .91 5.31 1.50

1982...... .29 .71 .83 1.99 2.35 .19 2.80 7.79 .89 4.82 1.44

1983...... .30 .76 .85 2.03 2.47 .24 2.70 7.75 .92 4.76 1.47

1984...... .32 .81 .88 2.06 2.40 .40 2.74 7.49 .96 4.69 1.50

1985...... .34 .87 .92 2.11 2.33 .59 2.68 7.11 1.00 4.51 1.53

1986...... .36 .94 1.00 2.20 2.26 .74 2.64 6.67 1.05 4.31 1.56

1987...... .38 .98 1.06 2.25 2.20 .89 2.60 6.33 1.09 4.15 1.59

1988...... .38 1.00 1.10 2.30 2.14 .98 2.59 5.97 1.11 4.00 1.60

1989...... .39 1.03 1.16 2.38 2.08 1.08 2.66 5.70 1.14 3.94 1.63

1990...... .45 1.09 1.24 2.49 2.10 1.13 2.74 5.46 1.21 3.90 1.69

1991...... .57 1.16 1.36 2.63 2.09 1.18 2.90 5.23 1.31 3.91 1.79

1992...... .79 1.30 1.51 2.81 2.13 1.20 3.06 5.04 1.46 3.92 1.95

1993...... 1.02 1.41 1.64 2.94 2.16 1.21 3.19 4.88 1.60 3.93 2.09

1994...... 1.17 1.49 1.75 3.05 2.23 1.21 3.20 4.76 1.71 3.89 2.20

1995...... 1.27 1.55 1.83 3.13 2.29 1.22 3.16 4.64 1.78 3.82 2.26

1996...... 1.31 1.57 1.87 3.15 2.34 1.22 3.09 4.52 1.82 3.74 2.29

1997...... 1.20 1.54 1.84 3.08 2.43 1.20 2.91 4.38 1.78 3.59 2.22

1998...... 1.21 1.55 1.88 3.08 2.48 1.20 2.79 4.30 1.80 3.50 2.23

1999...... 1.15 1.51 1.91 3.05 2.55 1.16 2.69 4.19 1.79 3.40 2.21

Estimated:

2000...... 1.14 1.49 1.94 3.03 2.61 1.15 2.61 4.12 1.79 3.33 2.21

2001...... 1.18 1.48 1.96 3.01 2.65 1.15 2.52 4.07 1.81 3.27 2.21

2002...... 1.21 1.47 1.97 3.00 2.69 1.15 2.44 4.01 1.82 3.20 2.22

2003...... 1.23 1.46 1.99 2.99 2.73 1.15 2.36 3.95 1.84 3.13 2.22

2004...... 1.24 1.46 2.00 2.99 2.76 1.16 2.28 3.89 1.85 3.07 2.23

2005...... 1.26 1.45 2.00 2.99 2.78 1.17 2.21 3.83 1.86 3.00 2.23

2006...... 1.28 1.45 2.01 2.99 2.79 1.17 2.15 3.76 1.88 2.93 2.24

2007...... 1.30 1.45 2.00 3.00 2.78 1.18 2.08 3.68 1.89 2.85 2.24

2008...... 1.32 1.44 2.00 3.00 2.76 1.18 2.01 3.61 1.89 2.76 2.24

2009...... 1.34 1.44 1.99 3.00 2.74 1.19 1.94 3.53 1.90 2.68 2.24

2010...... 1.37 1.43 1.98 2.99 2.70 1.20 1.89 3.45 1.91 2.60 2.24

2011...... 1.40 1.42 1.96 2.98 2.67 1.21 1.83 3.36 1.91 2.51 2.24

2012...... 1.42 1.42 1.95 2.96 2.64 1.23 1.76 3.27 1.91 2.42 2.24

2013...... 1.44 1.42 1.94 2.96 2.61 1.24 1.70 3.19 1.92 2.34 2.24

2014...... 1.46 1.42 1.92 2.95 2.58 1.25 1.67 3.10 1.92 2.27 2.24

2015...... 1.48 1.43 1.91 2.94 2.55 1.26 1.65 3.02 1.92 2.21 2.24

2016...... 1.49 1.43 1.89 2.94 2.52 1.26 1.63 2.94 1.92 2.16 2.24

2017...... 1.50 1.44 1.88 2.94 2.50 1.26 1.62 2.86 1.92 2.12 2.24

2018...... 1.51 1.45 1.87 2.93 2.49 1.26 1.61 2.79 1.92 2.09 2.24

2019...... 1.52 1.46 1.87 2.93 2.47 1.25 1.61 2.72 1.92 2.05 2.24

2020...... 1.52 1.47 1.86 2.92 2.45 1.24 1.62 2.66 1.92 2.03 2.25

2021...... 1.53 1.48 1.85 2.92 2.44 1.23 1.62 2.60 1.92 2.01 2.25

2022...... 1.53 1.49 1.85 2.92 2.44 1.22 1.61 2.55 1.92 1.99 2.25

2023...... 1.54 1.50 1.85 2.92 2.43 1.21 1.62 2.51 1.91 1.98 2.26

2024...... 1.54 1.51 1.85 2.91 2.42 1.20 1.62 2.47 1.91 1.97 2.26
2000 SSI Annual Report

36

Table IV.B7 indicates that the percentage of the total Social Security Area population who were receiving

Federal SSI payments declined from the inception of the program through the early 1980s. In 1983, this

percentage started increasing and continued to increase through 1996. Due to factors described previously,

the percentage of the total population receiving Federal SSI payments declined in 1997, but has leveled out

since and is expected to remain fairly constant throughout the projection period. 

The various subcategories of Federal SSI recipients, however, follow significantly different growth patterns in relationship to their respective population totals. The aged Federal SSI recipient population

declines steadily as a percentage of the 65 or older population. In contrast, except for recent decreases 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 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. After the recent modest

decreases due to the implementation of legislation described in other sections the number of blind or disabled persons receiving Federal SSI payments is estimated to increase very gradually as a percentage of

the total population.

Historical and projected numbers of individuals who receive only a Federally-administered State supplement are presented in table IV.B8.

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, 1980-2025

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

7%

8%

9%

10%

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025

Calendar year

0-17

18-34

35-49

50-64

65-74

75 or older

Total
37

2000 SSI Annual Report

Notes:

1. Historical split among age groups is estimated.

2. Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

The combined numbers of persons receiving either a Federal SSI payment or a Federally-administered

State supplement are displayed in table IV.B9.

In examining the recent history of SSI participation and the projections of such participation in the near

future, certain patterns are worth noting. The rapid increase in the total number of SSI participants in the

early 1990s is a function of 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

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

in Current-Payment Status as of December, 1974-2024

[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 )

1 Data not available.

( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 )

1975....... ( 2 )

2 Age-specific information for these years not yet available.

( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 139 282 421

1976....... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 156 280 437

1977....... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 174 286 460

1978....... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 180 282 462

1979....... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 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

Estimated:

2000....... 2 19 58 62 29 13 43 61 184 105 288

2001....... 2 19 58 65 30 13 43 61 187 104 291

2002....... 2 19 58 68 30 12 42 61 191 102 293

2003....... 2 19 59 71 31 12 41 61 194 101 296

2004....... 2 19 59 74 32 13 40 60 198 100 298

2005....... 2 19 59 76 32 13 39 60 201 99 300

2006....... 2 19 58 79 33 13 39 59 204 98 302

2007....... 2 19 58 82 34 13 39 58 208 97 305

2008....... 2 19 57 85 35 13 39 56 211 96 307

2009....... 2 19 56 87 36 13 39 55 214 95 308

2010....... 3 19 55 90 37 13 39 54 217 93 310

2011....... 3 19 54 92 38 13 40 53 219 93 312

2012....... 3 19 53 93 40 13 41 52 221 93 314

2013....... 3 19 52 94 41 14 41 51 224 93 316

2014....... 3 20 51 95 43 14 42 51 225 93 319

2015....... 3 20 51 96 44 14 44 50 227 94 321

2016....... 3 20 51 96 45 14 45 50 229 95 324

2017....... 3 20 50 96 47 15 47 50 231 97 327

2018....... 3 20 50 96 48 15 48 50 232 98 331

2019....... 3 20 50 96 49 15 50 51 234 100 334

2020....... 3 20 50 96 51 15 52 51 236 103 338

2021....... 3 21 50 95 52 16 53 52 237 105 342

2022....... 3 21 50 94 53 17 54 53 238 108 346

2023....... 3 21 51 93 54 17 56 55 240 111 350

2024....... 3 21 52 92 55 18 57 56 241 114 354
2000 SSI Annual Report

38

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 which is still not completely understood. However, extensive research conducted under contract to SSA and the Department of

Health and Human Services suggested 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 recent modest decline in program participation reflects the combined effects of recent legislation described in previous sections, along with

changes in some of the factors mentioned above.

Notes:

1. Historical split among age groups is estimated.

2. Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

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

as of December, 1974-2024

[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 )

1 Age-specific information for these years not yet available.

( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1,710 2,286 3,996

1975...... ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 2,007 2,307 4,314

1976...... ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 2,088 2,148 4,236

1977...... ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 2,187 2,051 4,238

1978...... ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 2,249 1,968 4,217

1979...... ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 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

Estimated:

2000...... 842 1,014 1,362 1,376 512 209 527 764 5,316 1,291 6,606

2001...... 872 1,008 1,379 1,420 520 210 509 763 5,409 1,271 6,680

2002...... 898 1,006 1,388 1,467 528 213 492 761 5,500 1,254 6,754

2003...... 914 1,006 1,395 1,515 539 216 478 760 5,585 1,238 6,823

2004...... 929 1,005 1,399 1,570 548 219 467 755 5,670 1,222 6,892

2005...... 943 1,005 1,400 1,627 557 223 457 750 5,755 1,207 6,962

2006...... 956 1,009 1,395 1,686 569 224 453 739 5,839 1,192 7,031

2007...... 968 1,018 1,379 1,740 586 226 452 726 5,918 1,177 7,095

2008...... 983 1,029 1,359 1,791 603 227 452 711 5,992 1,163 7,155

2009...... 1,000 1,039 1,335 1,842 616 229 451 697 6,060 1,148 7,208

2010...... 1,020 1,048 1,309 1,892 623 233 450 684 6,124 1,133 7,257

2011...... 1,041 1,054 1,284 1,924 643 235 454 669 6,182 1,123 7,305

2012...... 1,060 1,060 1,262 1,944 672 239 460 655 6,237 1,116 7,352

2013...... 1,078 1,066 1,243 1,965 694 244 467 644 6,290 1,111 7,401

2014...... 1,095 1,074 1,226 1,983 716 248 478 633 6,342 1,111 7,453

2015...... 1,110 1,081 1,216 1,995 737 253 492 624 6,392 1,116 7,507

2016...... 1,122 1,091 1,211 2,000 759 257 507 617 6,440 1,124 7,564

2017...... 1,132 1,100 1,210 2,000 779 263 521 615 6,485 1,136 7,621

2018...... 1,142 1,111 1,209 1,996 800 270 536 616 6,528 1,152 7,680

2019...... 1,151 1,121 1,207 1,991 824 274 555 616 6,569 1,171 7,740

2020...... 1,160 1,130 1,205 1,985 850 278 578 615 6,608 1,194 7,802

2021...... 1,169 1,139 1,207 1,973 871 286 595 625 6,645 1,219 7,864

2022...... 1,177 1,148 1,215 1,953 888 298 607 641 6,679 1,248 7,926

2023...... 1,184 1,155 1,229 1,929 906 307 623 655 6,710 1,278 7,988

2024...... 1,191 1,161 1,245 1,903 923 316 639 671 6,739 1,311 8,050
39

2000 SSI Annual Report

C. FEDERAL PAYMENTS UNDER SSI

In order to estimate future amounts of Federal expenditures under SSI, the projected Federal benefit rates

shown in table IV.A2 are first modified to reflect actual payment levels, taking into account historical and

projected levels of adjustments for other actual or deemed income. Combining these actual payment levels

with the projected numbers of persons receiving Federal SSI payments yields estimates of the amounts of

Federal SSI payments. Historical amounts of such payments on a calendar year basis are shown in table

IV.C1. For purposes of this presentation, these payment amounts are computed on a cash-flow basis consistent with the concepts used to define SSI obligations for the Federal Budget. As a result, for months

after January 1978, SSI payments due on the first of the month are tabulated in the previous month, if the

first of the month falls on a weekend or Federal holiday. 1

Notes:

1. Historical split among age groups is estimated.

2. Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

Using this cash-flow concept causes these payments to differ from similar amounts shown in other Social

Security Administration publications, such as the Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin, in two main ways. First, the payments shown in the Annual Statistical Supplement are tabulated for

the month the payment is due, while the amounts shown in table IV.C1 are tabulated for the month they are

actually paid. 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. Thus, for example,

the calendar year 1999 payment amounts shown in table IV.C1 reflect payments made in January-Decem1 Public Law 95-216, the Social Security Amendments of 1977, enacted December 20, 1977, added a statutory requirement 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.

When the first of the month falls on a weekend or Federal holiday, all payments due on that day are paid in the previous month. Payments presented

on a cash-flow basis are tabulated according to the month in which they are actually paid.

Table IV.C1.—SSI Federal Payments in Current Dollars, 1 Calendar Years 1974-2000

[In millions]

1 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.

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......... ( 2 )

2 Age-specific information for these years not yet available.

( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) $2,050 $1,783 $3,833

1975......... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 2,471 1,843 4,314

1976......... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 2,727 1,785 4,512

1977......... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 2,966 1,737 4,703

1978 3 .....

3 Includes 13 months of payments since payments due on January 1, 1978 and January 1, 1979 were both paid in calendar year 1978.

( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 3,449 1,847 5,296

1979......... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 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 .....

4 Partially estimated.

4,936 5,243 6,531 6,461 1,740 675 1,487 2,306 25,586 3,793 29,379
2000 SSI Annual Report

40

ber, 1999, and include the payments due on January 1, 2000 (which were actually paid in December,

1999), but not the payments due on January 1, 1999 (which were actually paid in December, 1998). Second, beginning in 1991, SSI obligations as accounted for in the Federal Budget are not reduced for certain

recovered overpayments which are remitted directly to the Department of the Treasury. The payments

shown in the Annual Statistical Supplement continue to report an amount which is reduced by such overpayment recoveries as was done for the Budget prior to 1991.

Corresponding amounts of SSI outlays on a fiscal year 1 basis are presented in table IV.C2 for fiscal years

1978-2000. Fiscal years prior to 1978 are omitted from table IV.C2 since historical SSI payment amounts

on a fiscal year basis for years prior to 1978 are not readily available. As with the calendar year figures,

these fiscal year amounts are shown on a cash-flow 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.

Notes:

1. Historical split among age groups is estimated.

2. Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

1 Fiscal years 1977 and later cover the period from October 1 of the previous calendar year to September 30 of the year. For example,

fiscal year 1999 payments include payments made from October 1, 1998 through September 30, 1999.

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 month 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.

An exception to this general rule for October 1, 2000, was enacted in Public Law 105-33. Payments due on that Sunday will actually be paid on

Monday, October 2, rather than on Friday, September 29.

Table IV.C2.—SSI Federal Payments in Current Dollars, Fiscal Years 1978-2000

[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........ ( 1 )

1 Age-specific information for these years not yet available.

( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) $3,386 $1,848 $5,234

1979 2 .....

2 Payment due on October 1 of fiscal year paid in previous fiscal year.

( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 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 2 ..... 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 2 ..... 1,012 2,378 1,997 2,452 910 345 862 1,473 9,094 2,335 11,430

1990 2 ..... 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 2..... 4,554 4,719 5,031 4,822 1,341 560 1,596 1,884 21,027 3,480 24,507

1996 2 ..... 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 3 .....

3 Partially estimated.

4,866 5,182 6,409 6,308 1,709 668 1,493 2,282 25,143 3,775 28,918
41

2000 SSI Annual Report

When projecting dollar amounts over longer periods of time, the changing value of the dollar due to inflation can make meaningful comparisons of such amounts difficult. For this reason, in projecting SSI expenditures for 25 years, some means of removing inflation is generally desirable. Several economic series are

available to allow current dollars to be adjusted for changes in prices, wages, and certain other aspects of

economic growth during the projection period. The selection of a particular index for adjustment of current

dollars depends upon a determination as to which index provides the most useful standard for adjusting

dollar amounts over time, to create values that are appropriately comparable.

One of the most common forms of standardization is based on some measure of change in the prices of

consumer goods. One such price index is the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical

Workers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is the index used to determine annual increases

in the SSI Federal benefit rate as described in table IV.A2, and for this reason is an appropriate means of

standardizing projected SSI costs over time. Constant-dollar values of Federal SSI benefit payments (those

adjusted by the CPI) are presented in table IV.C3 for both the historical period, calendar years 1974-99,

along with the full 25-year projection period, 2000-24. This same information is presented in graphical

form in figure IV.C1.

The future growth in the “constant dollar” estimates is attributable primarily to the underlying growth in

the U.S. population as shown in table IV.A1, since, after the spike in terminations in 1997, the SSI recipient population is projected to remain fairly constant as a percentage of the total U.S. population. However, a small part of the growth in estimated payments is due to some underlying real growth in the

assumed average SSI benefit. This results from an estimated increase in the disabled child recipients and a

decrease in aged recipients as a percentage of the total SSI recipient population, along with the fact that

disabled children typically have a much larger SSI benefit than do aged recipients. 1

1 Disabled children typically have higher monthly Federal payment amounts because they have, on average, much less countable income than do

adult recipients.

Figure IV.C1.—SSI Federal Payments, by Age Group, in Constant 2000 Dollars, Calendar Years 1980-2025

[In billions]

$0

$10

$20

$30

$40

$50

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025

Calendar year

Constant 2000 dollars -- billions

35-49

65-74

50-64

18-34

0-17

75 or older

Historical Estimated
2000 SSI Annual Report

42

Notes:

1. Historical split among age groups is estimated.

2. Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

Table IV.C3.—SSI Federal Payments in Constant 2000 Dollars, Calendar Years 1974-2024

[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

Historical data:

1974....... ( 1 )

1 Age-specific information for these years not yet available.

( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) $6,953 $6,037 $12,990

1975....... ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 7,682 5,730 13,412

1976....... ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 8,019 5,249 13,268

1977....... ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 8,192 4,797 12,989

1978 2 ...

2 Includes 13 months of payments since payments due on January 1, 1978 and January 1, 1979 were both paid in calendar year 1978.

( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 8,843 4,736 13,579

1979....... ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 8,159 4,050 12,209

1980....... $806 $1,889 $1,484 $2,881 $1,104 $56 $1,302 $2,495 8,219 3,798 12,017

1981....... 843 1,985 1,511 2,838 1,204 58 1,183 2,430 8,439 3,613 12,052

1982....... 889 2,101 1,532 2,759 1,222 66 1,093 2,368 8,570 3,461 12,031

1983....... 967 2,312 1,660 2,872 1,304 97 1,052 2,426 9,212 3,478 12,690

1984....... 1,074 2,566 1,837 2,988 1,361 166 1,091 2,462 9,991 3,553 13,544

1985....... 1,158 2,688 1,967 3,028 1,311 252 1,100 2,358 10,403 3,458 13,860

1986....... 1,287 2,988 2,249 3,164 1,313 324 1,132 2,290 11,325 3,422 14,748

1987....... 1,345 3,111 2,419 3,224 1,265 387 1,144 2,159 11,751 3,304 15,055

1988....... 1,373 3,203 2,613 3,310 1,257 437 1,171 2,083 12,193 3,253 15,446

1989....... 1,407 3,335 2,809 3,403 1,285 502 1,209 2,030 12,740 3,238 15,978

1990....... 1,566 3,468 3,123 3,641 1,263 530 1,287 1,997 13,591 3,285 16,876

1991....... 2,102 3,919 3,715 4,139 1,328 579 1,464 2,051 15,782 3,515 19,296

1992....... 3,838 4,747 4,354 4,613 1,368 593 1,586 2,057 19,513 3,643 23,156

1993....... 4,627 5,285 4,929 4,957 1,430 607 1,741 2,082 21,836 3,823 25,659

1994....... 4,814 5,203 5,390 5,237 1,472 622 1,809 2,095 22,738 3,905 26,642

1995....... 5,229 5,363 5,789 5,497 1,523 635 1,796 2,134 24,036 3,929 27,966

1996....... 5,400 5,462 6,128 5,782 1,558 644 1,794 2,158 24,974 3,952 28,926

1997....... 5,251 5,369 5,939 5,774 1,606 655 1,693 2,183 24,594 3,876 28,469

1998....... 5,229 5,425 6,215 6,085 1,672 669 1,624 2,249 25,295 3,874 29,169

1999....... 4,983 5,289 6,374 6,222 1,711 674 1,549 2,274 25,253 3,823 29,076

Estimated:

2000....... 4,936 5,243 6,531 6,461 1,740 675 1,487 2,306 25,586 3,793 29,379

2001....... 5,054 5,247 6,687 6,712 1,778 684 1,440 2,324 26,161 3,764 29,925

2002....... 5,251 5,253 6,779 6,956 1,812 697 1,394 2,338 26,749 3,732 30,481

2003....... 5,385 5,252 6,829 7,180 1,849 708 1,355 2,353 27,204 3,708 30,913

2004....... 5,490 5,260 6,881 7,453 1,885 721 1,329 2,366 27,691 3,695 31,386

2005....... 5,571 5,263 6,900 7,725 1,917 733 1,303 2,370 28,110 3,673 31,782

2006....... 5,653 5,298 6,900 8,018 1,965 740 1,296 2,355 28,574 3,651 32,225

2007....... 5,727 5,360 6,850 8,285 2,029 749 1,291 2,327 29,000 3,618 32,619

2008....... 5,808 5,428 6,770 8,535 2,093 754 1,290 2,294 29,389 3,585 32,974

2009....... 5,909 5,494 6,672 8,789 2,140 765 1,288 2,264 29,769 3,551 33,320

2010....... 6,030 5,551 6,566 9,027 2,176 779 1,285 2,232 30,128 3,517 33,645

2011....... 6,159 5,597 6,461 9,187 2,257 792 1,291 2,189 30,453 3,480 33,933

2012....... 6,286 5,640 6,368 9,293 2,364 807 1,304 2,151 30,759 3,454 34,213

2013....... 6,401 5,681 6,287 9,398 2,448 826 1,320 2,115 31,039 3,436 34,475

2014....... 6,517 5,732 6,222 9,491 2,534 843 1,347 2,085 31,338 3,433 34,771

2015....... 6,614 5,776 6,181 9,540 2,614 860 1,380 2,057 31,585 3,438 35,022

2016....... 6,705 5,837 6,177 9,570 2,699 878 1,421 2,040 31,865 3,461 35,326

2017....... 6,778 5,898 6,183 9,565 2,780 904 1,457 2,036 32,108 3,493 35,600

2018....... 6,850 5,965 6,190 9,552 2,865 929 1,497 2,039 32,352 3,536 35,887

2019....... 6,917 6,029 6,190 9,530 2,961 948 1,550 2,038 32,574 3,588 36,163

2020....... 6,983 6,086 6,194 9,503 3,060 964 1,610 2,041 32,789 3,651 36,440

2021....... 7,046 6,143 6,217 9,449 3,144 997 1,653 2,072 32,996 3,725 36,721

2022....... 7,105 6,194 6,273 9,354 3,218 1,042 1,684 2,123 33,185 3,807 36,992

2023....... 7,161 6,246 6,358 9,251 3,295 1,079 1,727 2,170 33,390 3,897 37,287

2024....... 7,217 6,291 6,458 9,146 3,371 1,117 1,772 2,224 33,600 3,996 37,595
43

2000 SSI Annual Report

Although detailed projections of SSI State supplementary payments are not prepared, historical information on the amounts of such supplements is presented in tables IV.C4 and IV.C5. These amounts are consistent with those presented in the Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin and are

shown only for the two broad recipient categories.

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

Table IV.C4.—SSI Federally-Administered State Supplementary Payments in Current Dollars, Calendar Years 1974-99

[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

Table IV.C5.—SSI State-Administered Payments 1 in Current Dollars, Calendar Years 1974-99

[In millions]

1 Data provided by individual States are partially estimated, and may be incomplete.

Calendar year Aged

Blind or

disabled Total 2

2 Includes amounts not distributed by recipient category.

1974 ....................................... $89 $49 $149

1975 ....................................... 88 74 162

1976 ....................................... 88 77 166

1977 ....................................... 85 87 172

1978 ....................................... 91 88 180

1979 ....................................... 105 100 207

1980 ....................................... 117 106 226

1981 ....................................... 120 113 237

1982 ....................................... 125 119 276

1983 ....................................... 135 132 270

1984 ....................................... 141 152 299

1985 ....................................... 138 165 311

1986 ....................................... 147 185 340

1987 ....................................... 146 205 359

1988 ....................................... 150 224 381

1989 ....................................... 160 251 419

1990 ....................................... 177 281 466

1991 ....................................... 200 310 529

1992 ....................................... 216 323 550

1993 ....................................... 219 341 566

1994 ....................................... 225 354 585

1995 ....................................... 228 356 590

1996 ....................................... 225 307 539

1997 ....................................... 228 303 681

1998 ....................................... 259 429 808

1999 ....................................... ( 3 )

3 Not yet available.

(3) (3)
2000 SSI Annual Report

44

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

As mentioned in the previous section, in order to make meaningful comparisons of dollar amounts projected over long periods of time, it is essential to provide some sort of standardization that accounts for

various aspects of economic growth over the projection period. In that section, one such set of standardized amounts (“constant dollars”) was presented by adjusting for changes in the CPI over time. An alternative approach would be to provide some type of relative measure of these amounts. In the OASDI Trustees

Report, such a relative measure of program costs is produced by comparing the nominal annual outgo to

the total earnings in the economy subject to taxation under the OASDI program. In the case of SSI, a more

appropriate measure is produced by comparing estimated annual SSI costs to the Gross Domestic Product

(GDP—the total value of goods and services produced in the United States). In addition to providing an

inflation-independent measure of the cost of the SSI program, this provides a useful perspective on the

proportion of the total output of the U.S. economy needed to provide Federal SSI benefits. As is shown in

table IV.D1 and figure IV.D1, the total cost of the SSI program is projected to decline relative to GDP

throughout the projection period.

Table IV.D1 and figure IV.D1 present a concise summary of Federal expenditures under the SSI program.

Following the initial higher costs of the program, total Federal SSI payments during the 1980s were a

fairly constant percentage of GDP (0.21 percent). During the early 1990s, SSI experienced rather rapid

growth (to 0.34 percent of GDP in 1996) due to a combination of factors discussed earlier in section IV.

Welfare reform legislation resulted in a drop in the cost of SSI as a percentage of GDP in 1997. As mentioned earlier, the estimates prepared for this report project total participation in the SSI program to remain

a stable proportion of the U.S. population. Federal SSI expenditures, after adjusting for growth in prices,

are projected to grow slightly faster than the population due to the estimated small amount of real growth

in the SSI average benefit, as discussed previously in section IV.C. Since the real growth projected for

GDP under the 2000 Trustees Report intermediate assumptions is greater than the combined effects of

increases in SSI participation and the estimated real increase in the SSI average benefit, Federal SSI payments are projected to continue to decline as a percentage of GDP over the next 25 years, reaching 0.26

percent of GDP by 2024.

Figure IV.D1.—SSI Federal Payments, by Age Group, as a Percentage of GDP, Calendar Years 1980-2025

0.00%

0.10%

0.20%

0.30%

0.40%

0.50%

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025

Calendar year

35-49

65-74

50-64

18-34

0-17

75 or older

Historical Estimated
45

2000 SSI Annual Report

Notes:

1. Historical GDP amounts subject to revision.

2. Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

Table IV.D1.—SSI Federal Payments as a Percentage of GDP, Calendar Years 1974-2024 

Calendar 

year

Blind or disabled, by age group Aged, by age group Totals

GDP

(In billions) 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 ..... $1,501 ( 1 )

1 Age-specific information for these years not yet available.

( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 0.137 0.119 0.255

1975 ..... 1,635 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) .151 .113 .264

1976 ..... 1,824 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) .150 .098 .247

1977 ..... 2,031 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) .146 .086 .232

1978 ..... 2,296 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) .150 .080 .231

1979 ..... 2,566 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) .138 .069 .207

1980 ..... 2,796 0.014 0.033 0.026 0.051 0.019 0.001 0.023 0.044 .145 .067 .212

1981 ..... 3,131 .015 .034 .026 .049 .021 .001 .021 .042 .146 .063 .209

1982 ..... 3,259 .016 .037 .027 .049 .022 .001 .019 .042 .151 .061 .213

1983 ..... 3,535 .016 .039 .028 .048 .022 .002 .018 .041 .155 .058 .213

1984 ..... 3,933 .017 .040 .029 .047 .021 .003 .017 .038 .156 .055 .212

1985 ..... 4,213 .017 .041 .030 .046 .020 .004 .017 .036 .157 .052 .209

1986 ..... 4,453 .019 .043 .033 .046 .019 .005 .016 .033 .164 .050 .214

1987 ..... 4,742 .019 .044 .034 .045 .018 .005 .016 .030 .166 .047 .212

1988 ..... 5,108 .019 .044 .036 .045 .017 .006 .016 .028 .166 .044 .210

1989 ..... 5,489 .019 .044 .037 .045 .017 .007 .016 .027 .169 .043 .212

1990 ..... 5,803 .021 .046 .041 .048 .017 .007 .017 .026 .180 .043 .223

1991 ..... 5,986 .028 .052 .050 .055 .018 .008 .020 .027 .211 .047 .257

1992 ..... 6,319 .050 .062 .057 .060 .018 .008 .021 .027 .254 .047 .301

1993 ..... 6,642 .059 .067 .063 .063 .018 .008 .022 .026 .278 .049 .326

1994 ..... 7,054 .059 .064 .066 .064 .018 .008 .022 .026 .279 .048 .327

1995 ..... 7,401 .063 .065 .070 .066 .018 .008 .022 .026 .289 .047 .337

1996 ..... 7,813 .063 .064 .072 .068 .018 .008 .021 .025 .293 .046 .339

1997 ..... 8,301 .059 .061 .067 .065 .018 .007 .019 .025 .278 .044 .321

1998 ..... 8,760 .057 .059 .067 .066 .018 .007 .018 .024 .274 .042 .316

1999 ..... 9,249 .052 .055 .067 .065 .018 .007 .016 .024 .265 .040 .305

Estimated:

2000 ..... 9,781 .050 .054 .067 .066 .018 .007 .015 .024 .262 .039 .300

2001 ..... 10,296 .051 .052 .067 .067 .018 .007 .014 .023 .262 .038 .299

2002 ..... 10,809 .052 .052 .067 .068 .018 .007 .014 .023 .262 .037 .299

2003 ..... 11,340 .052 .051 .066 .069 .018 .007 .013 .023 .262 .036 .298

2004 ..... 11,909 .052 .050 .065 .071 .018 .007 .013 .022 .262 .035 .297

2005 ..... 12,524 .052 .049 .064 .072 .018 .007 .012 .022 .261 .034 .296

2006 ..... 13,174 .052 .048 .063 .073 .018 .007 .012 .022 .261 .033 .294

2007 ..... 13,858 .051 .048 .061 .074 .018 .007 .012 .021 .260 .032 .292

2008 ..... 14,573 .051 .048 .060 .075 .018 .007 .011 .020 .259 .032 .290

2009 ..... 15,340 .051 .047 .058 .076 .018 .007 .011 .020 .257 .031 .288

2010 ..... 16,141 .051 .047 .056 .077 .018 .007 .011 .019 .256 .030 .286

2011 ..... 16,976 .051 .047 .054 .077 .019 .007 .011 .018 .254 .029 .283

2012 ..... 17,843 .052 .046 .052 .076 .019 .007 .011 .018 .252 .028 .280

2013 ..... 18,739 .052 .046 .051 .076 .020 .007 .011 .017 .250 .028 .278

2014 ..... 19,670 .052 .045 .049 .075 .020 .007 .011 .017 .248 .027 .276

2015 ..... 20,641 .052 .045 .048 .074 .020 .007 .011 .016 .247 .027 .273

2016 ..... 21,652 .052 .045 .047 .074 .021 .007 .011 .016 .245 .027 .272

2017 ..... 22,711 .051 .045 .047 .072 .021 .007 .011 .015 .243 .026 .270

2018 ..... 23,815 .051 .044 .046 .071 .021 .007 .011 .015 .241 .026 .268

2019 ..... 24,968 .051 .044 .045 .070 .022 .007 .011 .015 .239 .026 .266

2020 ..... 26,169 .051 .044 .045 .069 .022 .007 .012 .015 .237 .026 .264

2021 ..... 27,411 .050 .044 .044 .067 .022 .007 .012 .015 .236 .027 .262

2022 ..... 28,730 .050 .044 .044 .066 .023 .007 .012 .015 .234 .027 .260

2023 ..... 30,093 .050 .043 .044 .064 .023 .007 .012 .015 .232 .027 .259

2024 ..... 31,523 .049 .043 .044 .063 .023 .008 .012 .015 .230 .027 .257
2000 SSI Annual Report

46

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

AND BENEFICIARY SERVICES COSTS

The SSI program is administered by the Social Security Administration. Section 201(g)(1) of the Social

Security Act provides that administrative expenses for the SSI program, including Federal administration

of State supplementation payments, may be financed from the OASDI Trust Funds. The trust funds are

reimbursed from the General Fund of the Treasury for any such SSI administrative expenditures. These

reimbursements include adjustments for any interest losses the trust funds may have incurred as a result of

such expenditures. The legislative history of the 1972 amendments (which established this funding mechanism) indicates a desire to obtain economy of administration by giving SSA the responsibility for the SSI

program because of its existing field office network and its administrative and automated data processing

facilities. Because of the integration of the administration of the SSI and OASDI programs, it was desirable to fund them from a single source, with reimbursement to the trust funds based on a General Accounting Office-approved method of cost analysis of the respective expenses of the SSI and OASDI programs,

and a final settlement by the end of the subsequent fiscal year required by law. Table IV.E1 provides historical data on selected administrative costs of the SSI program.

Table IV.E1.—Selected SSI Administrative Costs, Fiscal Years 1978-2000

[Outlays in millions] 

Fiscal year

Payments to the

trust funds 1

1 This activity funds the reimbursement to the OASI and DI Trust Funds from the General Fund of the

Treasury for the SSI program’s share of SSA’s administrative expenses.

Beneficiary

services 2

2 Includes payments to State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies for VR services and payments for

referral and monitoring services for Drug Addicts and Alcoholics, which 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 3 84.0

3 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 (estimated)........................... 2,343 92.0
47

2000 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

correcting lenses, or with tunnel vision of 20 degrees or less. An individual

transferred from a State Aid to the Blind (AB) program 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.
2000 SSI Annual Report

48

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” 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, or violating State or Federal

conditions of probation or parole. 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. 1

2. Other Eligibility Provisions

a. Citizenship and Residence

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 refugees, or to persons granted political asylum.

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.

1 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.
49

2000 SSI Annual Report

Act

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 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.

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

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.
2000 SSI Annual Report

50

Act

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

$51 (indexed to the Consumer Price Index (CPI)) 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.

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.
51

2000 SSI Annual Report

Act

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.

Reimbursement for the cost of rehabilitation services will be made if the services result in the recipient’s return to work.

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

Provision for continuation of payments to SSI recipients who have medically

recovered while enrolled in an approved vocational rehabilitation program

extended to blind SSI recipients.
2000 SSI Annual Report

52

Act

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 the provision providing for benefit continuation to SSI recipients who

medically recover while participating in a State VR program to include SSI

recipients participating in a non-State VR program.

1999

Public Law 106-170, 

enacted December 17

Establishes a 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

of their choice. Effective 1 year after enactment. 

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 childhood 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 childhood 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 for all childhood 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 individual functional assessment and/or consideration of maladaptive

behavior.

Requires the representative payee of a childhood disability 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.

1 Recipients who have lost eligibility for SSI benefits for fewer than 13 consecutive months are in suspended

payment status.
53

2000 SSI Annual Report

Act

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.

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 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 103-152, 

enacted November 24

Sponsor-to-alien deeming period extended from 3 years to 5 years, effective

January 1, 1994, through September 30, 1996.

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.
2000 SSI Annual Report

54

Act

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.

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 for the same period 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.
55

2000 SSI Annual Report

Act

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.

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 Resulting in Nonpayment of Benefits

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.

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 made a statement or representation of material fact for use in

determining eligibility for benefits that the individual knew, or should have

known, was false or misleading or omitted a material fact.
2000 SSI Annual Report

56

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 Medicaid institutions. Individuals or

couples living in their own households receive 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.

Table V.A1.—Federal Benefit Rates Set by Legislation

Act Living arrangements 1 

1 For those in another person’s household receiving support and maintenance there, the Federal benefit rate is reduced by one-third.

Amount 2 

2 For those without countable income. These payments are reduced by the amount of countable income of the individual or couple.

Individual Couple Conditions

1972 3 ......

3 Public Law 92-603, enacted October 30, 1972.

Own household 4 

4 Includes persons in private institutions whose care in not provided by Medicaid.

$130.00 $195.00 Was to be effective January 1, 1974; superseded by 

Public Law 93-233.

1973 5 ......

5 Public Law 93-66, enacted July 9, 1973.

— 140.00 210.00 Was to be effective January 1, 1974; superseded by 

Public Law 93-233.

1973 6 ......

6 Public Law 93-233, enacted December 31, 1973.

— 140.00 210.00 Effective January 1, 1974.

1973 6 ...... — 146.00 219.00 Effective July 1, 1974.

1974 7 ......

7 Public Law 93-368, enacted August 7, 1974.

— —— 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.

— 8 1 57.70

8 Subject to automatic provisions, see table IV.A2

8236.60 Effective July 1, 1975.

1983 9 ......

9 Public Law 98-21, enacted April 20, 1983.

— 304.30 456.40 Effective July 1, 1983 (general benefit increase).

— 8314.00 8472.00 Effective January 1, 1984.

1973 5 ...... 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 6 ...... — 70.00 — Effective January 1, 1974.

— 73.00 — Effective July 1, 1974.

1974 7 ...... — —— Mechanism established for providing cost-of-living 

adjustments.

— 878.90 — Effective July 1, 1975.

1983 9 ...... — 152.50 — Effective July 1, 1983 (general benefit increase).

— 8157.00 — Effective January 1, 1984.

1972 3 ...... 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 10 ....

10 Public Law 100-203, enacted December 22, 1987.

— 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).
57

2000 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.

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.

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.

The value of assistance provided under certain Federal housing programs.
2000 SSI Annual Report

58

Act

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 disregards.

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 disregarded 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.
59

2000 SSI Annual Report

Act

1987

Public Law 100-203, 

enacted December 22

The 1983 provisions for support and maintenance and home energy assistance

made permanent.

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 the interest on the funds 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.
2000 SSI Annual Report

60

Act 6. Limits and Exclusions from 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 handicapped person.

Life insurance with face value of $1,500 or less.

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.

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.

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, if held in separately identifiable burial funds and if inclusion of any of the burial funds in

countable resources would cause the resource limit to be exceeded.
61

2000 SSI Annual Report

Act

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 handicapped person. 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 because 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).

Allows the exclusion of burial funds, as described above, regardless of whether

or not counting any portion of those funds would result in excess resources.

1988

Public Law 100-360, 

enacted July 1

Removes the transfer-of-assets penalty for transfers made July 1, 1988, or later.

Public Law 100-707, 

enacted November 23

Removes the time limit for exclusion of disaster assistance.

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.
2000 SSI Annual Report

62

Act

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.

Public Law 105-369, 

enacted November 12

Payments made under the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund Act of 1998.

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.
63

2000 SSI Annual Report

Act 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

May be made if applicants have a financial emergency in the month of application before the month that all eligibility requirements are met. These advance

payments must be repaid within 6 months.

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.
2000 SSI Annual Report

64

Act

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).

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 that would be lost if SSI eligibility was

discontinued may be 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.
65

2000 SSI Annual Report

Act

1990

Public Law 101-508, 

enacted November 5

Age limit for retention of SSI recipient status for Medicaid eligibility purposes

is (1980 and subsequent work incentive provisions, above) 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.

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 the 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

Provision is made 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 disregarded 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.
2000 SSI Annual Report

66

Act

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.

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-check 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. The scheduled fees for

fiscal years 1999 and 2000 are $7.60 and $7.80, respectively. 

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 for the recovery of overpayments from tax refunds.

1988

Public Law 100-485, 

enacted October 13

Extends the authority to recover overpayments from tax refunds. 

1998

Public Law 105-306, 

enacted October 28

Authorizes SSA to collect SSI overpayments by offsetting Social Security benefits, with a maximum monthly offset of no more than 10 percent of the Social

Security benefit.

1999

Public Law 106-169, 

enacted December 14

Makes representative payees liable for an SSI overpayment caused by a payment

made to a recipient who has died, and requires SSA to establish an overpayment

control record under the representative payee’s Social Security number. 

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.
67

2000 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); 

• Up to $10 of earned income in a month if it is infrequent or irregular, that is, if it is received only

once in a calendar quarter from a single source or if its receipt cannot reasonably be expected (If the

total amount of the infrequent or irregular income exceeds $10, this exclusion cannot be used.); 

• Up to $400 per month but not more than $1,620 in a calendar year received by a blind or disabled

child who is a student 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 the 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 65; 

• 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 65; 

• 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; 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. 

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 or fellowship used for paying tuition, fees or other necessary

educational expenses. Portions set aside for food, clothing 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; 

• Up to $20 of unearned income in a month if it is infrequent or irregular; that is, if a type of unearned

income is received only once during a calendar quarter from a single source or if it cannot reasonably be expected; 
2000 SSI Annual Report

68

• 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 (after April 1, 1990); 

• The value of any commercial transportation ticket, for travel by the 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;

• Payments received from a fund established by a State to aid victims of crime;

• 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;

• 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;

• TANF funds made available to an SSI recipient as part of an Individual Development Account

(IDA);

• Deposits made by sponsoring nonprofit organization or State or local government into an IDA

under the “Assets for Independence Act” IDA demonstration project; and

• Unearned income excluded by other Federal laws. See Federal Regulations Appendix to Subpart K

20 CFR 416.
69

2000 SSI Annual Report

3. Resource Exclusions

• The home (including the land appertaining thereto); 

• Household goods and personal effects to the extent that their total value does not exceed $2,000; 

• An automobile may be totally excluded if: (1) it is necessary for employment; (2) it is necessary for

the medical treatment of a specific or regular medical problem; (3) it is modified for the operation

by or transportation of, a handicapped individual; or (4) it is necessary to perform essential daily

activities. If the automobile does not meet any of the above requirements, it may be excluded to the

extent that its current-market value does not exceed $4,500; 

• Property of a trade or business which is essential to the means of self-support; 

• Nonbusiness property which is essential to the means of self-support; 

• Resources of a blind or disabled individual which are necessary to fulfill an approved plan for

achieving 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; 

• Burial spaces and certain funds up to $1,500 for burial expenses; 

• Title XVI or title II retroactive payments (for 6 months following receipt); 

• Housing assistance; 

• Refunds of Federal income taxes and advances made by an employer relating to an earned income

tax credit, (for the month following receipt);

• Payments received as compensation for expenses incurred or losses suffered as a result of a crime

(for 9 months);

• Relocation assistance from a State or local government (for 9 months);

• 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 18

with life-threatening conditions;

• Payments made under the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund Act of 1998;

• TANF funds made available to an SSI recipient as part of an IDA;

• Amounts placed in an IDA by a sponsoring nonprofit organization or State or local government

under the “Assets for Independence Act” IDA demonstration project (Deposits made by the individual owning the account are not excluded.);

• Certain trusts (e.g., those established by will or those 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.
2000 SSI Annual Report

70

C. HISTORICAL ALLOWANCE DATA

At the end of 1999, 80 percent of SSI recipients were receiving benefits based on a determination of disability. Claims are filed at a local Social Security office and claims requiring an evaluation of disability are

sent to the State Disability Determination Service (DDS) for a decision. Initial DDS decisions that are

unfavorable to the applicant may be appealed. Until recently, all appeals were initiated at the DDS level

with a request for reconsideration of that initial denial. Persons denied at the reconsideration level could

then apply to the Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) for 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. However, in recent years SSA has

conducted small pilots testing revisions to this process and implemented a modification of this process in

10 prototype States for applications filed October 1, 1999 and later. Under this revised process appeals of

initial denials are made directly to OHA, thereby eliminating the reconsideration step. The options for

appeal beyond the OHA level remain unchanged.

Such a process of application and appeal can, in some cases, 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. A complete picture of the disability

determination process can be fully understood only by compiling a longitudinal database from administrative records at all levels of appeal. Beginning in 1993, such a longitudinal database (the “Disability

Research File”) was constructed by the Division of Disability Program Information and Studies within

SSA’s Office of Disability to assist the agency in understanding and managing this process. In the process

of constructing this database, some problems were encountered 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 is a

table based on the Disability Research File showing 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). This “base” file is matched 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 OHA case control data. 

The process used to build this research file is cumbersome, involving more than 160 steps, and generally

requiring about 4 months to complete. Much of this complexity flows from the fact that the file is assembled based on filing date cohorts, even though many of the source files do not contain a filing date. The

three most recent calendar year cohorts are completely reassembled from the basic data sources. Older calendar year cohorts are updated to reflect activity since the last time the file was built. Since the process is

so time consuming, the research file is updated only annually (usually beginning in July). Therefore,

research file data are not yet available for claims filed in 1999.

Methods used for estimating results (through February 2000) for claims filed in 1999—Although decision

counts are available for 1999 filers (from many of the “source” files), those counts do not translate directly

into the claims/appeals counts included in the following tables, due to the consolidation of multiple transactions (and application of claims-based tolerance rules) which occurs when the research file is built.

To prepare preliminary estimates of results (through February 2000) for 1999 filers, we started from the

latest available transaction data, such as the SSA-831 data, and took into account recent years’ experience
71

2000 SSI Annual Report

of the relationship between corresponding earlier transaction data and the resulting claims/appeals data in

completed research files. We also considered claims counts from an extract file from the SSR. While we

believe that the methods used are reasonable, it must be emphasized that the resulting estimates may prove

to be of limited reliability, especially in light of the fact that the estimates give results only through February 2000, whereas the final research files will reflect information through June 2000. Actual data for 1999

will be available to replace these estimates in the 2001 Annual Report.

2. General Considerations

Some general points that apply to tables V.C1 and V.C2 are as follows:

• Data for 1988-98 filers are as of June 1999. Results for those years’ filers have been updated to

include OHA results through August 1999. 

• Data for 1999 filers are preliminary estimates as of February 2000, and reflect larger numbers of

claims still pending. February 2000 data on number of claims appealed 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 as all cases are processed. 

• Computations of overall allowance rates exclude cases which have been appealed and for which a

decision is pending.

• The data assume existence of a reconsideration denial for all cases appealed to OHA. However, in certain pilot activities and under the revised process introduced October 1, 1999 in 10 prototype States,

initial denials can be appealed directly to OHA without a separate reconsideration step. Since the process is so new, the number of such cases that have been appealed to OHA is still relatively small. In

these tables those cases are counted as appeals and denials at the reconsideration level as well as

appeals to beyond the reconsideration level.
2000 SSI Annual Report

72

1 Data for claims filed in 1988-98 reflect results as of June 1999. The numbers of total claims filed for 1997 and 1998 are subject to change. Data for

claims filed in 1999 are preliminary estimates as of February 2000. The ultimate number of allowances and denials are subject to change until all initial

decisions have been completed and all appeals are final.

2 Percentage of decisions at this level.

3 Percentage of denials at this level appealed to next level.

4 Includes cases appealed to the Office of Hearings and Appeals, as well as beyond OHA to the Federal courts.

5 Number of persons appealing beyond the reconsideration level.

6 Includes cases remanded to OHA from the Federal courts.

7 Percentage of decisions at this level. For years where decisions are still pending, the preliminary percentage shown will ultimately be lower as all cases

are processed. This is true since allowances are generally processed more quickly than denials.

8 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).

9 Percentage of initial decisions excluding appealed cases pending decisions.

10 Percentage of initial denials.

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

Year of Filing 1 and Level of Decision

Calendar year 

of filing 

Total claims

filed

Initial decisions

Pending

Allowances

Denials

Appeals to reconsideration

Number Percent 2 Number Percent 3

1988 946,603 — 272,204 28.8 674,399 265,151 39.3

1989 969,218 — 292,044 30.1 677,174 274,823 40.6

1990 1,099,805 — 347,823 31.6 751,982 320,207 42.6

1991 1,288,329 — 415,336 32.2 872,993 383,667 43.9

1992 1,415,624 — 436,888 30.9 978,736 433,244 44.3

1993 1,503,276 — 416,300 27.7 1,086,976 485,164 44.6

1994 1,436,958 — 353,995 24.6 1,082,963 482,533 44.6

1995 1,318,416 — 323,084 24.5 995,332 439,166 44.1

1996 1,247,926 — 305,351 24.5 942,575 406,425 43.1

1997 1,108,754 — 292,940 26.4 815,814 354,213 43.4

1998 1,102,855 15,279 312,423 28.7 775,153 315,021 40.6

1999 1,099,200 156,800 304,900 32.4 637,500 223,400 35.0

Calendar year 

of filing 

Reconsiderations Appeals beyond reconsideration 4

Pending

Allowances

Denials

Appeals to beyond

reconsideration Allowances

Number Percent 2 Number 5 Percent 3 Pending 6 Number Percent 7 Denials 8

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 16.3 268,152 175,512 65.5 — 109,094 62.2 66,418

1991 — 59,158 15.4 324,509 221,716 68.3 — 139,656 63.0 82,060

1992 — 58,819 13.6 374,425 261,846 69.9 1,753 158,892 61.1 101,201

1993 — 57,939 11.9 427,225 297,059 69.5 4,294 169,565 57.9 123,200

1994 — 55,830 11.6 426,703 295,692 69.3 7,235 162,647 56.4 125,810

1995 — 51,703 11.8 387,463 266,214 68.7 13,911 139,695 55.4 112,608

1996 — 49,391 12.2 357,034 243,952 68.3 31,525 124,362 58.5 88,065

1997 — 47,000 13.3 307,213 214,792 69.9 48,610 101,764 61.2 64,418

1998 32,407 36,570 12.9 246,044 159,235 64.7 97,946 38,862 63.4 22,427

1999 51,000 22,800 13.2 149,600 64,940 43.4 54,860 7,280 72.2 2,800

Calendar year 

of filing 

Selected summary totals

Allowances at all levels Allowances at all appeal levels Denials after all appeals

Number Percent 9 Number Percent 10 Number Percent 10

1988 393,003 41.5 120,799 17.9 553,600 82.1

1989 425,718 43.9 133,674 19.7 543,500 80.3

1990 508,972 46.3 161,149 21.4 590,833 78.6

1991 614,150 47.7 198,814 22.8 674,179 77.2

1992 654,599 46.3 217,711 22.2 759,272 77.6

1993 643,804 42.9 227,504 20.9 855,178 78.7

1994 572,472 40.0 218,477 20.2 857,251 79.2

1995 514,482 39.4 191,398 19.2 790,023 79.4

1996 479,104 39.4 173,753 18.4 737,297 78.2

1997 441,704 41.7 148,764 18.2 618,440 75.8

1998 387,855 40.5 75,432 9.7 569,368 73.5

1999 334,980 40.0 30,080 4.7 501,560 78.7
73

2000 SSI Annual Report

1 Data for claims filed in 1991-98 reflect results as of June 1999. The numbers of total claims filed for 1997 and 1998 are subject to change. Data for

claims filed in 1999 are preliminary estimates as of February 2000. The ultimate number of allowances and denials are subject to change until all initial

decisions have been completed and all appeals are final.

2 Percentage of decisions at this level.

3 Percentage of denials at this level appealed to next level.

4 Includes cases appealed to the Office of Hearings and Appeals, as well as beyond OHA to the Federal courts.

5 Number of persons appealing beyond the reconsideration level.

6 Includes cases remanded to OHA from the Federal courts.

7 Percentage of decisions at this level. For years where decisions are still pending, the preliminary percentage shown will ultimately be lower as all cases

are processed. This is true since allowances are generally processed more quickly than denials.

8 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).

9 Percentage of initial decisions excluding appealed cases pending decisions.

10 Percentage of initial denials.

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

Year of Filing 1 and Level of Decision

Calendar year 

of filing 

Total claims

filed

Initial decisions

Pending

Allowances

Denials

Appeals to reconsideration

Number Percent 2 Number Percent 3

1991 250,962 — 148,220 59.1 102,742 24,702 24.0

1992 372,971 — 189,079 50.7 183,892 49,297 26.8

1993 496,131 — 212,268 42.8 283,863 75,967 26.8

1994 525,013 — 172,219 32.8 352,794 92,093 26.1

1995 487,730 — 144,231 29.6 343,499 86,841 25.3

1996 453,473 — 127,416 28.1 326,057 75,013 23.0

1997 332,085 — 106,737 32.1 225,348 50,949 22.6

1998 335,882 5,371 121,830 36.9 208,681 46,241 22.2

1999 339,900 49,400 121,200 41.7 169,300 31,770 18.8

Calendar year 

of filing 

Reconsiderations Appeals beyond reconsideration 4

Pending

Allowances

Denials

Appeals to beyond

reconsideration Allowances

Number Percent 2 Number 5 Percent 3 Pending 6 Number Percent 7 Denials 8

1991 — 5,605 22.7 19,097 9,192 48.1 — 3,883 42.2 5,309

1992 — 9,463 19.2 39,834 19,889 49.9 162 7,514 38.1 12,213

1993 — 11,338 14.9 64,629 31,476 48.7 508 10,603 34.2 20,365

1994 — 11,332 12.3 80,761 38,678 47.9 1,226 12,807 34.2 24,645

1995 — 10,287 11.8 76,554 35,774 46.7 2,361 10,599 31.7 22,814

1996 — 9,363 12.5 65,650 28,057 42.7 4,334 8,209 34.6 15,514

1997 — 8,178 16.1 42,771 19,088 44.6 4,985 5,680 40.3 8,423

1998 4,979 6,331 15.3 34,931 14,201 40.7 9,358 2,022 41.8 2,821

1999 6,900 3,160 12.7 21,710 5,992 27.6 5,213 249 32.0 530

Calendar year 

of filing 

Selected summary totals

Allowances at all levels Allowances at all appeal levels Denials after all appeals

Number Percent 9 Number Percent 10 Number Percent 10

1991 157,708 62.8 9,488 9.2 93,254 90.8

1992 206,056 55.3 16,977 9.2 166,753 90.7

1993 234,209 47.3 21,941 7.7 261,414 92.1

1994 196,358 37.5 24,139 6.8 327,429 92.8

1995 165,117 34.0 20,886 6.1 320,252 93.2

1996 144,988 32.3 17,572 5.4 304,151 93.3

1997 120,595 36.9 13,858 6.1 206,505 91.6

1998 130,183 41.2 8,353 4.0 185,991 89.1

1999 124,609 44.8 3,409 2.0 153,778 90.8
2000 SSI Annual Report

74

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. Scheduled redeterminations are selected annually or once every 6

years depending on the likelihood of payment error in the case. Except for certain institutionalized individuals, all recipients are periodically scheduled for a redetermination. Unscheduled redeterminations are

completed 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 are subject to some year-to-year fluctuation because of variation in the numbers of unscheduled redeterminations

completed and in the numbers of scheduled redeterminations that were selected but not completed during

the fiscal year due to the impact of other workload requirements on the field offices. When redeterminations cannot be completed in the fiscal year scheduled, they are carried over into the next fiscal year. Table

V.D1 provides historical data on numbers of redeterminations completed by fiscal year. 

During periods 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 obtained from the other systems. Matches detecting conflicting information usually result in

the posting of an identifier to the Supplemental Security Record of the SSI recipient. The case is then

selected and scheduled for a field office review of the issue for which the indicator was posted. SSA develops over 800,000 limited issues annually.

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. A similar requirement was not put in place at that time for disabled title XVI recipiTable V.D1.—SSI Redeterminations Completed, Fiscal Years 1986-99

[In thousands] 

Fiscal year

Number of

redeterminations

1986.............................. 2,278

1987.............................. 2,244

1988.............................. 1,997

1989.............................. 2,226

1990.............................. 2,103

1991.............................. 2,138

1992.............................. 2,321

1993.............................. 2,223

1994.............................. 1 1,900

1 Decrease in number of redeterminations completed in fiscal

year 1994 due to low-error profile redeterminations not being

completed from January through September 1994.

1995.............................. 2 1,597

2 Effective 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.

1996.............................. 1,763

1997.............................. 1,773

1998.............................. 1,853

1999.............................. 2,122
75

2000 SSI Annual Report

ents. Although the Committee on Finance of the Senate stated in its report on this legislation that the same

continuing disability reviews (CDRs) procedures should be applied with respect to both the title II and title

XVI programs, title XVI was not amended to accomplish this. In 1994 and again in 1996 legislation was

enacted adding some mandates for the performance of CDRs under the SSI program.

Public Law 103-296 specified that during each of fiscal years 1996, 1997, and 1998, SSA was required

to conduct CDRs on a minimum of 100,000 SSI recipients. In addition, during the same period, SSA

was required to redetermine the SSI eligibility of at least one-third of all SSI child recipients who

reach age 18 after April 1995 during the 1-year period following attainment of age 18. Such redeterminations for persons turning age 18 could count toward the 100,000 CDR requirement.

Public Law 104-193 extended the requirement of redetermination of SSI eligibility to all SSI child

recipients who reach age 18, with such redetermination being based on an adult eligibility criteria.

This law also added the requirement that a CDR be performed:

• 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 unless the Commissioner determines that the impairment is not expected to improve within 12 months of the child’s birth.

Public Law 105-33 gave SSA some additional flexibility in the scheduling of these categories of CDRs.

In order to handle the large CDR workload mandated under these various provisions, SSA developed,

beginning in 1993, a process by which certain title II cases scheduled for a CDR would be screened using

the results of a profiling process which included a mailer interview for some cases. In 1996 the profiling

process was extended to title XVI adults who were scheduled for a CDR. The screening process resulted in

the deferral of full medical reviews for 409,111 cases for which a scheduled title XVI CDR was processed

in 1999.

For cases involving individuals who receive both title II and title XVI benefits, CDRs are typically initiated as title II CDRs with the results of the review affecting eligibility for benefits under both programs.

Tables V.D2 and V.D3 present the latest available summary of results on CDRs of title XVI recipients performed under titles II and XVI since 1993. These tables include only cases for which a full medical review

was conducted. In particular they do not include:

• Cases for which a mailer was completed, but for which a full medical review was deferred;

• CDRs initiated as the result of work activity on the part of the beneficiary/recipient; and

• Miscellaneous other CDRs processed by the State Disability Determination Services 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 vocational rehabilitation reports).

In contrast with the allowance data presented in section V.C, the CDR data is tabulated on a cohort basis

by the date of initial decision.
2000 SSI Annual Report

76

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

Initial Decision 1and Level of Decision 

Fiscal year of 

initial DDS 

decision

Initial decisions

Total initial

DDS decisions

Continuations

Cessations

Appeals to reconsideration

Number Percent 2 Number Percent 3

Reviews of concurrent title II/XVI cases initiated under title II

1993 1,143 1,083 94.8 60 52 86.7

1994 10,945 9,127 83.4 1,818 1,253 68.9

1995 16,736 12,484 74.6 4,252 2,905 68.3

1996 26,884 20,636 76.8 6,248 4,119 65.9

1997 51,466 40,741 79.2 10,725 7,430 69.3

1998 81,185 68,533 84.4 12,652 8,767 69.3

1999 80,829 70,354 87.0 10,475 6,044 57.7

Title XVI initiated reviews

1993 ——————

1994 ——————

1995 4,287 3,277 76.4 1,010 665 65.8

1996 55,025 46,273 84.1 8,752 6,146 70.2

1997 69,557 57,662 82.9 11,895 8,831 74.2

1998 75,071 64,829 86.4 10,242 7,347 71.7

1999 140,430 125,079 89.1 15,351 10,295 67.1

Total reviews, SSI disabled adults

1993 1,143 1,083 94.8 60 52 86.7

1994 10,945 9,127 83.4 1,818 1,253 68.9

1995 21,023 15,761 75.0 5,262 3,570 67.8

1996 81,909 66,909 81.7 15,000 10,265 68.4

1997 121,023 98,403 81.3 22,620 16,261 71.9

1998 156,256 133,362 85.3 22,894 16,114 70.4

1999 221,259 195,433 88.3 25,826 16,339 63.3

Fiscal year of 

initial DDS 

decision

Reconsiderations Appeals beyond reconsideration 4

Pending

Continuations

Cessations

Appeals to beyond

reconsideration

Pending 6

Continuations

Number Percent Cessations 2 Number 5 Percent 3 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 46 402 31.7 865

1997 111 4,381 59.9 2,938 2,065 70.3 121 658 33.8 1,286

1998 213 5,543 64.8 3,011 1,858 61.7 620 447 36.1 791

1999 898 3,431 66.7 1,715 882 51.4 752 50 38.5 80

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 25 613 31.9 1,308

1997 141 5,270 60.6 3,420 2,557 74.8 150 839 34.9 1,568

1998 269 4,489 63.4 2,589 1,721 66.5 445 440 34.5 836

1999 1,478 5,802 65.8 3,015 1,587 52.6 1,258 113 34.3 216

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 71 1,015 31.8 2,173

1997 252 9,651 60.3 6,358 4,622 72.7 271 1,497 34.4 2,854

1998 482 10,032 64.2 5,600 3,579 63.9 1,065 887 35.3 1,627

1999 2,376 9,233 66.1 4,730 2,469 52.2 2,010 163 35.5 296
77

2000 SSI Annual Report

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

Initial Decision 1 and Level of Decision (Cont.)

1 Data reflect results as of March 2000. The ultimate number of continuations and cessations are subject to change until all appeals are final.

2 Percentage of decisions at this level.

3 Percentage of cessations at this level appealed to next level.

4 Includes cases appealed to the Office of Hearings and Appeals, but not cases appealed beyond OHA to the Federal courts. These excluded cases

have a minimal impact on the number of continuations.

5 Number of persons appealing beyond the reconsideration level.

6 Includes cases remanded to OHA from the Federal courts.

7 Percentage of initial decisions excluding appealed cases pending decisions.

8 Percentage of initial decisions.

Fiscal year of 

initial DDS 

decision

Selected summary totals

Continuations at all levels Cessations at initial level Cessations after all appeals

Number Percent 7 Number Percent 8 Number Percent 7

Reviews of concurrent title II/XVI cases initiated under title II

1993 1,114 97.5 60 5.2 29 2.5

1994 9,845 89.9 1,818 16.6 1,100 10.1

1995 14,111 84.3 4,252 25.4 2,625 15.7

1996 22,913 85.4 6,248 23.2 3,925 14.6

1997 45,780 89.4 10,725 20.8 5,454 10.6

1998 74,523 92.7 12,652 15.6 5,829 7.3

1999 73,835 93.3 10,475 13.0 5,344 6.7

Title XVI initiated reviews

1993 —— —— ——

1994 —— —— ——

1995 3,605 84.1 1,010 23.6 682 15.9

1996 50,175 91.2 8,752 15.9 4,825 8.8

1997 63,771 92.1 11,895 17.1 5,495 7.9

1998 69,758 93.8 10,242 13.6 4,599 6.2

1999 130,994 95.1 15,351 10.9 6,700 4.9

Total reviews, SSI disabled adults

1993 1,114 97.5 60 5.2 29 2.5

1994 9,845 89.9 1,818 16.6 1,100 10.1

1995 17,716 84.3 5,262 25.0 3,307 15.7

1996 73,088 89.3 15,000 18.3 8,750 10.7

1997 109,551 90.9 22,620 18.7 10,949 9.1

1998 144,281 93.3 22,894 14.7 10,428 6.7

1999 204,829 94.4 25,826 11.7 12,044 5.6
2000 SSI Annual Report

78

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

Initial Decision 1and Level of Decision 

Fiscal year of 

initial DDS 

decision

Initial decisions

Total initial

DDS decisions

Continuations

Cessations

Appeals to reconsideration

Number Percent 2 Number Percent 3

Reviews of low-birth-weight children

1994 1,225 771 62.9 454 159 35.0

1995 4,231 2,083 49.2 2,148 665 31.0

1996 5,709 2,491 43.6 3,218 904 28.1

1997 7,091 4,482 63.2 2,609 843 32.3

1998 17,620 6,092 34.6 11,528 3,686 32.0

1999 9,773 4,114 42.1 5,659 1,616 28.6

Redeterminations at age 18

1994 ——————

1995 71 64 90.1 7 5 71.4

1996 12,640 8,158 64.5 4,482 2,055 45.9

1997 48,834 22,431 45.9 26,403 16,977 64.3

1998 40,945 21,453 52.4 19,492 11,048 56.7

1999 49,576 27,413 55.3 22,163 10,516 47.4

All other reviews of SSI disabled children

1994 ——————

1995 3,535 2,501 70.7 1,034 541 52.3

1996 789 399 50.6 390 210 53.8

1997 14 8 57.1 6 4 66.7

1998 91,157 67,203 73.7 23,954 13,322 55.6

1999 183,217 129,420 70.6 53,797 28,326 52.7

Total reviews, SSI disabled children

1994 1,225 771 62.9 454 159 35.0

1995 7,837 4,648 59.3 3,189 1,211 38.0

1996 19,138 11,048 57.7 8,090 3,169 39.2

1997 55,939 26,921 48.1 29,018 17,824 61.4

1998 149,722 94,748 63.3 54,974 28,056 51.0

1999 242,566 160,947 66.4 81,619 40,458 49.6

Fiscal year of 

initial DDS 

decision

Reconsiderations Appeals beyond reconsideration 4

Pending

Continuations

Cessations

Appeals to beyond

reconsideration

Pending 6

Continuations

Number Percent Cessations 2 Number 5 Percent 3 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 6 43 19.0 183

1997 28 291 35.7 524 225 42.9 23 35 17.3 167

1998 76 1,230 34.1 2,380 1,013 42.6 256 145 19.2 612

1999 255 532 39.1 829 288 34.7 226 8 12.9 54

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 3 117 20.1 464

1997 301 4,585 27.5 12,091 6,128 50.7 504 1,121 19.9 4,503

1998 261 3,059 28.4 7,728 3,648 47.2 849 548 19.6 2,251

1999 1,766 2,857 32.7 5,893 2,554 43.3 1,996 130 23.3 428

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 1 33.3 2 1 50.0 — — 0.0 1

1998 235 4,413 33.7 8,674 5,015 57.8 1,829 720 22.6 2,466

1999 4,557 8,151 34.3 15,618 7,691 49.2 6,215 338 22.9 1,138

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 9 177 20.5 685

1997 330 4,877 27.9 12,617 6,354 50.4 527 1,156 19.8 4,671

1998 572 8,702 31.7 18,782 9,676 51.5 2,934 1,413 21.0 5,329

1999 6,578 11,540 34.1 22,340 10,533 47.1 8,437 476 22.7 1,620
79

2000 SSI Annual Report

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

Initial Decision 1 and Level of Decision (Cont.)

1 Data reflect results as of March 2000. The ultimate number of continuations and cessations are subject to change until all appeals are final.

2 Percentage of decisions at this level.

3 Percentage of cessations at this level appealed to next level.

4 Includes cases appealed to the Office of Hearings and Appeals, but not cases appealed beyond OHA to the Federal courts. These excluded cases

have a minimal impact on the number of continuations.

5 Number of persons appealing beyond the reconsideration level.

6 Includes cases remanded to OHA from the Federal courts.

7 Percentage of initial decisions excluding appealed cases pending decisions.

8 Percentage of initial decisions.

Fiscal year of 

initial DDS 

decision

Selected summary totals

Continuations at all levels Cessations at initial level Cessations after all appeals

Number Percent 7 Number Percent 8 Number Percent 7

Reviews of low-birth-weight children

1994 830 67.8 454 37.1 395 32.2

1995 2,320 54.8 2,148 50.8 1,911 45.2

1996 2,863 50.2 3,218 56.4 2,840 49.8

1997 4,808 68.3 2,609 36.8 2,232 31.7

1998 7,467 43.2 11,528 65.4 9,821 56.8

1999 4,654 50.1 5,659 57.9 4,638 49.9

Redeterminations at age 18

1994 —— —— ——

1995 67 94.4 7 9.9 4 5.6

1996 8,982 71.1 4,482 35.5 3,655 28.9

1997 28,137 58.6 26,403 54.1 19,892 41.4

1998 25,060 62.9 19,492 47.6 14,775 37.1

1999 30,400 66.4 22,163 44.7 15,414 33.6

All other reviews of SSI disabled children

1994 —— —— ——

1995 2,730 77.2 1,034 29.3 805 22.8

1996 485 61.5 390 49.4 304 38.5

1997 9 69.2 6 42.9 4 30.8

1998 72,336 81.2 23,954 26.3 16,757 18.8

1999 137,909 80.0 53,797 29.4 34,536 20.0

Total reviews, SSI disabled children

1994 830 67.8 454 37.1 395 32.2

1995 5,117 65.3 3,189 40.7 2,720 34.7

1996 12,330 64.5 8,090 42.3 6,799 35.5

1997 32,954 59.8 29,018 51.9 22,128 40.2

1998 104,863 71.7 54,974 36.7 41,353 28.3

1999 172,963 76.0 81,619 33.6 54,588 24.0
2000 SSI Annual Report

80

E. INCENTIVES FOR WORK AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR REHABILITATION

1. Work Incentives

Since the beginning of the SSI program, a number of disabled 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

which were intended as work incentives. Among these provisions were the income exclusion for blind

work expenses (BWE), plans for achieving self-support (PASS), and student earned income exclusion

(SEIE).

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.

The incentives for work and opportunities for rehabilitation are discussed in more detail in section III.E. In

the tables that follow 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 the same information in graphical form.

1 More detailed information on participation by SSI recipients in work incentive programs is provided in the Quarterly Report on SSI Disabled

Workers and Work Incentive Provisions prepared by the Office of Research, Evaluation and Statistics, Social Security Administration.
81

2000 SSI Annual Report

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

Table V.E1.—SSI Federally-Administered Blind or Disabled Working Recipients as of December, 1987-99

Year

In current-payment status 1619(b) Total

1619(a) workers 1

1 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). In July 1999, the SGA level

was further increased to $700.

Other workers 2

2 Workers’ earnings are at or below the SGA level.

workers 3

3 1619(b) recipients are not in current-payment status but retain SSI recipient status for Medicaid purposes.

workers

1987 ............................ 14,559 142,664 15,632 172,855

1988 ............................ 19,920 153,599 15,625 189,144

1989 ............................ 25,655 161,928 18,254 205,837

1990 ............................ 13,994 182,421 23,517 219,932

1991 ............................ 15,531 186,824 27,264 229,619

1992 ............................ 17,603 199,665 31,649 248,917

1993 ............................ 20,028 210,322 35,299 265,649

1994 ............................ 24,315 217,478 40,683 282,476

1995 ............................ 28,060 223,573 47,002 298,635

1996 ............................ 31,085 225,310 51,905 308,300

1997 ............................ 34,673 228,093 57,089 319,855

1998 ............................ 37,271 229,662 59,542 326,475

1999 ............................ 25,528 245,825 69,265 340,618

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

as of December, 1987-99

[In thousands]

0

50

100

150

200

250

1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

Calendar year

1619(a) workers

1619(b) workers

Other workers
2000 SSI Annual Report

82

Table V.E2 presents historical numbers of SSI recipients who benefit from other selected work incentive

provisions: (1) plan for achieving 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.

Table V.E2.—SSI Federally-Administered Blind or Disabled Individuals with SSI Recipient Status Participating 

in Other Work Incentives as of December, 1990-99

Year

PASS 1 

1 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

Table V.E3.—Average Monthly Earnings of SSI Federally-Administered Blind or

Disabled Working Recipients, as of December, 1987-99 

Year

Blind or disabled workers with SSI recipient status

In current-payment status 1619(b) Total

1619(a) workers 1

1 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). In July 1999, the SGA level

was further increased to $700.

Other workers 2

2 Workers’ earnings are at or below the SGA level.

 workers 3

3 1619(b) recipients are not in current-payment status but retain SSI recipient status for Medicaid purposes.

workers

1987 ............................ $494 4 $124

4 Estimated.

$739 4 $211

1988 ............................ 522 4 127 721 4 218

1989 ............................ 518 4 131 712 4 231

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
83

2000 SSI Annual Report

2. Vocational Rehabilitation

SSA makes provision for blind or disabled individuals who are receiving SSI benefits to be referred to the

State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies. Recipients who have been referred to VR agencies and

accepted as clients lose eligibility for SSI benefits if they refuse, without good cause, the services offered.

As indicated in the Work Incentives section above, the 1980 amendments provided for the continuation of

SSI payments for certain disabled individuals enrolled in VR programs whose disability ceased due to

medical recovery. This provision was extended to SSI blind recipients effective April, 1988. In 1994, regulations were amended to expand access to private and non-State public VR providers when a State VR

agency does not serve an SSI recipient whom SSA refers for services. 

From the beginning of the SSI program through 1981, VR agencies were reimbursed for the cost of VR

services regardless of outcome. The 1981 amendments changed the reimbursement provisions so that VR

agencies would be reimbursed for the cost of VR services furnished to blind or disabled SSI recipients

only if the services result in the recipient returning to work. 1 For reimbursement purposes, recipients are

considered to have returned to work if they have had earnings exceeding the SGA level for 9 continuous

months. Effective with the 1990 amendments, reimbursement for the cost of VR services was authorized

for services provided in months in which the individual was not receiving Federal SSI benefits if the individual:

• Had special SSI recipient status for Medicaid purposes under subsection 1619(b) of the Social Security Act,

• Received a Federally-administered State supplementary payment, or

• Had SSI benefits suspended for fewer than 13 consecutive months for a reason other than cessation of

disability or blindness.

Table V.E4 provides historical data on the number of reimbursement claims allowed and the amount of

such awards for SSI recipients.

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

1 Reimbursement may also be made in cases where the recipient, without good cause, refuses to continue to accept VR services or fails to cooperate in such a manner as to preclude successful rehabilitation. In such cases, the recipient would become ineligible for SSI benefits due to a failure

to accept the offered services. In addition, reimbursement may be made in cases where the recipient medically recovers while engaged in a program

of rehabilitation services approved by SSA; and SSA determines that completion of such program increases the likelihood the individual will be

permanently removed from the rolls.

Table V.E4.—Vocational Rehabilitation Reimbursement Claims Allowed, Fiscal Years 1987-99

Fiscal year

Concurrent title II/XVI claims Title XVI only claims Total claims

Number

Amount 1

(in thousands)

1 For concurrent title II/XVI claims, amounts shown represent title XVI portion of claim.

Number

Amount

(in thousands) Number

Amount 1

(in thousands)

1987...... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,493 $10,010 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

1988...... ( 2 )

2 For fiscal years 1987-89, data on title II reimbursement claims involving concurrent title XVI reimbursement claims are not available.

( 2 ) 1,720 14,831 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

1989...... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,871 18,366 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

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 SSI Annual Report

84

F. INVOLVEMENT OF SSI RECIPIENTS IN OTHER PROGRAMS

In this section we present data on prior enrollment by recipients, including State programs funded under

part A of title IV of the Social Security Act and State general assistance programs. These data are based on

information from the Supplemental Security Record, the main administrative file for the SSI program.

SSA does not maintain complete information in its administrative files concerning the involvement of SSI

recipients in all other assistance programs. We do, however, have some indication 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 Interim Assistance Reimbursement—at

the point that a person applies for SSI benefits.

Of the 6.6 million people receiving SSI payments in December 1999, almost 1.5 million had at some time

received income from the TANF or AFDC programs. While many of those receiving TANF or AFDC at

the point of application were children (37 percent), the majority were disabled adults who had received

assistance payments either as children or as caretaker relatives.

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. Of the 6.6

million people receiving SSI payments in December 1999, about 8,500 had part of their initial SSI check

paid to their State as reimbursement for interim assistance.
85

2000 SSI Annual Report

G. BIBLIOGRAPHY OF RESEARCH ON RELATED TOPICS

The legislative mandate for this report requires inclusion of summaries of “relevant research on the SSI

program by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and others.” Given the volume of research that has

been done since the inception of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, we concluded that we

could most effectively optimize interested readers’ access to this information by developing a comprehensive bibliography, rather than by attempting to synopsize numerous, sometimes lengthy and complex documents. In addition, in this and future reports, we expect to provide summary information on certain current

research projects related to the SSI program. Section 1 below presents information on six such projects

commissioned by SSA. Future reports will provide the results of these studies.

Section 2 presents a list of reference sources that include studies and reports regarding various aspects of

the SSI program prepared by, or under contract for, the Social Security Administration. The list also

includes information gleaned from the extensive holdings of the Library of Congress regarding studies that

have been conducted by public and private entities regarding SSI payment levels, recipients, and reform

proposals. It is not intended to be an exhaustive compilation of relevant studies.

1. Research Topics

a. Policy Evaluation of the Effects of the 1996 Welfare Reform Legislation on SSI Benefits for 

Children with Disabilities

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 substantially tightened the

childhood SSI eligibility criteria. This legislation also requires that all SSI children be redetermined based

on the adult disability criteria after turning 18 years of age. SSA has awarded a policy evaluation task

order contract to the RAND Corporation to design a study of both the net effect of this legislation on

SSA’s caseloads and program costs and the impact of losing SSI benefits on the children affected by the

law. Through this contract, SSA will obtain answers to the following questions: 

• What are the characteristics of the children who are affected by the legislation? 

• What is the impact of the legislation on children with disabilities who were receiving SSI benefits

prior to welfare reform? 

• What happens to these children in terms of their family income, living arrangements, utilization of

medical services, and other relevant outcomes? 

• What is the overall net impact of welfare reform on SSI caseloads and costs, taking into account both

terminations and new allowances? 

The study will provide descriptive and quantitative estimates of the effects of the legislation on the children who were on the rolls prior to the enactment of the legislation through analyses of SSA administrative

data and currently available survey data. In addition, the study will provide estimates of the net effect of

the legislation on the number of children on the SSI rolls, total benefit years, and program cost, accounting

for both terminations and new allowances. Qualitative data are collected through a limited number of case

studies of affected children, their families, and service providers in four States. The study design has been

completed and the contract for the study itself is expected to be awarded in the Summer of 2000.
2000 SSI Annual Report

86

b. Design and Implementation of Survey of Children with Disabilities

Due to the widely acknowledged shortcomings of existing data sources for evaluating the effects of welfare reform on SSI children and for tracking SSI children unaffected by welfare reform, SSA has undertaken to design and implement a national survey of children with disabilities. The last formal, nationally

representative survey of SSI children was conducted for SSA in 1978 by Urban Systems Research & Engineering, Inc. Among the questions the survey will be designed to answer are the following: 

• What is the cost of caring for a disabled child? 

• What are the uses of SSI benefits? 

• 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 impact of receiving childhood SSI benefits on parental labor force participation? 

The goal is to collect data that will allow SSA to further evaluate the effects of welfare reform on SSI children and their families, as well as to evaluate future changes to the SSI program that may affect children.

This project consists of two broad activities: survey design and survey implementation. SSA has awarded a

survey design task order contract to Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. Mathematica’s tasks include

designing the sampling plan, developing the survey instrument, pre-testing the survey instrument, and

drafting an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) clearance package. A survey implementation contract will be completed after the design is solidified. SSA currently anticipates that data collection will

begin late in calendar year 2000.

c. Policy Evaluation of the Overall Effects of Welfare Reform on SSA Programs—Phase I Evaluation 

Design

Future cutbacks in non-SSA welfare programs may result in increased applications among some groups of

people. Awards to such applicants would increase the growth of SSA’s disability programs and program

costs. Thus, while some aspects of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act

of 1996 (such as provisions restricting the eligibility of children) are expected to decrease SSA caseloads

and program costs, other changes (most notably the replacement of the Aid to Families with Dependent

Children program by block grants for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) may work in the opposite direction. Therefore, a comprehensive and unbiased evaluation of the overall net effects of the welfare

reform legislation must take account of the effect of non-SSA welfare reform provisions on SSA’s programs. A task order contract was awarded to the Lewin Group to propose an evaluation design for the Welfare Reform Act’s effect on non-SSA programs that might affect applications and awards for SSA

programs. The study proposes that the effects should be measured in combination with specific State demonstrations in selected States. The report reviews the characteristics of many State demonstrations and

highlights State evaluation projects in California, Connecticut, Florida, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Using

nationally representative data before welfare reform and State-to-State variations before welfare reform,

the study assesses the likely magnitude and direction of indirect welfare reform effects on SSA caseloads

in the future. The study concludes that they cannot be precisely measured with national level survey data

matched to SSA records or with State-to-State differences across time. As part of the analysis, the project

provides descriptive survey data of SSI participants by age and gender and statistically analyzes the transition onto SSI with these data. In addition, it develops an analytic framework and methodology for future

retrospective studies of the overall effects of welfare reform on SSA caseloads, and includes a systematic

assessment of existing and potential new data collection necessary to track the longer-term effects of welfare reform on SSA caseloads.
87

2000 SSI Annual Report

d. Project NetWork

The Project NetWork demonstration was SSA’s first large-scale initiative to assist DI beneficiaries and SSI

applicants and recipients in returning to employment through a combination of intensive outreach and case

management services. A rigorous evaluation component based on a randomized field experiment design

has been an integral part of the demonstration design. Under contract with SSA, Abt Associates, Inc. is

conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the Project NetWork demonstration. Because of their richness,

the databases that are potentially available from the demonstration can be utilized to conduct studies

focusing on issues relevant for targeting future SSA return-to-work initiatives. The narrower objectives of

the project focus on the Project NetWork case management approach. With help from contractors, a comprehensive administrative records database has been developed by SSA staff containing detailed information on: 

• 8,248 Project NetWork participants randomly assigned to receive case management services or to a

control group, and 

• 138,613 eligible nonparticipants living in the demonstration areas.

The database includes information on the receipt of SSI and DI benefits and earnings, prior to the demonstration period through the post-demonstration period, and a set of demographic and diagnostic variables.

A wide array of survey data has been collected on a random sample of project eligibles—covering all DI

beneficiaries and SSI applicants and recipients—living in the demonstration areas. Both project participants who volunteered for the demonstration and nonparticipants have been interviewed at baseline. The

survey data file contains information on both economic and non-economic variables affecting the decision

to volunteer for return-to-work programs that is not available from SSA administrative record systems; for

example, the survey has detailed information on functional limitations, health (including mental health status), cognitive functioning, motivation, and substance abuse. Study findings to date focus on the feasibility

of applying case management on a large scale, the feasibility of reaching out to hard-to-serve segments of

beneficiaries and applicants, and measures of project outcomes.

e. State Partnership Return-to-Work Demonstrations—Design and Implementation of the Net 

Outcomes Evaluation

In the fall of 1998, the Social Security Administration’s Office of Disability and Income Security

Programs (SSA/ODISP) and the Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration

(ED/RSA) announced the award of 12 SSA and 6 RSA projects with annual funding (renewable for

5 years) under State Partnership agreements and grants. These projects are designed to assist States in

developing alternative program structures and service delivery systems that increase the successful

employment of persons with disabilities who are receiving SSI and SSDI. A technical assistance, monitoring and data collection contract was also awarded by SSA/ODISP at that time to facilitate consistent crosssite data collection from these demonstrations. 

In the Spring of 1999, SSA’s Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics (SSA/ORES) awarded an

18-month task-order contract to evaluate the net impact of these projects. The contractor will design a

two-part comprehensive evaluation of the net-outcomes produced by the State demonstrations. The Core

net-outcome evaluation will rely primarily on SSA administrative data and will use appropriate statistical

methods to define comparison groups and determine the net impact of the State demonstrations on participants. To the extent made possible by the quality of additional demonstration data from the States, the

evaluation contractor will also implement a Supplemental net-outcome evaluation. Both of these aspects of

the contract will focus primarily on the evaluation designs, but the contractor will be required to test and

implement these evaluations for participants through the term of the task order.
2000 SSI Annual Report

88

f. Ticket to Work

The evaluation of the Ticket-to-Work and Self-Sufficiency Program will examine the following:

• Total and net costs of the program,

• The impact of the program on beneficiary work outcomes and reliance on SSA benefits,

• The individual and service provision characteristics of service providers and provider networks,

• The appeal of the program among the eligible population, and

• The satisfaction of participants with the program in general.

To the degree possible, the evaluation will utilize information from SSA administrative data and from the

Ticket-to-Work implementation process. Such data will be insufficient, however, to cover many of the

evaluation topics required under the legislation. This will be especially true for eligible non-participants

and comparison individuals in areas where the Ticket Program is not fully implemented. A significant survey effort will therefore be required to supply the necessary supplemental information to meet these evaluation requirements. Due to the relatively short implementation time line of the program, the evaluation will

have two components. The first phase will involve a task order contract to provide data development from

existing sources, design of the supplemental data survey, and design of the specific evaluation components

to meet the legislative requirements. The second phase will utilize a multiyear contract to carry out the

supplemental data survey and evaluation design, and provide the congressional evaluation reports mandated in the law.
89

2000 SSI Annual Report

2. Bibliography

Adams, E. Kathleen, Marilyn Rymer Ellwood, and Penelope L. Pine. “Utilization and Expenditures Under

Medicaid for Supplemental Security Income Disabled.” Health Care Financing Review 11 (Fall 1989):

1-24.

Albritton, R. B. “Measuring Public Policy Impacts of the Supplemental Security Income Program.” American Journal of Political Science 23, 3 (1979): 559-578.

Angel, R. J., J. L. Angel, G. Y. Lee, and K. S. Markides. “Age at Migration and Family Dependency

Among Older Mexican Immigrants.” Gerontologist 39, 1 (February 1999): 59-65.

Beedon, Laurel. What States are Providing for the Low-Income Aged: State SSI Supplements and Fiscal

Well-Being. Washington, D.C.: American Association of Retired Persons Public Policy Institute. 1989.

Brady, Henry E. and Barbara West Snow. Data Systems and Statistical Requirements for the Personal

Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act. Paper prepared for the Committee on National Statistics Seminar on Developing Welfare Reform Statistics. University of California Data Archive and Technical Assistance, University of California, Berkeley. 1996.

Callison, James C. “Early Experience Under the Supplemental Security Income Program.” Social Security

Bulletin 37, 6 (June 1974): 3-11, 30.

Chang, G. G. “Supplemental Security Income Program—Revolution Needs Reform.” Cornell Law Review

62, 2 (1977): 314-363.

Choi, Namkee G. “A Comparative Study of Elderly SSI Recipients, Denied Applicants, and Eligible Nonapplicants.” Journal of Aging & Social Policy 10, 2 (1998): 7-28.

Coe, Richard D. “Nonparticipation in the SSI Program by the Eligible Elderly.” Southern Economic Journal 51, 3 (January 1985): 891-897.

Courtney, Mark E. Welfare Reform and Child Welfare Services. Paper prepared for Conference on Child

Welfare, Washington, D.C. Institute for Research on Poverty and School of Social Work, University of

Wisconsin-Madison. October 1996.

Derthick, Martha. Agency Under Stress: The Social Security Administration in American Government.

Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press, 1990.

Diller, M. “Dissonant Disability Policies: The Tensions Between the Americans with Disabilities Act and

Federal Disability Benefit Programs.” Texas Law Review 76, 5 (April 1998): 1003-1082.

Drazga, Linda, Melinda Upp, and Virginia Reno. “Low-Income Aged: Eligibility and Participation in

SSI.” Social Security Bulletin 45, 5 (May 1982): 28-35.

Dunlop, T. W. “Psychological Documentation in Supplemental Security Income Claims Alleging MentalRetardation.” Mental Retardation 20, 3 (1982): 136-139.

Estes, Carroll L. and Meredith Minkler. “Path to Poverty: An Analysis of Women’s Retirement Income.”

In Critical Gerontology: Perspectives from Political and Moral Economy, ed. C. Estes and M. Minkler.

Amityville, N.Y.: Baywood Pub., 1998.

Farel, A. M., D. R. McCarraher, N. Cotton, and J. A. McLaurin. “Opportunities for Older Children and

Adolescents with Disabilities Through the Supplemental Security Income Program.” Children’s Health

Care 24, 1 (Winter 1995): 21-32.

Feldman, Judy. “Longer Benefits for Disabled Workers.” Money 29, 2 (2000): 160-162.
2000 SSI Annual Report

90

Ford, M. E. and J. B. Schwamm. “Expanding Eligibility for Supplemental Security Income Based on

Childhood Disability—The Zebley Decision.” Child Welfare 71, 4 (July-August 1992): 307-318.

Fox, Harriette and Ann Greaney. Disabled Children’s Access to Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid Benefits. Fox Health Policy Consultants, Washington, D.C. 1989.

Friedberg, Leora. The Effect of Old Age Assistance on Retirement. National Bureau of Economic Research

Working Paper No. 6548, May 1998.

Fujiwara, Lynn H. “The Impact of Welfare Reform on Asian Immigrant Communities.” Social Justice 25

(Spring 1998): 82-104.

Gallmeier, C. P. and J. A. Levy. “Holding the Check Hostage—Representative Payees, Clients, and the

Underground Economy.” Journal of Contemporary Ethnography 26, 4 (January 1998): 395-425.

Goldhammer, A. “The Effect of New Vocational Regulations on Social Security and Supplemental Security Income Disability Claims.” Administrative Law Review 32, 3 (1980): 501-510.

Goulet, Joseph L., Robert Rosenheck, and Leslie Douglas. “Effectiveness of a Targeted Mailing Outreach

Program on SSI Applications and Awards.” The Social Service Review 73, 4 (Dec. 1999): 579-587.

Gresenz, C. R., K. Watkins and D. Podus. “Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Disability Insurance

(DI), and Substance Abusers.” Community Mental Health Journal 34, 4 (August 1998): 337-350.

Grimaldi, Paul L. “Supplemental Security Income: the New Federal Program for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled.” Studies in Social Security and Retirement Policy, AEI Studies 253. Washington, D.C.: American

Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, 1980.

________. “Distributive and Fiscal Impacts of the Supplemental Security Income Program.” Review of

Social Economy 36, 2 (October 1978): 175-196.

Grundmann, Herman. “Social Security Beneficiaries Receiving SSI Payments.” Social Security Bulletin

42, 8 (August 1979): 44-47.

Hannsgen, Greg P. and Steven H. Sandell. “Deeming Rules and the Increase in the Number of Children

with Disabilities Receiving SSI: Evaluating the Effects of a Regulatory Change.” Social Security Bulletin

59, 1 (Spring 1996): 43-51.

Hawkins, Sue C. “SSI: Trends in State Supplementation, 1979-81.” Social Security Bulletin 46, 6

(June 1983): 3-8.

________. “SSI: Characteristics of Persons Receiving Federally Administered State Supplementation

Only.” Social Security Bulletin 46, 4 (April 1983): 3-12.

________. “SSI: Trends in State Supplementation, 1974-78.” Social Security Bulletin 43, 7 (July 1980):

19-27.

________. “State Supplementation Under SSI, 1975.” Social Security Bulletin 40, 2 (February 1977):

12-20.

Hawkins, Sue C. and Donald E. Rigby. “Effect of SSI on Medicaid Caseloads and Expenditures.” Social

Security Bulletin 42, 2 (February 1979): 3-14.

Hill, Daniel H. “An Endogenously-Switching Ordered-Response Model of Information, Eligibility and

Participation in SSI.” Review of Economics and Statistics 72, 2 (May 1990): 368-371.

Horlick, Max. “Supplemental Security Income for the Aged: Foreign Experience.” Social Security Bulletin

36, 12 (December 1973): 3-12.
91

2000 SSI Annual Report

Houtsma, P. C. “1974 Developments in Welfare Law—Supplemental Security Income Program.” Cornell

Law Review 60, 5 (1975): 825-856.

Hu, Jianting, Kajal Lahiri, Denton R. Vaughan, and Bernard Wixon. “A Structural Model of Social Security’s Disability Determination Process.” ORES Working Paper No. 72, Office of Research, Evaluation,

and Statistics, Social Security Administration, 1997.

ICF, Incorporated. Rates of Participation of the Elderly in the Supplemental Security Income Program.

Background Paper Series, No. 9, funded by American Association of Retired Persons. Baltimore, Md.:

Commonwealth Fund Commission on Elderly People Living Alone. January 1988.

Joe, Tom and Alan Bogatay. The Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income

Program. University of Chicago, Center for the Study of Welfare Policy. 1980.

Kahn, Arthur L. “Program and Demographic Characteristics of Supplemental Security Income Recipients,

December 1985.” Social Security Bulletin 50, 5 (May 1987): 23-57.

________. “Characteristics of Supplemental Security Income Recipients, December 1984.” Social Security Bulletin 49, 4 (April 1986): 5-11.

________. “Employment and Supplemental Security Income.” Social Security Bulletin 45, 10

(October 1982): 27-31.

Kearney, John R. “The Work Incapacity and Reintegration Study: Results of the Initial Survey Conducted

in the United States.” Social Security Bulletin 60, 3 (1997): 21-32.

Kearney, John R., Herman F. Grundmann, and Salvatore J. Gallicchio. “The Influence of OASDI and SSI

Payments on the Poverty Status of Families with Children.” Social Security Bulletin 58, 3 (Fall 1995):

3-14.

________. “The Influence of Social Security Benefits and SSI Payments on the Poverty Status of Children.” Social Security Bulletin 57, 2 (Summer 1994): 27-43.

Kelly, Rachel. Supplemental Security Income: Efforts to Prevent Prisoners from Receiving Benefits.

Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service. Washington, D.C. 1999.

Kennedy, Lenna D. “SSI At Its 25th Year.” Social Security Bulletin 62, 2 (1999): 52-58.

________. “Women Aged 65 or Older Receiving SSI Payments, December 1996.” Social Security Bulletin

60, 4 (1997): 39-44.

________. “OASDI Beneficiaries and SSI Recipients with Representative Payees.” Social Security Bulletin 58, 4 (Winter 1995): 115-123.

________. “Children Receiving SSI Payments, December 1992.” Social Security Bulletin 56, 2 (Summer

1993): 77-83.

________. “Children Receiving SSI Payments, December 1991.” Social Security Bulletin 55, 2 (Summer

1992): 48-51.

________. “SSI: Trends and Changes, 1974-80.” Social Security Bulletin 45, 7 (July 1982): 3-12.

________. “Unearned Income of Supplemental Security Income Recipients, May 1982.” Social Security

Bulletin 46, 5 (May 1983): 3-6.

________. “Ineligible Spouses of SSI Beneficiaries, December 1976.” Social Security Bulletin 41, 8

(August 1978): 18-25.
2000 SSI Annual Report

92

________. “Income of SSI Recipients, December 1975.” Social Security Bulletin 40, 6 (June 1977): 

42-46.

________. “Concurrent Supplemental Security Income Payments and OASDI Cash Benefits.” Social

Security Bulletin 37, 12 (December 1974): 42-45, 49.

Kennedy, Lenna and Jack Schmulowitz. “SSI Payments to Lawfully Resident Aliens, 1978-79.” Social

Security Bulletin 43, 3 (March 1980): 3-10.

Kennedy, Lenna D., Charles G. Scott, and Alfreda M. Brooks. “SSI Recipients in Multi-Recipient Households, March 1994.” Social Security Bulletin 58, 3 (Fall 1995): 49-54.

Kennedy, Lenna D., Dorothea Thomas, and Jack Schmulowitz. “Conversions to Supplemental Security

Income from State Assistance: A Program Records Study.” Social Security Bulletin 38, 6 (June 1975):

17-32.

Kochhar, Satya. “Denial of SSI Applications Because of Excess Resources.” Social Security Bulletin 55, 2

(Summer 1992): 52-56.

________. “Development of Diagnostic Data in the 10-Percent Sample of Disabled SSI Recipients.”

Social Security Bulletin 54, 7 (July 1991): 10-21.

________. “Blind and Disabled Persons Awarded Federally Administered SSI Payments, 1975.” Social

Security Bulletin 42, 6 (June 1979): 13-23.

________. “Appeals Under the SSI Program: January 1974-August 1976.” Social Security Bulletin

42, 4 (April 1979): 24-32.

________. “SSI Recipients in Domiciliary Care Facilities: Federally Administered Optional Supplementation, March 1976.” Social Security Bulletin 40, 12 (December 1977): 17-28.

Kochhar, Satya and Charles Scott. “SSI Case Closures.” Social Security Bulletin 61, 1 (1998): 20-33.

________. “Living Arrangements of SSI Recipients.” Social Security Bulletin 60, 1 (1997): 18-28.

________. “Disability Patterns Among SSI Recipients.” Social Security Bulletin 58, 1 (Spring 1995): 

3-14.

Koitz, David, Geoffrey Kollmann, and Jim Cornelius. Current Social Security Issues. Library of Congress,

Congressional Research Service. Washington, D.C. 1996.

Kollmann, Geoffrey. Summary of Major Changes in the Social Security Cash Benefits Program: 1935-

1996. Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service. Washington, D.C. 1996.

Kubik, Jeffrey D. “Incentives for the Identification and Treatment of Children with Disabilities: The Supplemental Security Income Program.” Journal of Public Economics 73, 2 (1999): 187-215.

Kuhlthau, K., J. M. Perrin, S. L. Ettner, T. J. McLaughlin and S. L. Gortmaker. “High-Expenditure Children with Supplemental Security Income.” Pediatrics 102, 3 (September 1998): 610-615.

Lahiri, Kajal, Denton R. Vaughan, and Bernard Wixon. “Modeling Social Security’s Sequential Disability

Determination Using Matched SIPP Data.” Social Security Bulletin 58, 4 (Winter 1995): 3-42.

Leavitt, Thomas and James Schulz. The Role of the Asset Test in Program Eligibility and Participation:

The Case of SSI. Brandeis University and American Association of Retired Persons Public Policy Institute,

Washington, D.C. 1988.
93

2000 SSI Annual Report

Lee, Che-Fu and Sharon Ardison. “Language Retention and Supplemental Security Income Among Older

Euro-American Communities.” Journal of Applied Gerontology 7, 1 (March 1988): 111-120.

Lee, Julie, Mark McClellan, and Jonathan Skinner. The Distributional Effects of Medicare. National

Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper No. W6910, January 1999.

Leiter, Valerie, Michelle L. Wood and Stephen H. Bell. “Case Management at Work for SSA Disability

Beneficiaries: Process Results of the Project NetWork Return-to-Work Demonstration.” Social Security

Bulletin 60, 1 (1997): 29-48.

Liebman, L. “Definition of Disability in Social Security and Supplemental Security Income—Drawing

Bounds of Social Welfare Estates.” Harvard Law Review 89, 5 (1976): 833-867.

Louis Harris and Associates. Strategies to Increase Participation in the Supplemental Security Income

Program: Follow-Up Study of Poor Elderly People. Study No. 874012. Baltimore, Md.: Commonwealth

Fund Commission on Elderly People Living Alone. February 1988.

MaCurdy, Thomas and Margaret O’Brien-Strain. Reform Reversed? The Restoration of Welfare Benefits to

Immigrants in California. Public Policy Institute, 1998.

Master, R. J. “Massachusetts Medicaid and the Community Medical Alliance: A New Approach to Contracting and Care Delivery for Medicaid-Eligible Populations with AIDS and Severe Physical Disability.”

American Journal of Managed Care 4 (June 25, 1998): SP90-SP98.

McCabe, S., E. R. Edgar, L. Mancuso, D. King, E. C. Ross, and B. D. Emery. “A National Study of Housing Affordability for Recipients of Supplemental Security Income.” Hospital and Community Psychiatry

44, 5 (May 1993): 494-495.

McCoy, John L. “Disabled-Worker Beneficiaries and Disabled SSI Recipients: A Profile of Demographic

and Program Characteristics.” Social Security Bulletin 52, 5 (May 1989): 16-28.

McCoy, John L., Miles Davis, and Russell E. Hudson. “Geographic Patterns of Disability in the United

States.” Social Security Bulletin 57, 1 (Spring 1994): 25-36.

McGarry, Kathleen. “Factors Determining Participation of the Elderly in Supplemental Security Income.”

Journal of Human Resources 31, 2 (Spring 1996): 331-358.

McKay, J. R., A. T. McLellan, J. Durell, C. Ruetsch, and A. I. Alterman. “Characteristics of Recipients of

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits for Drug Addicts and Alcoholics.” Journal of Nervous and

Mental Disease 186, 5 (May 1998): 290-298.

Menefee, John A., Bea Edwards, and Sylvester J. Schieber. “Analysis of Nonparticipation in the SSI Program.” Social Security Bulletin 44, 6 (June 1981): 3-21.

Meyer, D. R. and S. Bartolomei-Hill. “The Adequacy of Supplemental Security Income Benefits for Aged

Individuals and Couples.” Gerontologist 34, 2 (April 1994): 161-172.

Moon, Marilyn. “Supplemental Security Income, Asset Tests, and Equity.” Policy Analysis 6, 1 (Winter

1980): 1-20.

Morrison, Malcolm M. “Institutionalized SSI Recipients Covered by Medicaid, June 1977.” Social Security Bulletin 41, 12 (December 1978): 24-30.

Muller, L. Scott, Charles G. Scott, and Barry V. Bye. “Labor-Force Participation and Earnings of SSI Disability Recipients: A Pooled Cross-Sectional Times Series Approach to the Behavior of Individuals.”

Social Security Bulletin 59, 1 (Spring 1996): 22-42.
2000 SSI Annual Report

94

Munnell, Alicia H. “Federalizing Welfare: The Fiscal Impact of the SSI Program.” New England Economic Review (September-October 1977): 3-28.

Nelson, William J. Jr. “Disability Trends in the United States: A National and Regional Perspective.”

Social Security Bulletin 57, 3 (Fall 1994): 27-41.

Neumark, David and Elizabeth Powers. Welfare for the Elderly: the Effects of SSI on Pre-Retirement

Labor Supply. National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper No. 6805, November 1998.

________. “The Effect of Means-tested Income Support for the Elderly on Pre-Retirement Saving: Evidence from the SSI Program in the U.S.” Journal of Public Economics 68, 2 (May 1998): 153-180.

Oberheu, Howard D. “Applications Received in 1987 and Allowance Rates for Supplemental Security

Income.” Social Security Bulletin 54, 7 (July 1991): 2-8.

Okpaku, S. “A Profile of Clients Referred for Psychiatric Evaluation for Social Security Disability Income

and Supplemental Security Income—Implications for Psychiatry.” American Journal of Psychiatry 142, 9

(1985): 1037-1043.

Ozawa, M.N. “SSI for Children with Mental Disorders: Backgrounds and a Study of Participation.” Children and Youth Review 21, 6 (1999): 437-462.

Palmer, D. B. “Constitutional Law—Durational Residency Requirements for Supplemental Security

Income for Indigent Aged, Blind, and Disabled.” Syracuse Law Review 25, 2 (1974): 674-689.

Parrott, Thomas M., Lenna D. Kennedy, and Charles G. Scott. “Noncitizens and the Supplemental Security Income Program.” Social Security Bulletin 61, 4 (1998): 3-31.

Perrin, James M., Susan L. Ettner, Thomas J. McLaughlin, Steven L. Gortmaker, Sheila R. Bloom, and

Karen Kuhlthau. “State Variations in Supplemental Security Income Enrollment for Children and Adolescents.” American Journal of Public Health 88, 6 (June 1998): 928-931.

Perrin, James M., Karen Kuhlthau, Susan L. Ettner, Thomas J. McLaughlin, and Steven L. Gortmaker.

“Previous Medicaid Status of Children Newly Enrolled in Supplemental Security Income.” Health Care

Financing Review 19, 4 (Summer 1998): 117-127.

Perrin, James M., Karen Kuhlthau, Thomas J. McLaughlin, Susan L. Ettner, and Steven L. Gortmaker.

“Changing Patterns of Conditions Among Children Receiving Supplemental Security Income Disability

Benefits.” Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine 153, 1 (January 1999): 80-84.

Pickett, Clark D. and Charles G. Scott. “Reinventing SSI Statistics: SSA’s New Longitudinal File.” Social

Security Bulletin 59, 2 (Summer 1996): 31-56.

Polen, Lanelle K. “Salvaging a Safety Net: Modifying the Bar to Supplemental Security Income for Legal

Aliens.” Washington University Law Quarterly 76, 4 (Winter 1998): 1455.

Ponce, Elsa Orley. “State Optional Supplementation of SSI Payments, 1974-95.” Social Security Bulletin

59, 1 (Spring 1996): 52-66.

Ponce, Elsa Orley and Donald Rigby. “SSI Recipients in Medicaid Institutions, December 1979.” Social

Security Bulletin 44, 4 (April 1981): 32-37, 47.

Prero, Aaron J. “Shifting the Cost of Self-Pay for SSI Workers in Supported Employment.” Social Security

Bulletin 56, 1 (Spring 1993): 44-51.

Prero, Aaron J. and Craig Thornton. “Transitional Employment Training for SSI Recipients with Mental

Retardation.” Social Security Bulletin 54, 11 (November 1991): 2-25.
95

2000 SSI Annual Report

Quadagno, Jill. “Incentives to Disability in Federal Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security

Income.” Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research, 336 (1997): 11.

Radin, Beryl A. “Can We Learn from Experience? The Case of SSI.” Policy Analysis 2, 4 (Fall 1976):

615-621.

Reischauer, Robert. Reducing Entitlement Spending. Congressional Budget Office, Washington, D.C.

1994.

Rigby, Donald E. “SSI Work Incentive Participants, September 1991.” Social Security Bulletin 54, 12

(December 1991): 22-29.

________. “State Supplementation Under Federal SSI Program.” Social Security Bulletin 37, 11 (November 1974): 21-28.

Rigby, Donald E. and Elsa Orley Ponce. “Supplemental Security Income: Optional State Supplementation,

October 1977.” Social Security Bulletin 42, 10 (October 1979): 11-17.

Rochefort, David A. “Public Policies for a Graying America: Medicare, the Older Americans Act, Social

Security, and Supplemental Security Income.” In American Social Welfare Policy: Dynamics of Formulation and Change. Boulder, CO.: Westview Press, 1986.

Rocklin, Sarah G. and David R. Mattson. “The Employment Opportunities for Disabled Americans Act:

Legislative History and Summary of Provisions.” Social Security Bulletin 50, 3 (March 1987): 25-35.

Rupp, Kalman, Dianne Driessen, Robert Kornfeld, and Michelle Wood. “The Development of the Project

NetWork Administrative Records Database for Policy Evaluation.” Social Security Bulletin 62, 2 (1999):

30-51.

Rupp, Kalman and Charles G. Scott. “Trends in the Characteristics of DI and SSI Disability Awardees and

Duration of Program Participation.” Social Security Bulletin 59, 1 (Spring 1996): 3-21.

________. “Length of Stay on the Supplemental Security Income Disability Program.” Social Security

Bulletin 58, 1 (Spring 1995): 29-47.

Rush, T. V. “Supplemental Security Income and the Northern Mariana Islands.” Social Security Administration, Research and Statistics Note No. 4. June 19, 1979.

Sandell, Steven H. and Howard M. Iams. “Reducing Women’s Poverty by Shifting Social Security Benefits from Retired Couples to Widows.” Journal of Policy Analysis and Management 16, 2 (Spring 1997):

279-297.

Schieber, Sylvester J. “First Year Impact of SSI on Economic Status of 1973 Adult Assistance Populations.” Social Security Bulletin 41, 2 (February 1978): 18-46.

Schmulowitz, Jack. “SSI and the Low-Income Population: Commentary.” Social Security Bulletin

51, 9 (September 1988): 18, 68-69.

Schmulowitz, Jack and Richard A. Bell. “American Indian SSI Recipients in Selected Areas.” Social Security Bulletin 40, 7 (July 1977): 42-46.

Schwamm, J. B. “Childhood Disability Determination for Supplemental Security Income—Implementing

the Zebley Decision.” Children and Youth Services Review 18, 7 (1996): 621-635.

Scott, Charles G. “SSI Case Closures.” Social Security Bulletin 55, 4 (Winter 1992): 15-21.

________. “Disabled SSI Recipients Who Work.” Social Security Bulletin 55, 1 (Spring 1992): 26-36.
2000 SSI Annual Report

96

________. “Aged SSI Recipients: Income, Work History, and Social Security Benefits.” Social Security

Bulletin 54, 8 (August 1991): 2-11.

________. “Living Arrangements of SSI Recipients.” Social Security Bulletin 53, 7 (July 1990): 14-25.

________. “Resources of Supplemental Security Income Recipients.” Social Security Bulletin 52, 8

(August 1989): 2-9.

________. “A Study of Supplemental Security Income Awardees.” Social Security Bulletin 52, 2 (February 1989): 2-13.

Scott, Charles G., Ruthellen Mulberg, and Howard Oberheu. “SSA’s Outreach Efforts to Contact Beneficiaries Eligible for SSI Payments.” Social Security Bulletin 51, 1 (January 1988): 12-17.

Sheldon, James R. and J. S. Trach. “Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security

Income Work Incentives with Recommendations for Policy Change.” Journal of Applied Rehabilitation

Counseling 29, 4 (1998): 8.

Sherman, Sally R. “Comparison of Aged OASDI and SSI Recipients, 1974.” Social Security Bulletin 42, 1

(January 1979): 40-44.

Shiels, J., B. Barnow, K. Chaurette, J. Constatine, and S. Bartolomei-Hill. Elderly Persons Eligible for and

Participating in the Supplemental Security Income Program: Summary and Implications. Lewin/ICF and

U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Income Security Policy, Washington, D.C.

1990.

Shuptrine, Sarah and Vicki Grant. SSI Application Barriers and Denial of Benefits to Elderly Applicants.

The Villers Foundation/Families U.S.A. Foundation, Columbia, S.C. 1989.

Sim, Joann. “Improving Return-to-Work in the United States Disability Programs, with Analysis of Program Practices in Germany and Sweden.” Social Security Bulletin 62, 3 (1999): 41-50.

Solomon, Carmen. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Drug Addicts and Alcoholics: Welfare Reform in

the 104th Congress. Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service, Washington, D.C. 1995.

Staples, Thomas G. “Supplemental Security Income: The Aged Eligible.” Social Security Bulletin

36, 7 (July 1973): 31-35.

Stapleton, David, Burt Barnow, Kevin Coleman, Kimberly Dietrich, Jeff Furman, and Gilbert Lo. Labor

Market Conditions, Socioeconomic Factors, and the Growth of Applications and Awards for SSDI and SSI

Disability Benefits, final report and appendix prepared under contract to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Department of Health and Human Services and the Social Security

Administration, May 23, 1995.

Storey, J. R. “New Supplemental Security Income—Implications for Other Benefit Programs.” Policy Sciences 6, 3 (1975): 359-374.

Stratton, Joyce. Supplemental Security Income Outreach: Overcoming Stigma. City University of New

York, 1989.

Streett, Craig A. “State Programs and Supplemental Security Income for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled,

April 1987.” Social Security Bulletin 50, 5 (May 1987): 67-70.

Taylor, H., Michael Kagay, and Stuart Leichenko. Problems Facing Elderly Americans Living Alone.

Louis Harris and Associates, New York. 1986.

Thomas, Dorothea and Richard A. Bell. “SSI Payments in Metropolitan Areas.” Social Security Bulletin

39, 4 (April 1976): 23-27.
97

2000 SSI Annual Report

Tissue, Thomas. “Response to Recipiency Under Public Assistance and SSI.” Social Security Bulletin 41,

11 (November 1978): 3-15.

Trout, John and David R. Mattson. “A 10-Year Review of the Supplemental Security Income Program.”

Social Security Bulletin 47, 1 (January 1984): 3-24.

U.S. Congress. House. Committee on Ways and Means. Use of Representative Payees in the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income Programs: Hearing. March 22, 1989.

________. ________. Select Committee on Aging. Outreach in the Supplemental Security Income Program: Are the Needy Being Informed?: Hearing. April 5, 1990.

________. ________. Select Committee on Aging. The Elimination of Poverty Among the Elderly: Supplemental Security Income Reform: Hearing. 1988.

________. ________. Select Committee on Aging. Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Repairing the

Safety Net: Hearing. June 27, 1988.

________. ________. Select Committee on Aging. The Forgotten Safety Net: The Supplemental Security

Income (SSI) Program: Hearing. September 10, 1987.

________. ________. Subcommittee on Human Resources. Proposals to Improve the Supplemental Security Income Program: Hearing. 1989.

________. Senate. Committee on Finance. Growth of the Supplemental Security Income Program: Hearing. March 27, 1995.

________. ________. Committee on Finance. The Supplemental Security Income Program: Hearing.

1977.

________. ________. Special Committee on Aging. Supplemental Security Income Program: a 

10-Year Overview: An Information Paper. May 1984.

U.S. General Accounting Office. Supplemental Security Income: Additional Actions Needed to Reduce

Program Vulnerability to Fraud and Abuse. Report to the Honorable Henry Waxman, Ranking Minority

Member, Committee on Government Reform, U.S. House of Representatives. GAO/HEHS-99-151. 1999.

________. Supplemental Security Income: Incentive Payments Have Reduced Benefit Overpayments to

Prisoners. GAO/HEHS-00-2. 1999.

________. Supplemental Security Income: Increased Receipt and Reporting of Child Support Could

Reduce Payments. Report to the Committees on Finance, U.S. Senate, and Ways and Means, U.S. House

of Representatives. GAO/HEHS-99-11. 1999.

________. Supplemental Security Income: Long-Standing Issues Require More Active Management and

Program Oversight. Statement of Cynthia M. Fagnoni, Director, Income Security Issues, Health, Education, and Human Services Division, before the Subcommittee on Human Resources, Committee on Ways

and Means, U.S. House of Representatives. GAO/T-HEHS-99-51. 1999.

________. Supplemental Security Income: Progress Made in Implementing Welfare Reform Changes—

More Action Needed. Report to the Committee on Finance, U.S. Senate, and the Committee on Ways and

Means, U.S. House of Representatives. GAO/HEHS-99-103. 1999.

________. Supplemental Security Income: SSA is Taking Steps to Review Recipients’ Disability Status.

Report to the Chairman, Subcommittee on Oversight, and the Chairman, Subcommittee on Human

Resources, Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives. GAO/HEHS-97-17. 1996.
2000 SSI Annual Report

98

________. Supplemental Security Income: Some Recipients Transfer Valuable Resources to Qualify for

Benefits. Report to Congressional Requesters. GAO/HEHS-96-79. 1996.

________. Supplemental Security Income: Growth and Changes in Recipient Population Call for Reexamining Program. Report to the Chairman, Committee on Finance, U.S. Senate, and the Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives. July 1995.

U.S. Social Security Administration. Quarterly Report on SSI Disabled Workers and Work Incentive Provisions. Quarterly publication of the Office of Research, Evaluation and Statistics.

________. Children Receiving SSI. Semi-annual publication of the Office of Research, Evaluation and

Statistics.

________. Supplemental Security Income Modernization Project, Final Report of the Experts. Baltimore,

MD. 1992.

Van Hook, Jennifer V. and Frank D. Bean. “The Growth in Noncitizen SSI Caseloads 1979-1996: Aging

Versus New Immigrant Effects.” Journals of Gerontology Series B – Psychological Sciences and Social

Sciences 54, 1 (January 1999): S16-S23.

Van Hook, Jennifer V., Frank D. Bean and Jennifer E. Glick. “The Development and Assessment of Census-Based Measures of AFDC and SSI Recipiency.” Journal of Economic and Social Measurement 22, 1

(1996): 1-23.

Warlick, Jennifer L. “Participation of the Aged in SSI.” Journal of Human Resources 17, 2 (Spring 1982):

236-260.

Wixon, Bernard and Denton R. Vaughan. Two Papers on a New SIPP-Based Microsimulation Model of SSI

and OASDI. ORS Working Paper No. 54, Office of Research and Statistics, Social Security Administration, December 1991.

Wu, Ke Bin. “Sources of Income for Older Persons in 1995.” PPI Data Digest 32 (1998): 1-6.

Yelowitz, Aaron S. “Why Did the SSI-Disabled Program Grow So Much? Disentangling the Effect of

Medicaid.” Journal of Health Economics 17, 3 (June 1998): 321-349.

________. Using the Medicare Buy-in Program to Estimate the Effect of Medicaid on SSI Participation.

University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Economics Working Paper No. 753, May 1996.

Zander, Mary. Toward Income Adequacy for the Elderly Poor: Implications of the SSI (Supplemental Security Income) Program for New York City Recipients. New York: Community Service Society of New York.

January 1982.

Zedlewski, Sheila R. and Jack A. Meyer. “Toward Ending Poverty Among the Elderly and Disabled

Through SSI Reform.” Urban Institute Report, 89-1 (1989).
99

2000 SSI Annual Report

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 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

Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Appeal Rights Process. The administrative review process followed by SSA in determining an individual’s rights under the Social Security Act. The administrative review process consists of several steps,

which must be requested after the initial determination of eligibility, within certain time periods and in the

following order: (1) reconsideration, (2) hearing before an administrative law judge, and (3) an Appeals

Council review.

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, divorce, retirement patterns, disability incidence and termination rates, and

changes in the labor force. Economic assumptions include unemployment, average earnings, inflation,

interest rates, and productivity. The assumptions underlying the projections presented in this report are

consistent with the intermediate assumptions of the 2000 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.

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. 
2000 SSI Annual Report

100

Automatic Cost-of-Living Increase. The annual increase in SSI Federal benefit rates, effective for January, reflecting the change in the cost of living. The increase equals the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers measured from the average over July,

August, and September of the preceding year to the average for the same 3 months in the current year. If

the increase is less than one-tenth of 1 percent, when rounded, there is no automatic increase for the current year; the increase for the next year would reflect the increase in the cost of living over a 2-year period.

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. An unmarried blind or disabled individual who is not the head of a household and who is either

under age 18 or aged 18-21 and regularly attending school. 

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. Relative measure of inflation. In this report, all references to the CPI

relate to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).

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.

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 personal property that an individual (or his/her spouse) owns and could convert to cash to be used for their

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.
101

2000 SSI Annual Report

Dedicated Account. A bank account 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). Funds may be used for: 

• Education,

• 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 four items, is related to the child’s

impairment. Money from a dedicated account which is 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 which has lasted or can be expected to last for a

continuous period of not less than 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.

Disposal of Resources for Less Than Fair Market Value. Ridding oneself of 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 Disregard. 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.
2000 SSI Annual Report

102

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 eligible 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.

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.

Effective January 2000, the FBR for individuals is $512 a month and $769 a month for eligible couples.

(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 2000 began October 1, 1999 and will end

September 30, 2000.

Food Stamps. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), under cooperative Federal-State agreements,

issues Food Stamp Program 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.

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 market value of 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

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 non-institutional 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
103

2000 SSI Annual Report

receiving in-kind support and maintenance from that household, and his/her SSI benefit is reduced by

one-third 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 IRWE’s 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 dedicated 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, capitalizing a business or addressing certain hardships. An individual’s deposits

into an IDA are matched by a sponsoring non-profit 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, provided that the total of this income does not

exceed $10 per month of earned income and $20 per month of unearned income. Infrequent means that it

is not received more than once in a calendar quarter from a single source. Irregular means that an individual could not reasonably expect to receive the income.

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, clothing or shelter or something an individual can

use to obtain food, clothing or shelter.

In-Kind Support and Maintenance (ISM). Unearned income in the form of food, clothing, or shelter or

any combination of these.

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 a child lives with his/her parents or an individual lives with his/her spouse. 

Maintenance-of-Effort. See “Passalong.”

Mandatory State Supplementation. See “State Supplementation.”
2000 SSI Annual Report

104

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 Facility. An establishment that makes available some treatment or services in addition to food

and shelter to four or more persons who are not related to the proprietor.

New Entrant. 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.

Public Law 105-306, the Noncitizen Benefit Clarification and Other Technical Amendments Act of 1998,

permanently extended SSI eligibility of all nonqualified aliens who were receiving SSI benefits on August

22, 1996 provided all other eligibility requirements continue to be met.

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 INS 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.
105

2000 SSI Annual Report

• 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.

• 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).

Payment Accuracy. The accuracy rate reflects the percent of dollars in SSI benefits that are paid correctly. One measure of the quality of the SSI program and SSA’s stewardship of it, based on reviews conducted by SSA to determine the accuracy of the payment and compliance with national instructions and

goals. 

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 for Achieving Self-Support (PASS). A plan that permits a disabled or blind SSI recipient to set

aside earned or unearned income and resources for a work goal. The income or 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.

Population in the Social Security Area. 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 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.

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 for Self-Support (PESS). The real and personal property used in a trade or business,

non-business 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. After 1996, proration for months

of initial eligibility was eliminated.
2000 SSI Annual Report

106

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. 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. 

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 one 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 in section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of

1980; or

• 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;

— Been determined to need SSI because of this abuse; and

— A determination from the INS 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 2000, a worker receives one quarter of coverage (up to four a year) for each $780 of annual earnings reported from employment or self-employment. This dollar amount is subject to annual automatic

increases in proportion to increases in average earnings.

Recipient. A person who has been awarded 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 assure that requirements for eligibility continue to be met and that payment levels are in the proper amount. Income, resources, living
107

2000 SSI Annual Report

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,

• 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.

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. Also referred to as “past-due” benefits.

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
2000 SSI Annual Report

108

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.

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.

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, as of January 1, 2000, pays $7.80 for each benefit paid for the administrative costs.

• 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 monthly 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 Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE). An earned income exclusion for an individual who is under

age 22, regularly attending school and neither married nor the head of a household, with certain limitations

established by regulations. Currently, up to $400 earned income in a month, but no more than $1,620 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. Under current regulations, a person who is

not statutorily blind and is earning more than $700 a month (net of impairment-related work expenses) is

ordinarily considered to be engaging in substantial gainful activity. 

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. 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, 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 results in a termination of the SSI

record. (Once a record is terminated, reapplication is necessary.)
109

2000 SSI Annual Report

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. 

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 services provided to blind or disabled individuals to help enable

them to work. SSA makes provisions for blind or disabled recipients to be referred to a State VR agency,

or to an alternate provider if the State agency does not accept the referral. SSA reimburses 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.

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. 

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 disregard,

• Impairment related work expenses,

• Blind work expenses,

• PASS, and

• Section 1619 benefits.