Annual Report of the

Supplemental Security Income Program

Social Security Administration

May 1997
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY

Washington, D.C., May 30, 1997

President William J. Clinton

The White House

Washington, D.C.

The Honorable Newt Gingrich

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Washington, D.C.

The Honorable Albert Gore, Jr.

President of the Senate

Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen: 

We have the honor of transmitting to you the 1997 Annual Report of the Supplemental Security

Income Program (the first such report), in compliance with section 231 of the Personal Responsibility

and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.

Respectfully,

John J. Callahan

Acting Commissioner

of Social Security
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 first 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 1997, 6.3 million individuals received Federal SSI payments averaging $342 per

month. 

 • Federal expenditures for cash payments under the SSI program during calendar year 1996

totaled $26.5 billion, and the cost of administering the SSI program in fiscal year 1996 was $2.0

billion.

Major Findings of the Report

 • Throughout the 25-year period ending in 2021, the SSI program is estimated to grow largely due

to the overall growth in the U.S. population. By 2021, the Federal SSI recipient population is

estimated to reach 7 million. 

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

projected to decline sharply in 1997, from its 1996 level of 2.3 percent, and remain fairly level at

2.1 percent of the population through 2021. 

 • Federal expenditures for SSI payments in calendar year 1997 are estimated to total $25.8 billion,

a decline of roughly $700 million from 1996 levels. Short-term declines in SSI program expenditures are the result of changes to the program enacted in the 104th Congress. These changes

include new eligibility standards that affect individuals disabled due to drug addiction and/or

alcoholism, disabled children, and noncitizens.

 • Growth in SSI program outlays during the next 25 years is projected to remain relatively modest. In constant 1997 dollars, the cost of the program is projected to increase to $31.7 billion in

2021. 

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

decline over time, from the current level of 0.35 percent of GDP in 1996 to 0.27 percent of GDP by

2021. 
(VII)

CONTENTS

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

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

III. THE SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME PROGRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

A. BACKGROUND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

B. THE BASIC PLAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

C. UNIFORM STANDARDS AND OBJECTIVE CRITERIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

D. ASSISTANCE OF LAST RESORT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

1. Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

2. Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

3. Filing for Other Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

4. Eligibility Issues for Residents of Public Institutions or Medical Facilities . . . . . . . . 9

5. Personal Needs Allowance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

6. Deeming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

a. Spouse-to-Spouse Deeming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

b. Parent-to-Child Deeming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

c. Sponsor-to-Alien Deeming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

E. INCENTIVES FOR WORK AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR REHABILITATION . . . . . . . 11

1. Earned Income Exclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

2. Impairment-Related Work Expense Exclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

3. Work Expenses of the Blind Exclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

4. Student Earned Income Exclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

5. Plan for Achieving Self-Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

6. Special Provisions for Disabled People Who Work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

7. Vocational Rehabilitation Referral/Reimbursement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

F. ADMINISTRATION OF THE SSI PROGRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

1. Application Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

2. Determinations of Eligibility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

3. Representative Payees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

4. Appeal Rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

5. Advance Payments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

a. Emergency Advance Payments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

b. Presumptive Disability or Blindness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

c. Attorney Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

G. STATE SUPPLEMENTATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

1. Optional State Supplementary Payment Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

2. Mandatory State Supplementary Payment Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

3. Administration of State Supplementary Payments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

4. Mandatory Passalong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

H. COORDINATION WITH OTHER PROGRAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

1. SSI Windfall Offset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

2. Medicaid Determinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

3. Food Stamp Applications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

4. Interim Assistance Reimbursement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
(VIII)

IV. ESTIMATES OF PROGRAM PARTICIPATION AND FEDERAL EXPENDITURES 

UNDER THE SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME PROGRAM, 1997-2021 . . . . . 19

A. ECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC ASSUMPTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

B. NUMBERS OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE SSI PROGRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

C. FEDERAL PAYMENTS UNDER SSI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

D. FEDERAL SSI PAYMENTS AS A PERCENTAGE OF 

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

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

AND BENEFICIARY SERVICES COSTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

V. APPENDICES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

A. HISTORY OF PROVISIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

1. Basic Eligibility Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

2. Other Eligibility Provisions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

a. Citizenship and Residence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

b. Other Benefits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

c. Drug Addiction and Alcoholism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

d. Institutionalization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

e. Vocational Rehabilitation and Treatment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

f. Continuing Disability Reviews and Eligibility Redeterminations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

g. Deeming of Income and Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

3. Federal Benefit Payments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

a. Windfall Offset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

b. Proration of Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

c. Retrospective Monthly Accounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

d. Uncashed Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

e. Rounding of Payment Amounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

4. Federal Benefit Rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

5. Exclusions From Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

a. General Exclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

b. Special Exclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

6. Limits and Exclusions From Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

a. General Exclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

b. Special Exclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

7. Presumptive and Emergency Payments and Interim Assistance Reimbursement . . . 55

a. Presumptive Payments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

b. Emergency Advance Payments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

c. Interim Assistance Reimbursement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

8. Medicaid Eligibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

9. State Supplementation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

B. INCOME AND RESOURCE EXCLUSIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

1. Earned Income Exclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

2. Unearned Income Exclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

3. Resource Exclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

C. HISTORICAL ALLOWANCE DATA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

1. Technical Notes on the Disability Research File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

2. General Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

D. HISTORICAL REDETERMINATION AND 

CONTINUING DISABILITY REVIEW DATA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

1. Redeterminations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

2. Continuing Disability Reviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
(IX)

E. INCENTIVES FOR WORK AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR REHABILITATION . . . . . . . 68

1. Work Incentives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

a. Numbers of Participants in Work Incentive Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

b. Average Earnings of Participants in Work Incentive Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

2. Vocational Rehabilitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

F. INVOLVEMENT OF SSI BENEFICIARIES IN OTHER PROGRAMS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

G. BIBLIOGRAPHY OF RESEARCH ON RELATED TOPICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

H. ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
(XI)

TABLES

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

as Projected for the Intermediate Assumptions of the 

1997 OASDI Trustees Report, as of July 1, 1974-2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

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

Estimated on the Basis of the Intermediate Assumptions of the 

1997 OASDI Trustees Report, 1974-2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

IV.B1 SSI Federally-Administered Applications, Calendar Years 1974-2021 . . . . . 23

IV.B2 SSI Federally-Administered Awards, Calendar Years 1974-2021 . . . . . . . . . 24

IV.B3 SSI Federally-Administered Terminations, Calendar Years 1974-2021 . . . . 26

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

as of December, 1974-2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

IV.B5 SSI Recipients With Federal Benefits in Current-Payment Status 

as a Percentage of Selected Social Security Area Population Totals, 

as of December, 1975-2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

IV.B6 SSI Recipients With Federally-Administered State Supplementary 

Benefits Only, in Current-Payment Status as of December, 1974-2021 . . . . 31

IV.B7 SSI Recipients With Federally-Administered Benefits in 

Current-Payment Status as of December, 1974-2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

IV.C1 SSI Federal Payments in Current Dollars, Calendar Years 1974-97 . . . . . . . 33

IV.C2 SSI Federal Payments in Current Dollars, Fiscal Years 1978-97 . . . . . . . . . 34

IV.C3 SSI Federal Payments in Constant 1997 Dollars, 

Calendar Years 1974-2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

IV.C4 SSI Federally-Administered State Supplementary Payments in 

Current Dollars, Calendar Years 1974-96 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

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

Calendar Years 1974-96 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

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

Calendar Years 1974-2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

IV.E1 Selected SSI Administrative Costs, Fiscal Years 1978-97 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

V.A1 Federal Benefit Rates Set by Legislation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

V.C1 Disposition of Applications for SSI Disability Benefits by Year of Filing, 

Level of Decision, and Program Involvement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

V.D1 SSI Redeterminations Completed, Fiscal Years 1986-96 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

V.D2 Disposition of SSI Continuing Disability Medical Reviews by 

Fiscal Year of Initial Decision, Level of Decision, and Review Category . . . . 67

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

as of December, 1987-96 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

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

SSI Recipient Status Participating in Other Work Incentives 

as of December, 1990-96 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

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

Disabled Working Recipients, as of December, 1987-96 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

V.E4 Vocational Rehabilitation Reimbursement Claims Allowed, 

Fiscal Years 1987-96 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
(XIII)

FIGURES

IV.B1 SSI Federally-Administered Applications, Calendar Years 1975-2025 . . . . . 24

IV.B2 SSI Federally-Administered Awards, Calendar Years 1975-2025 . . . . . . . . . 25

IV.B3 SSI Federally-Administered Terminations, Calendar Years 1975-2025 . . . . 27

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

as of December, 1975-2025 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

IV.B5 SSI Recipients With Federal Benefits in Current-Payment Status 

as a Percentage of Selected Social Security Area Population Totals, 

as of December, 1975-2025 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

IV.C1 SSI Federal Payments in Constant 1997 Dollars, 

Calendar Years 1975-2025 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

IV.D1 SSI Federal Payments as a Percentage of GDP, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

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

as of December, 1987-96 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
1

I. INTRODUCTION

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program was established by Congress in 1972 1 , with payments beginning 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 or her own household and having no other countable

income is provided, as of January 1997, a monthly Federal cash payment of $484 ($726 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 “maintenance-of-effort” provisions in the original SSI legislation.

In recent years, the SSI program has undergone significant changes both as a result of legislation,

and due to certain Federal court decisions. In particular, during 1996, there were two pieces of legislation 2 that had a major impact on the payment provisions under SSI. In addition, 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 first in a series of such annual reports on the SSI

program. 

The legislative mandate for this report was 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 costs; 

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

 • 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.

For this initial report, much of the required information had to be developed for the first time. 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,

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

 2 Public Law 104-121 enacted March 29, 1996, and Public Law 104-193, enacted August 22, 1996. The provisions of these two pieces of legislation

are outlined in section II.
1997 SSI Annual Report

2

extensive work was necessary to prepare retrospective estimates based on existing historical totals.

Furthermore, except for the 75-year projections prepared for the OASDI 1 and Medicare 2 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 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 extended the computations of its Budget model to encompass a 25-year period. As discussed in

greater detail in section IV, the resulting forecasts should be considered very rough beyond the first

5-10 years. Future research and model development work will be undertaken by the Office of the

Chief Actuary in an effort to enhance these 25-year forecasts for future editions of this report.

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

to provide the best information available at this time. It is expected that in future versions of this

annual report, improvements will 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, 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. 

 1 The 1997 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability Insurance Trust Funds, issued

April 24, 1997.

 2 The 1997 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and The 1997 Annual Report of the Board of

Trustees of the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund, issued April 24, 1997.
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1997 SSI Annual Report

II. HIGHLIGHTS

A brief history of the SSI program is presented in the following section, including descriptions of the

eligibility criteria and other features of the program, and rationale for why some of those provisions

were included in the SSI statute. Perhaps a more important part of the picture, however, is an indication of how SSI affects the individuals it is intended to serve and the cost of the benefits. Following is

a brief summary of such information. 

 • On average during calendar year 1996, 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 benefits under the SSI program during calendar year 1996 totaled

$26.5 billion. 

 • On average during calendar year 1996, 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 1996. 

 • State expenditures for Federally-administered supplements during calendar year 1996 totaled

$3.0 billion, excluding fees for Federal administration. 

 • The cost of administering the SSI program in fiscal year 1996 was $2.0 billion. 

Legislative changes in the SSI program in 1996 include:

 • Drug addicts and alcoholics—Public Law 104-121, enacted on March 29, 1996, provided that,

effective upon enactment, no SSI applicant could be found disabled if drug addiction or alcoholism would be a “contributing factor material to the determination of disability.”

The law also provided for a process of notification and redetermination of disability for those current recipients who would be affected by this change. Their eligibility for payments ended on

January 1, 1997.

 • Disabled children and noncitizens—Public Law 104-193, enacted on August 22, 1996,

included substantial changes to the eligibility requirements for two large segments of the SSI

population—disabled children under age 18, and recipients who are not U.S. citizens. 1 

Eligibility for disabled children—Individuals under age 18, are no longer considered disabled if

they have an impairment of comparable severity to that of an adult. Rather, individuals under

age 18 are considered disabled if their impairment meets the statutory duration requirement

and if they have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which results in

marked and severe functional limitations. The determination of disability for a child will no

longer include an individualized functional assessment, and references to “maladaptive behavior” will be removed from the personal/behavioral domain in certain of the Listing of Impairments. These new requirements are effective for claims filed on or after or finally adjudicated on

or after August 22, 1996. Children receiving SSI as of August 22, 1996 who are affected will have

their eligibility redetermined, using the revised definition of disability. No payments to children

who qualified for SSI payments before enactment of this provision will end because of these

changes before July 1, 1997.

 1 Public Law 104-208, enacted September 30, 1996, amended Public Law 104-193, to modify slightly the prohibition on SSI payments to certain

noncitizens. Reference to Public Law 104-193 in the body of this report should be interpreted to mean Public Law 104-193 as amended by Public

Law 104-208.
1997 SSI Annual Report

4

Eligibility for noncitizens—Before the enactment of Public Law 104-193, U.S. residents who were

not citizens were eligible for SSI if they were lawfully admitted for permanent residence, permanently residing under color of law, or belonged to specified groups of legal refugees or asylees.

The new law generally prohibits SSI payments until an immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen.

Exceptions are granted for the first 5 years an individual is in the United States as a legal refugee, asylee, or whose deportation is withheld. There are exceptions for certain active duty military and veterans, their spouses and minor children, and for lawful permanent residents who

earn, or can be credited with, 40 qualifying quarters of earnings. These changes are effective on

enactment for new claims. Current recipients will have their eligibility redetermined under the

new rules. Those who do not qualify must be removed from the rolls within 1 year after enactment.

The major findings of this report are summarized below:

 • Over the next 2 years, the combined impact of Public Law 104-121 and Public Law 104-193 is

expected to result in a decline in the numbers of SSI recipients. Following that decline, growth in

the SSI rolls is expected to resume largely due to the growth in the U.S. population. By 2021, the

Federal SSI recipient population is estimated to reach 7 million. Expressed as a percentage of

the total U.S. population, the number of Federal SSI recipients is projected to decline sharply in

1997, from its 1996 level of 2.3 percent, and remain fairly level at 2.1 percent of the population

through 2021. 

 • Federal expenditures for SSI payments in calendar year 1997 are estimated to total $25.8 billion,

a decline of roughly $700 million from 1996 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 1997 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 1997 dollars, the cost of

the program is projected to increase to $31.7 billion in 2021. 

 • Furthermore, when compared to the Gross Domestic Product, Federal SSI expenditures are projected to decline over time, from the current level of 0.35 percent of GDP in 1996 to 0.27 percent

of GDP by 2021.
5

1997 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 1997, 6.6 million individuals

received Federally-administered SSI benefits 1 averaging $365 per month.

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 benefit 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 benefit 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 receives

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.
1997 SSI Annual Report

6

 • 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 in the 25 years since its inception, 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, 1997, the countable income

limit for individuals is $484 a month and $726 a month for couples. The resource limit is $2,000

in countable resources for an individual 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’s vision may not be

better than 20/200 or have a limited visual field of 20 degrees or less with the best correction;

and

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

must be either a citizen (or national) of the United States or in one of the following categories: 4 

— refugees (eligibility limited to the 5-year period after their arrival in the United States);

— asylees (eligibility limited to the 5-year period after the date they are granted asylum);

 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 $500 a month is evidence of ability to engage in SGA. If an SSI applicant is earning over $500 a month, he/she generally would not

be considered disabled. However, if an SSI recipient is earning over $500 a month, he/she could continue to be eligible for SSI. (See “Incentives for

Work and Opportunities for Rehabilitation” section III.E.)

 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 Public Law 104-121, the Senior Citizen’s 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. 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.
7

1997 SSI Annual Report

— aliens who have had deportation withheld under section 243(h) 1 of the Immigration and

Nationality Act (INA) (eligibility limited to the 5-year period after their deportations are

withheld);

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

spouses and dependent children; and, 

— lawful permanent residents who earn, or can be credited (from their spouses or parents)

with, 40 qualifying quarters of earnings. 

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 United States, the District of Columbia or

the Northern Mariana Islands. An individual also must be physically present in the United

States 2 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 account of all income and resources that an individual has or

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

assistance. 

1. Income 

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

SSI benefit. As countable income increases, an individual’s SSI benefit amount decreases. 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 $484 for an individual; $726 for an individual with an

eligible spouse) 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 onethird 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 the one-third of the applicable Federal benefit rate plus $20 ($181.33 in 1997). 

 1 On or after April 1, 1997, this INA citation is section 241(b)(3) and the reference will be to “removal withheld”.

 2 Fifty United States, the District of Columbia or the Northern Mariana Islands.
1997 SSI Annual Report

8

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. 

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). 

2. Resources 

The amounts of individuals’ resources are used to determine whether they are eligible for SSI in any

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

(determined on a monthly basis) not exceeding $2,000, or $3,000 in the case of married couples, but

does not define what resources are. The law does stipulate what items are to be excluded from

resources. 

Regulations stipulate that a resource is cash or other liquid assets 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.

 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.
9

1997 SSI Annual Report

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 (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 income producing activity, 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 all other benefits

for which they may be entitled. 

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

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

from receipt of the notice to file for the benefits involved. 

4. Eligibility Issues for Residents of Public Institutions or Medical 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 longstanding 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; 

 • 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); 

 • 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; or

 • 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 2 months.

 1 A complete list of the SSI resource exclusions can be found in section V.B.
1997 SSI Annual Report

10

5. Personal Needs Allowance 

When individuals enter certain public or private hospitals or other medical institutions in which

more than half of the bill is paid by the Medicaid program, their monthly Federal payment standard

is reduced to $30, beginning with the first full calendar month they are in such institution. 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 available to the eligible individual, 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. Spouse-to-spouse deeming is intended to

result in the same amount of income available to the couple as would be available if both members of

the couple were aged, blind, or disabled and eligible for SSI. 

Deeming does not apply when the eligible individual is not living in the same household as the ineligible spouse. However, if the ineligible spouse’s absence is temporary or is due solely to an active duty

assignment as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, deeming 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 immigration sponsors and the sponsors’ spouses are deemed to noncitizens admitted into the country under legally enforceable affidavits of support generally until the non-

 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 only about 100 of these cases left.
11

1997 SSI Annual Report

citizens become U.S. citizens. Unlike spouse-to-spouse and parent-to-child deeming, no living

allowances are provided for the sponsor or the sponsor’s family. 

Deeming ends before citizenship in the case of lawful permanent residents who earn, or can be credited with, 40 qualifying quarters of earnings. Children and spouses of workers may be credited with

quarters earned by the worker. (After 1996, a quarter does not count as one of the required 40 if the

noncitizen or worker received Federal means-tested public benefits during the relevant period.) 

Deeming does not apply for specified periods if the noncitizens or their children or parents have been

battered or subjected to extreme cruelty while in the United States or if sponsors leave the noncitizens indigent by not providing them with sufficient support. 

E. INCENTIVES FOR WORK AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR REHABILITATION

SSI benefits provide a basic level of assistance for individuals who are blind or disabled with limited

earnings 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 

The work expense provision for individuals who are blind is more liberal than the impairment-related

work expense provision for individuals who are disabled. Any income that a blind individual uses to

meet expenses relating to work is not counted in determining SSI eligibility and benefit amounts.

A deductible expense need not be directly related to the worker’s blindness; it need only be an ordinary and necessary work expense of the worker. Some frequently excluded work expenses include

transportation to and from work, meals consumed during work hours, job equipment, licenses,

income or FICA taxes, and costs of job training. 
1997 SSI Annual Report

12

4. Student Earned Income Exclusion 

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

and regularly attending school and is intended to help defray the cost of his/her educational training.

Up to $400 of earned income per month but no more than $1,620 per year may be excluded. 

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 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. 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 compliance with the plan. 

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 limit (currently $500 a month) 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 
13

1997 SSI Annual Report

 • have been eligible to receive 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. 

7. Vocational Rehabilitation Referral/Reimbursement 

Since the beginning of the SSI program, blind or disabled individuals who are applying for or receiving SSI benefits are referred to the State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies to the extent that

“the maximum number of such individuals may be rehabilitated into productive activity.” 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 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

disability and blindness. 
1997 SSI Annual Report

14

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 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. 

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 have medically recovered. 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 under the following circumstances:

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

 • 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; 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 handling 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 (if the recipient is under age 18), 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 may deduct 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 ($26 a month in 1997 ($51 a month in the

case of an organization acting as payee for disabled recipients with 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

any overpayments that occur. 

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.
15

1997 SSI Annual Report

5. Advance Payments 

Unlike many of the various State programs that the SSI program replaced, it was not designed to

respond to the immediate needs of claimants. However, several provisions exist to fill the gap in

responsiveness to individuals in such situations. 

a. Emergency Advance Payments 

An advance payment of no more than 1 month’s benefit (including any Federally-administered State

supplementary payment) may be made to an applicant faced with a financial emergency when there

is a strong likelihood that the individual will be found eligible. Such payments may be made only

once, and the amount advanced is recovered from subsequent SSI benefits. (Prior to the enactment of

Public Law 104-193, emergency advance payments were made for the month of initial eligibility.

Because Public Law 104-193 changed SSI law to provide that benefits are payable only for months

following the month of application or eligibility, emergency advance payments may now be made in

the month prior to an individual’s eligibility.) If it is subsequently determined that the individual is

not eligible for any reason other than failure to establish disability or blindness, the emergency

advance payment is considered an overpayment. 

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. 

c. 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 dealing with Social Security and not be prohibited by any law from acting as a representative.

A representative may charge and receive a fee for his/her services, but the Social Security Administration determines what the fee shall be and approves the fee agreement between the claimant and

the attorney. Payment to attorneys is limited to the amount in the approved fee agreement or petition. For fee agreements, the approved fee can be for no more than 25 percent of any past due benefits. 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.

G. STATE 1 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. 

 1 References to State include, in addition to the 50 States, the District of Columbia.
1997 SSI Annual Report

16

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 States. In 1997, 44 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). 

2. Mandatory State Supplementary Payment Programs 

States are required 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 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 1996, there were roughly 2,800 such recipients. 

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 $5 fee for each supplementary payment issued. 

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. 

Twenty-seven States 1 administer their own programs. Eleven States 2 have SSA administer their

optional supplementary payment program. In one State (North Dakota) the supplementary payment

program is county administered and in five States 3 the administration is split between Federal and

State depending on the payment category. 

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 yearto-year—the “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 

 1 Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, Wisconsin and

Wyoming.

 2 California, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Utah.

 3 Iowa, Michigan, New York, Vermont, and Washington.
17

1997 SSI Annual Report

rate—the “expenditures” method. Currently 38 States 1 use the levels method and 11 2 use the expenditure method. Two States are unaffected by the mandatory passalong requirement. Texas has no

mandatory or optional supplementary program because of a State constitutional impediment. West

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

because Federal SSI income standards exceeded those 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. SSI 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 “SSI windfall offset” and was enacted to prevent windfall payments to individuals

when Social Security and unreduced SSI payments were paid for the same period. 

2. Medicaid Determinations 

Generally, SSI recipients are categorically eligible for Medicaid. A State may either use SSI eligibility

criteria for determining Medicaid eligibility, or may use its own criteria as long as the criteria is no

more restrictive than the State’s January 1972 medical assistance standards. Forty States 3 use SSI

criteria and 11 States 4 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 5 States. 

 1 Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North

Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming.

 2 Colorado, District of Columbia, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon, Virginia and Wisconsin.

 3 Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky,

Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North

Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia,

Wisconsin and Wyoming.

 4 Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma and Virginia.

 5 Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South

Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming
1997 SSI Annual Report

18

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 with States or local governments under which they 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.

Under these interim assistance reimbursement agreements, if the individual has given SSA written

authorization, SSA sends an individual’s first SSI benefit check 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 on to the claimant within 10 days 2 . Thirty-eight States 3 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.

 3 Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky,

Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New

York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
19

1997 SSI Annual Report

IV. ESTIMATES OF PROGRAM PARTICIPATION AND FEDERAL EXPENDITURES 

UNDER THE SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME PROGRAM, 1997-2021

As described in section III, eligibility for payments under the SSI program depends on a complicated

collection of provisions related to the socioeconomic status of the individual, as well as the evaluation

of disability or blindness for persons under age 65. 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 evaluation of disability as defined by the Social Security

Act. 

Prior to the issuance of this report, all estimates of expenditures under the SSI program have been of

a short-term nature prepared in conjunction with the President’s Budget. These short-term projections have 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 have required that such projections of future program participation be prepared for a

period of 25 years. 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. Unfortunately,

the short time frame specified for the preparation of the initial edition of this report has not allowed

for the extensive research efforts that will be required for the development of more sophisticated SSI

models. Consequently, the estimates prepared for this inaugural report have been developed by

extending our standard short-term projection methods. These estimates therefore should be considered to be extremely rough, especially for periods beyond the first 5 years. It is anticipated that over

the next several years, the staff of the Office of the Chief Actuary will undertake a major effort to

develop the models necessary to provide the President and Congress with more meaningful versions

of the legislatively-mandated 25-year projections.

A. ECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC ASSUMPTIONS

Although models that will take account of a wider variety of economic parameters are not yet available, 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 basic 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 1997 Annual

Report of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability Insurance Trust Funds 1 . A 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 are specifically relevant to the SSI recipient categories.

These demographic projections are the starting point for the SSI participant projections discussed in

the next section. 

 1 House Document 105-72, published April 24, 1997.

 2 Ibid, Section II.D, Principal Economic and Demographic Assumptions.
1997 SSI Annual Report

20

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

As described in section III.D.1, the monthly Federal benefit standard 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 adjustment 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.A1.—Historical and Estimated Population in the Social Security Area as Projected for the 

Intermediate Assumptions of the 1997 OASDI Trustees Report, as of July 1, 1974-2021

[In thousands]

Year

Age groups Total

0-17 18-21 22-64 65 or older all ages

Historical data:

1974. . . . . . . 70,704 16,732 112,540 22,735 222,712

1975. . . . . . . 69,718 17,112 114,450 23,265 224,545

1976. . . . . . . 68,728 17,425 116,462 23,822 226,437

1977. . . . . . . 67,822 17,636 118,594 24,399 228,451

1978. . . . . . . 66,994 17,783 120,845 24,986 230,606

1979. . . . . . . 66,263 17,821 123,183 25,576 232,844

1980. . . . . . . 65,737 17,763 125,480 26,148 235,128

1981. . . . . . . 65,407 17,666 127,718 26,709 237,500

1982. . . . . . . 65,198 17,482 129,958 27,319 239,958

1983. . . . . . . 65,146 17,130 132,192 27,910 242,378

1984. . . . . . . 65,251 16,656 134,369 28,468 244,743

1985. . . . . . . 65,502 16,138 136,441 29,059 247,140

1986. . . . . . . 65,820 15,677 138,382 29,708 249,586

1987. . . . . . . 66,090 15,469 140,187 30,331 252,076

1988. . . . . . . 66,321 15,539 141,878 30,885 254,623

1989. . . . . . . 66,771 15,628 143,456 31,439 257,295

1990. . . . . . . 67,575 15,464 144,960 31,978 259,977

1991. . . . . . . 68,540 15,068 146,508 32,484 262,599

1992. . . . . . . 69,525 14,575 148,175 32,995 265,271

1993. . . . . . . 70,456 14,174 149,823 33,452 267,906

1994. . . . . . . 71,302 13,997 151,285 33,841 270,426

1995. . . . . . . 71,991 14,050 152,622 34,211 272,874

1996. . . . . . . 72,525 14,254 154,020 34,540 275,339

Estimated:

1997. . . . . . . 72,920 14,562 155,524 34,792 277,798

1998. . . . . . . 73,163 14,957 157,093 34,986 280,199

1999. . . . . . . 73,314 15,352 158,713 35,180 282,559

2000. . . . . . . 73,401 15,714 160,356 35,408 284,880

2001. . . . . . . 73,468 15,975 162,087 35,638 287,168

2002. . . . . . . 73,530 16,109 163,914 35,873 289,426

2003. . . . . . . 73,543 16,218 165,745 36,155 291,661

2004. . . . . . . 73,516 16,320 167,570 36,470 293,876

2005. . . . . . . 73,472 16,438 169,353 36,813 296,076

2006. . . . . . . 73,388 16,613 171,047 37,220 298,268

2007. . . . . . . 73,224 16,841 172,616 37,774 300,455

2008. . . . . . . 72,978 17,134 174,055 38,474 302,640

2009. . . . . . . 72,713 17,446 175,492 39,175 304,826

2010. . . . . . . 72,502 17,676 177,018 39,814 307,011

2011 . . . . . . . 72,371 17,752 178,420 40,649 309,192

2012. . . . . . . 72,311 17,669 179,519 41,865 311,363

2013. . . . . . . 72,339 17,470 180,533 43,179 313,521

2014. . . . . . . 72,446 17,230 181,549 44,435 315,660

2015. . . . . . . 72,592 17,015 182,455 45,713 317,775

2016. . . . . . . 72,768 16,826 183,229 47,039 319,861

2017. . . . . . . 72,963 16,690 183,821 48,440 321,913

2018. . . . . . . 73,171 16,606 184,239 49,912 323,928

2019. . . . . . . 73,385 16,542 184,521 51,450 325,899

2020. . . . . . . 73,599 16,495 184,684 53,044 327,822

2021. . . . . . . 73,806 16,465 184,739 54,684 329,694
21

1997 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.

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

Intermediate Assumptions of the 1997 OASDI Trustees Report, 1974-2021

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

Historical data:

Initial benefit paid 

January 1, 1974 2 .

 2 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 . . . . . . . 3 4.3%

 3 Represent ad hoc increases and are 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 . . . . . . . 3 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

Estimated:

1998 . . . . . . . 3.2 499.00 749.00 250.00

1999 . . . . . . . 3.3 516.00 774.00 258.00

2000 . . . . . . . 3.3 533.00 799.00 267.00

2001 . . . . . . . 3.4 551.00 826.00 276.00

2002 . . . . . . . 3.5 570.00 855.00 285.00

2003 . . . . . . . 3.5 590.00 885.00 296.00

2004 . . . . . . . 3.6 611.00 917.00 306.00

2005 . . . . . . . 3.5 633.00 949.00 317.00

2006 . . . . . . . 3.5 655.00 983.00 328.00

2007 . . . . . . . 3.5 678.00 1,017.00 340.00

2008 . . . . . . . 3.5 702.00 1,053.00 351.00

2009 . . . . . . . 3.5 726.00 1,090.00 364.00

2010 . . . . . . . 3.5 752.00 1,128.00 376.00

2011 . . . . . . . 3.5 778.00 1,167.00 390.00

2012 . . . . . . . 3.5 805.00 1,208.00 403.00

2013 . . . . . . . 3.5 833.00 1,250.00 417.00

2014 . . . . . . . 3.5 863.00 1,294.00 432.00

2015 . . . . . . . 3.5 893.00 1,339.00 447.00

2016 . . . . . . . 3.5 924.00 1,386.00 463.00

2017 . . . . . . . 3.5 957.00 1,435.00 479.00

2018 . . . . . . . 3.5 990.00 1,485.00 496.00

2019 . . . . . . . 3.5 1,025.00 1,537.00 513.00

2020 . . . . . . . 3.5 1,061.00 1,591.00 531.00

2021 . . . . . . . 3.5 1,098.00 1,647.00 550.00
1997 SSI Annual Report

22

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 required in the legislative mandate for this report, each

table displays our projections split by basic recipient category: aged, blind or disabled adults, and

blind or disabled children. These recipient categories are in large part based on age, where “aged”

generally refers to SSI recipients qualifying based on being age 65 or older, “disabled children” generally refers to recipients under age 18 qualifying based on a disability, and “disabled adults” to disabled recipients age 18 or older. However, in certain circumstances, these general rules as to

classification by age are not followed due to special provisions as to how SSI payment amounts are

determined. More specifically: 

 • 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 1996, there were 1,413 thousand 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

1996, there were 4,183 thousand blind or disabled adult recipients of Federally-administered SSI

payments, including 658 thousand disabled and 20 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 for purposes of meeting the income and resources requirements 1 . In December 1996, there were 1,018 thousand blind or disabled child recipients of Federally-administered SSI payments, including 63 thousand students aged 18 to 21. 

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.

 1 For students aged 18 to 21, parent-to-child deeming is no longer in effect, but a special student earned income exclusion is provided.
23

1997 SSI Annual Report

Table IV.B1.—SSI Federally-Administered Applications 1 , Calendar Years 1974-2021

[In thousands]

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

Report).

Blind or disabled 2 

 2 Historical split between adults and children is estimated.

Calendar year Aged Adults Children Total

Historical data:

1974. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ( 3 )

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

( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 )

1975 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

 4 Estimated using a 1-percent sample.

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

325 938 137 1,400

1976. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254 861 123 1,239

1977. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259 894 145 1,298

1978. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258 916 131 1,304

1979. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262 942 147 1,352

1980. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276 991 159 1,427

1981. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 629 104 864

1982. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 702 128 971

1983. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190 761 140 1,092

1984. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286 799 145 1,230

1985. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223 968 154 1,345

1986. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231 1,045 160 1,437

1987. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 896 137 1,233

1988. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 872 149 1,221

1989. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222 915 157 1,294

1990. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227 1,029 197 1,454

1991. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227 1,225 254 1,706

1992. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226 1,365 363 1,955

1993. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218 1,486 487 2,191

1994. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188 1,461 528 2,177

1995. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165 1,310 492 1,966

1996. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 1,218 451 1,822

Estimated:

1997. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 1,158 402 1,696

1998. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 1,165 408 1,688

1999. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 1,171 410 1,695

2000. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 1,178 412 1,703

2001. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 1,184 414 1,710

2002. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 1,188 415 1,715

2003. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 1,195 417 1,723

2004. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 1,200 420 1,730

2005. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 1,206 422 1,739

2006. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 1,212 423 1,746

2007. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 1,219 424 1,754

2008. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 1,230 423 1,765

2009. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 1,241 422 1,777

2010. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 1,252 420 1,789

2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 1,262 420 1,800

2012. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 1,269 419 1,810

2013. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 1,275 419 1,820

2014. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 1,280 420 1,829

2015. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133 1,285 421 1,839

2016. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137 1,289 422 1,848

2017. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 1,292 423 1,856

2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 1,295 424 1,864

2019. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 1,296 425 1,871

2020. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 1,297 426 1,878

2021. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 1,298 428 1,884
1997 SSI Annual Report

24

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, parental, and citizenship

status. 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 final result of this decision process. 

 Figure IV.B1.—SSI Federally-Administered Applications, Calendar Years 1975-2025

[In thousands]

Table IV.B2.—SSI Federally-Administered Awards, Calendar Years 1974-2021

[In thousands]

Blind or disabled

Calendar year 1 Aged Adults Children Total

Historical data:

1974. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 554 362 49 965

1975. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260 383 59 702

1976. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 327 44 542

1977. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190 320 48 558

1978. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 303 52 532

1979. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160 273 51 484

1980. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170 274 52 496

1981 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 226 45 379

1982 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 183 40 306

1983. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 236 49 420

1984. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 303 49 554

1985 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143 313 51 506

1986. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 369 54 572

1987. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 349 52 554

1988. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 343 51 549

1989. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 369 54 598

1990. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 423 83 685

1991. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 476 126 777

1992. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 590 191 956

1993. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170 576 226 971

1994. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144 533 206 883

1995. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 516 177 822

1996. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 482 147 741

Aged

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025

Historical Estimated

Calendar year

Blind or Disabled Adults

Blind or Disabled 
25

1997 SSI Annual Report

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

Among the persons receiving SSI benefits in a year, certain of them will be removed from currentpayment 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

Estimated:

1997. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 434 125 661

1998. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 431 133 649

1999. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 433 134 651

2000. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 435 134 654

2001. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 438 135 656

2002. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 439 135 658

2003. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 442 136 661

2004. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 444 137 663

2005. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 446 138 666

2006. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 448 138 668

2007. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 451 138 671

2008. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 455 138 676

2009. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 459 138 681

2010. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 463 137 686

2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 467 137 692

2012. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 469 137 697

2013. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 471 137 702

2014. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 473 137 706

2015. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 475 137 711

2016. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 477 138 716

2017. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 478 138 721

2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 479 138 725

2019. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 479 139 729

2020. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 480 139 734

2021. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 480 139 738

 1 Represents period in which award was processed, not date of eligibility for payments.

 2 Estimate based on 10 months of data.

 3 Estimate based on 11 months of data.

 Figure IV.B2.—SSI Federally-Administered Awards, Calendar Years 1975-2025

[In thousands]

Table IV.B2.—SSI Federally-Administered Awards, Calendar Years 1974-2021 (Cont.)

[In thousands]

Blind or disabled

Calendar year 1 Aged Adults Children Total

Aged

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025

Calendar year

Historical Estimated

Blind or Disabled Adults

Blind or Disabled Children
1997 SSI Annual Report

26

defined under the Social Security Act. In particular, 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. Table IV.B3 and figure

IV.B3 present historical and projected numbers of such terminations by calendar year and type of

benefit. The spike in terminations in 1997 is attributable to the recent legislation described in section

II which (1) eliminated drug addiction and alcoholism as a basis for determination of disability, (2)

authorized the appropriation of additional funding to conduct continuing disability reviews (CDRs),

(3) restricted payments to certain noncitizens, and (4) revised the standard of disability for children.

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.

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

Table IV.B3.—SSI Federally-Administered Terminations, Calendar Years 1974-2021

[In thousands]

Blind or disabled

Calendar year Aged Adults Children Total

Historical data:

1974. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 17 6 114

1975. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239 143 2 384

1976. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331 271 19 621

1977. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287 243 26 556

1978. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260 263 30 553

1979. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256 259 36 551

1980. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234 234 36 504

1981. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237 221 44 502

1982. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212 214 41 468

1983. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169 166 42 376

1984. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187 203 37 426

1985. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169 195 34 397

1986. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 222 40 441

1987. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 223 43 439

1988. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 243 50 470

1989. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169 251 48 469

1990. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164 258 39 461

1991. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164 284 27 476

1992. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169 333 6 508

1993. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166 308 79 553

1994. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153 335 84 572

1995. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148 360 96 604

1996. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146 392 103 641

Estimated:

1997. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379 587 169 1,135

1998. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 383 143 628

1999. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 388 104 592

2000. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 393 107 597

2001. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 397 110 603

2002. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 402 113 608

2003. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 406 115 613

2004. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 409 117 618

2005. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 412 119 622

2006. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 416 121 626

2007. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 419 123 630

2008. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 422 125 634

2009. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 425 126 639

2010. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 428 127 642

2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 431 128 646

2012. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 435 129 651

2013. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 438 130 655

2014. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 441 131 660

2015. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 445 131 665

2016. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 447 132 669

2017. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 450 132 672

2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 452 133 677

2019. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 455 134 682

2020. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 457 134 687

2021. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 459 135 691
27

1997 SSI Annual Report

Combining the numbers of persons awarded SSI benefits during a year with the numbers of those

already receiving benefits at the beginning of the year, and subtracting the numbers 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.B4 and in figure IV.B4. 

 Figure IV.B3.—SSI Federally-Administered Terminations, Calendar Years 1975-2025

[In thousands]

Table IV.B4.—SSI Recipients With Federal Benefits in Current-Payment Status 

as of December, 1974-2021

[In thousands]

Blind or disabled

Year Aged Adults Children Total

Historical data:

1974. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 )

1975. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,025 1,742 127 3,893

1976. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,867 1,780 152 3,799

1977. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,765 1,839 174 3,778

1978. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,686 1,873 196 3,755

1979. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,593 1,883 211 3,687

1980. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,533 1,922 227 3,682

1981. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,430 1,931 229 3,590

1982. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,329 1,916 228 3,473

1983. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,339 2,015 235 3,590

1984. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,347 2,104 248 3,699

1985. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,322 2,213 264 3,799

1986. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,291 2,351 279 3,922

1987. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,268 2,464 287 4,019

1988. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,245 2,555 289 4,089

1989. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,247 2,664 295 4,206

1990. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,257 2,817 339 4,412

1991. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,279 3,014 437 4,730

1992. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,304 3,276 622 5,202

1993. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,324 3,544 768 5,636

1994. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,326 3,748 890 5,965

1995. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,315 3,908 972 6,194

1996. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,296 4,013 1,016 6,326

Aged

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025

Calendar year

Historical Estimated

Blind or Disabled Adults

Blind or Disabled Children
1997 SSI Annual Report

28

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

Estimated:

1997. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,023 3,869 971 5,863

1998. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,007 3,923 961 5,891

1999. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 993 3,973 990 5,956

2000. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 980 4,020 1,017 6,018

2001. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 969 4,065 1,042 6,076

2002. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 959 4,107 1,064 6,130

2003. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 950 4,146 1,085 6,181

2004. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 941 4,184 1,104 6,229

2005. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 934 4,220 1,122 6,277

2006. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 927 4,256 1,139 6,322

2007. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 921 4,290 1,155 6,365

2008. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 916 4,325 1,168 6,409

2009. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 914 4,360 1,179 6,453

2010. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 913 4,397 1,189 6,498

2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 913 4,433 1,198 6,545

2012. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 916 4,469 1,206 6,591

2013. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 921 4,503 1,213 6,637

2014. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 928 4,536 1,219 6,683

2015. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 937 4,567 1,225 6,729

2016. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 947 4,598 1,230 6,775

2017. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 960 4,627 1,236 6,822

2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 974 4,654 1,241 6,868

2019. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 989 4,679 1,246 6,914

2020. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,006 4,701 1,251 6,959

2021. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,025 4,722 1,256 7,003

 1 Data not available.

 Figure IV.B4.—SSI Recipients With Federal Benefits in Current-Payment Status 

as of December, 1975-2025

[In thousands]

Table IV.B4.—SSI Recipients With Federal Benefits in Current-Payment Status 

as of December, 1974-2021 (Cont.)

[In thousands]

Blind or disabled

Year Aged Adults Children Total

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

9,000

10,000

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025

Calendar year

Historical Estimated

Blind or Disabled Adults

Blind or Disabled Children

Aged
29

1997 SSI Annual Report

As illustrated in figure IV.B4, the implementation of Public Law 104-121 and Public Law 104-193

results in a projected decline in the Federal recipient population over the next 2 years. Beginning in

1999, the Federal SSI recipient population is projected to resume growing at a modest rate, attaining

its 1996 level sometime in 2007. In order to place this projected growth in the context of overall population growth, table IV.B5 and figure IV.B5 present Federal SSI recipients as percentages of selected

Social Security Area population totals. For this presentation, the percentages have been calculated

using the population age group totals corresponding to the age groups in the Federal recipient categories. However, as was discussed at the beginning of this section, there is some overlapping of age

groups within the recipient categories (i.e., recipients aged 18-21 may be classified as either adults or

children; recipients aged 65 or older may be classified as either aged or disabled). Therefore, the percentages for the respective recipient categories do not add to the percentage for the total SSI recipient

population.

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

Selected Social Security Area Population Totals, as of December, 1975-2021

Blind or disabled

Year Aged 1

 1 Aged recipients as a percentage of the 65 or older Social Security Area population.

Adults 2

 2 Blind or disabled adult recipients as a percentage of the 18 or older Social Security Area population.

Children 3

 3 Blind or disabled child recipients as a percentage of the under age 22 Social Security Area population.

Total 4

 4 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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.62 1.12 0.15 1.73

1976. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.76 1.12 .18 1.67

1977. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.16 1.14 .20 1.65

1978. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.69 1.14 .23 1.62

1979. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.17 1.12 .25 1.58

1980. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.81 1.13 .27 1.56

1981. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.31 1.11 .28 1.51

1982. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.82 1.09 .28 1.44

1983. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.76 1.13 .29 1.47

1984. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.69 1.17 .30 1.51

1985. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.51 1.21 .32 1.53

1986. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.31 1.27 .34 1.56

1987. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.15 1.32 .35 1.59

1988. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.00 1.35 .35 1.60

1989. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.94 1.39 .36 1.63

1990. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.91 1.46 .41 1.69

1991. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.91 1.55 .52 1.79

1992. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.93 1.67 .74 1.95

1993. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.94 1.79 .90 2.10

1994. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.90 1.88 1.04 2.20

1995. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.83 1.94 1.13 2.26

1996. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.74 1.97 1.17 2.29

Estimated:

1997. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.93 1.88 1.11 2.10

1998. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.87 1.89 1.09 2.09

1999. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.81 1.89 1.11 2.10

2000. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.76 1.89 1.14 2.11

2001. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.71 1.89 1.16 2.11

2002. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.66 1.89 1.19 2.11

2003. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.62 1.89 1.21 2.11

2004. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.57 1.89 1.23 2.11

2005. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.53 1.89 1.25 2.11

2006. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.48 1.88 1.27 2.11

2007. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.42 1.88 1.28 2.11

2008. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.36 1.87 1.30 2.11

2009. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.32 1.87 1.31 2.11

2010. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.28 1.87 1.32 2.11

2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.22 1.86 1.33 2.11

2012. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.16 1.86 1.34 2.11

2013. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.11 1.86 1.35 2.11

2014. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.06 1.86 1.36 2.11

2015. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.03 1.86 1.37 2.11

2016. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.99 1.85 1.37 2.11

2017. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.96 1.85 1.38 2.11

2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.93 1.85 1.38 2.11

2019. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.90 1.85 1.38 2.12

2020. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.87 1.84 1.39 2.12

2021. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.85 1.84 1.39 2.12
1997 SSI Annual Report

30

Reference to figure IV.B5 indicates that the number of persons receiving Federal SSI payments

declined as a percentage of the total Social Security Area population from the inception of the program through the early 1980s. In 1983, the number of Federal SSI recipients started increasing as a

percentage of the total population, and continued to increase through 1996. The number of Federal

SSI recipients as a percentage of the total population is estimated to decline in 1997 due to the large

number of terminations described previously, and then remain fairly constant as a percentage of the

total population throughout the remainder of 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 with a sharper decline estimated

for 1997 due to the projected termination of benefits payable to certain elderly noncitizens. In contrast, except for the drop due to the terminations projected for 1997 and 1998, the number of blind or

disabled children receiving Federal SSI payments increases steadily as a percentage of the under 22

population, with the increase being quite steep in the early 1990s. The blind or disabled adult Federal SSI recipient population as a percentage of the 18 or older population remained fairly level until

the early 1980s when it started increasing and continued to increase through 1996. After the drop in

1997 due to the implementation of legislation described previously, the number of blind or disabled

adults receiving Federal SSI payments are estimated to remain fairly level as a percentage of the 18

or older population, declining slightly near the end of the projection period.

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

Selected Social Security Area Population Totals, as of December, 1975-2025

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025

Calendar year

 Aged

 Blind or Disabled Adults

 Blind or Disabled Children

 Total

Historical Estimated
31

1997 SSI Annual Report

Historical and projected numbers of individuals who receive only a Federally-administered State supplement are presented in table IV.B6.

Note: 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.B7.

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 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

Table IV.B6.—SSI Recipients With Federally-Administered State Supplementary Benefits Only,

in Current-Payment Status as of December, 1974-2021

[In thousands]

Blind or disabled

Year Aged Adults Children Total

Historical data:

1974. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ( 1 )

 1 Data not available.

( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 )

1975. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282 137 1 421

1976. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280 155 1 437

1977. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286 173 1 460

1978. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282 179 1 462

1979. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278 183 2 462

1980. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274 184 2 460

1981. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248 179 1 429

1982. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219 164 1 384

1983. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 135 1 312

1984. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 146 1 331

1985. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 156 1 339

1986. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 164 1 348

1987. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187 177 1 366

1988. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188 185 1 375

1989. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 194 1 387

1990. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 206 1 405

1991. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186 201 2 389

1992. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 196 2 364

1993. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 195 2 348

1994. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139 189 2 331

1995. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 186 2 320

1996. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 170 2 288

Estimated:

1997. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 161 2 277

1998. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 155 2 270

1999. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 150 2 265

2000. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 145 3 260

2001. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 141 3 255

2002. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 137 3 251

2003. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 133 3 247

2004. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 130 3 243

2005. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 127 4 240

2006. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 124 4 238

2007. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 122 4 235

2008. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 120 4 233

2009. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 118 4 231

2010. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 117 4 230

2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 116 4 230

2012. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 115 4 229

2013. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 114 4 229

2014. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 113 4 230

2015. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 112 4 231

2016. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 111 5 232

2017. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 111 5 233

2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 110 5 235

2019. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 110 5 237

2020. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 110 5 239

2021. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 109 5 241
1997 SSI Annual Report

32

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

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 near-term projected decline in program participation reflects the

combined effects of recent legislation described in section II and mentioned above in regard to the

expected increase in terminations of SSI benefits over the next 2 years.

Table IV.B7.—SSI Recipients With Federally-Administered Benefits in Current-Payment Status 

as of December, 1974-2021

[In thousands]

Blind or disabled

Year Aged Adults Children Total

Historical data:

1974. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,286 1,639 71 3,996

1975. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,307 1,879 128 4,314

1976. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,148 1,935 153 4,236

1977. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,051 2,012 175 4,238

1978. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,968 2,052 197 4,217

1979. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,872 2,066 212 4,150

1980. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,808 2,106 229 4,142

1981. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,678 2,111 230 4,019

1982. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,549 2,080 229 3,858

1983. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,515 2,150 236 3,901

1984. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,530 2,250 249 4,029

1985. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,504 2,368 265 4,138

1986. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,473 2,516 280 4,269

1987. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,455 2,641 289 4,385

1988. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,433 2,740 290 4,464

1989. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,439 2,858 296 4,593

1990. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,454 3,023 340 4,817

1991. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,465 3,215 439 5,118

1992. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,471 3,471 624 5,566

1993. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,475 3,739 771 5,984

1994. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,466 3,937 893 6,296

1995. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,446 4,094 974 6,514

1996. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,413 4,183 1,018 6,614

Estimated:

1997. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,136 4,030 973 6,140

1998. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,120 4,078 963 6,161

1999. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,105 4,123 993 6,221

2000. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,092 4,165 1,020 6,277

2001. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,080 4,206 1,045 6,331

2002. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,070 4,243 1,067 6,380

2003. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,060 4,279 1,088 6,428

2004. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,051 4,314 1,108 6,473

2005. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,044 4,347 1,126 6,517

2006. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,036 4,380 1,143 6,559

2007. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,030 4,412 1,158 6,600

2008. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,025 4,445 1,172 6,642

2009. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,023 4,479 1,183 6,685

2010. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,022 4,514 1,193 6,729

2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,023 4,549 1,202 6,774

2012. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,027 4,584 1,210 6,820

2013. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,033 4,617 1,217 6,866

2014. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,041 4,649 1,223 6,913

2015. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,051 4,680 1,229 6,960

2016. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,063 4,709 1,235 7,007

2017. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,077 4,738 1,240 7,055

2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,093 4,764 1,246 7,103

2019. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,111 4,789 1,251 7,151

2020. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,131 4,811 1,256 7,198

2021. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,152 4,831 1,261 7,244
33

1997 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 

 1 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 1974-97

[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.

Blind or disabled

Calendar year Aged Adults Children Total

1974 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,783 $1,884 $166 $3,833

1975 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,843 2,272 199 4,314

1976 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,785 2,507 220 4,512

1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,737 2,687 280 4,703

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.

Notes:

1. Historical split between blind or disabled adults and children is estimated for 1974-78; historical split among all recipient categories is

estimated for years 1979 and later.

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

1,847 3,082 367 5,296

1979 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,760 3,142 404 5,306

1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,872 3,563 488 5,923

1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,963 4,023 563 6,549

1982 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,994 4,321 617 6,931

1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,064 4,773 693 7,530

1984 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,182 5,373 763 8,318

1985 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,198 5,772 840 8,809

1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,210 6,378 935 9,522

1987 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,210 6,855 1,005 10,069

1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,263 7,401 1,080 10,744

1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,361 8,133 1,153 11,647

1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,519 9,080 1,343 12,943

1991 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,806 10,685 1,916 15,407

1992 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,993 12,434 3,599 19,026

1993 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,230 14,081 4,366 21,677

1994 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,380 15,155 4,527 23,063

1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,499 16,356 5,051 24,906

1996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,621 17,482 5,398 26,501

1997 (partially estimated). . . 3,176 17,245 5,353 25,774
1997 SSI Annual Report

34

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 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 1996 payment amounts shown in table IV.C1 reflect payments made in January-December, 1996, and include the payments due on January 1, 1997 (which

were actually paid in December, 1996), but not the payments due on January 1, 1996 (which were

actually paid in December, 1995). 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 1978-97. 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.

 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

1996 payments include payments made from October 1, 1995 through September 30, 1996.

 2 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.

Table IV.C2.—SSI Federal Payments in Current Dollars, Fiscal Years 1978-97

[In millions]

Blind or disabled

Fiscal year Aged Adults Children Total

1978. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,848 $3,033 $353 $5,234

1979 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

 1 Payment due on October 1 of fiscal year paid in previous fiscal year.

Notes:

1. Historical split among recipient categories is estimated.

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

1,610 2,816 356 4,782

1980. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,813 3,386 455 5,653

1981. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,954 3,898 544 6,396

1982. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,996 4,241 599 6,836

1983. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,170 4,958 722 7,850

1984 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,004 4,826 688 7,517

1985. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,193 5,647 812 8,652

1986. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,209 6,174 906 9,290

1987. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,203 6,698 983 9,884

1988. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,419 7,794 1,141 11,354

1989 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,335 7,958 1,136 11,430

1990 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,273 8,089 1,159 11,521

1991. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,728 10,187 1,698 14,614

1992. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,949 11,927 3,005 17,881

1993. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,150 13,568 4,312 21,029

1994. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,588 15,926 4,709 24,223

1995 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,480 16,084 4,943 24,507

1996 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,317 15,993 4,944 24,254

1997 (partially estimated). . . 3,498 17,343 5,366 26,207
35

1997 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 1974-96, along with the full 25-year projection period, 1997-2021. 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 projected SSI recipient population remains 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.

Table IV.C3.—SSI Federal Payments in Constant 1997 Dollars, Calendar Years 1974-2021

[In millions]

Blind or disabled

Calendar year Aged Adults Children Total

Historical data:

1974. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,712 $6,038 $532 $12,282

1975. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,413 6,672 585 12,670

1976. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,959 6,964 612 12,534

1977. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,532 7,010 730 12,272

1978. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,474 7,466 888 12,828

1979. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,826 6,830 878 11,534

1980. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,588 6,830 935 11,353

1981. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,413 6,995 978 11,386

1982. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,269 7,085 1,011 11,366

1983. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,286 7,599 1,104 11,989

1984. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,357 8,265 1,173 12,795

1985. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,267 8,579 1,248 13,094

1986. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,233 9,331 1,368 13,932

1987. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,121 9,683 1,419 14,223

1988. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,073 10,052 1,467 14,592

1989. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,059 10,541 1,495 15,095

1990. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,103 11,185 1,655 15,943

1991. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,323 12,651 2,269 18,243

1992. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,441 14,296 4,138 21,876

1993. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,612 15,746 4,882 24,240

1994. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,689 16,540 4,941 25,169

1995. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,712 17,349 5,358 26,419

1996. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,733 18,026 5,567 27,326
1997 SSI Annual Report

36

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

Estimated:

1997. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,176 $17,245 $5,353 $25,774

1998. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,592 17,070 5,169 24,831

1999. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,584 17,377 5,316 25,277

2000. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,574 17,637 5,492 25,703

2001. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,567 17,885 5,654 26,105

2002. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,563 18,132 5,810 26,505

2003. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,561 18,362 5,950 26,873

2004. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,559 18,572 6,078 27,209

2005. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,559 18,791 6,207 27,556

2006. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,557 18,989 6,323 27,869

2007. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,557 19,194 6,435 28,186

2008. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,561 19,408 6,540 28,508

2009. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,564 19,581 6,615 28,760

2010. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,572 19,760 6,682 29,015

2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,584 19,941 6,745 29,270

2012. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,605 20,144 6,808 29,557

2013. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,628 20,328 6,866 29,821

2014. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,659 20,517 6,920 30,097

2015. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,693 20,678 6,966 30,337

2016. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,728 20,805 6,998 30,531

2017. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,773 20,965 7,045 30,784

2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,823 21,110 7,087 31,021

2019. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,877 21,259 7,135 31,271

2020. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,935 21,388 7,174 31,496

2021. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,993 21,475 7,201 31,670

 Figure IV.C1.—SSI Federal Payments in Constant 1997 Dollars, Calendar Years 1975-2025

[In billions]

Table IV.C3.—SSI Federal Payments in Constant 1997 Dollars, Calendar Years 1974-2021 (Cont.)

[In millions]

Blind or disabled

Calendar year Aged Adults Children Total

$0

$10

$20

$30

$40

$50

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025

Calendar year

Constant 1997 dollars -- billions

Historical Estimated

Aged

Blind or Disabled Adults

Blind or Disabled Children
37

1997 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.

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

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 1974-96

[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 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

 1 Split between recipient categories is estimated.

833 2,155 2,988

Table IV.C5.—SSI State-Administered Payments in Current Dollars, Calendar Years 1974-96

[In millions]

Calendar year Aged

Blind or

disabled Total 1

 1 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 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

 2 Estimated.

225 307 539
1997 SSI Annual Report

38

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”) were 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.

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

Table IV.D1.—SSI Federal Payments as a Percentage of GDP, Calendar Years 1974-2021

GDP

(In billions)

Blind or disabled

Calendar year Aged Adults Children Total

Historical data:

1974 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,497 0.119 0.126 0.011 0.256

1975 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,631 .113 .139 .012 .265

1976 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,819 .098 .138 .012 .248

1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,027 .086 .133 .014 .232

1978 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,291 .081 .135 .016 .231

1979 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,558 .069 .123 .016 .207

1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,784 .067 .128 .018 .213

1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,116 .063 .129 .018 .210

1982 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,242 .061 .133 .019 .214

1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,515 .059 .136 .020 .214

1984 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,902 .056 .138 .020 .213

1985 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,181 .053 .138 .020 .211

1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,422 .050 .144 .021 .215

1987 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,692 .047 .146 .021 .215

1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,050 .045 .147 .021 .213

1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,439 .043 .150 .021 .214

1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,744 .044 .158 .023 .225

1991 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,917 .047 .181 .032 .260

1992 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,244 .048 .199 .058 .305

1993 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,553 .049 .215 .067 .331

1994 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,936 .049 .219 .065 .333

1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,254 .048 .225 .070 .343

1996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,580 .048 .231 .071 .350

Estimated:

1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,963 .040 .217 .067 .324

1998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,365 .032 .211 .064 .307

1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,796 .031 .211 .064 .306

2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,256 .031 .210 .065 .306

2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,748 .030 .209 .066 .305

2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,273 .029 .208 .067 .304

2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,825 .029 .207 .067 .303

2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,408 .028 .206 .067 .302

2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,024 .028 .204 .068 .300

2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,678 .027 .203 .068 .298

2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,353 .027 .201 .068 .296

2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,060 .026 .200 .067 .294

2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,806 .026 .199 .067 .292

2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,587 .026 .197 .067 .289

2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16,394 .025 .196 .066 .287

2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17,214 .025 .195 .066 .286

2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,067 .025 .194 .065 .284

2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,958 .025 .193 .065 .283

2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,886 .025 .192 .065 .282

2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20,854 .025 .191 .064 .280

2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21,859 .025 .190 .064 .278

2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22,897 .025 .189 .063 .277

2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23,983 .025 .188 .063 .276

2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,111 .026 .187 .063 .275

2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26,292 .026 .185 .062 .273
39

1997 SSI Annual Report

Figure IV.D1 presents 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 0.35 percent of GDP in 1996) due to a combination of factors discussed earlier in section

IV. Welfare reform legislation is expected to result in a substantial drop in the cost of SSI as a percentage of GDP over the next 2 years. 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 1997 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 decline as a percentage of GDP over the next 25 years, reaching 0.27 percent of GDP by 2021.

 Figure IV.D1.—SSI Federal Payments as a Percentage of GDP, Calendar Years 1975-2025

0.00%

0.10%

0.20%

0.30%

0.40%

0.50%

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025

Calendar year

Historical Estimated

Blind or Disabled Children

Blind or Disabled Adults

Aged
1997 SSI Annual Report

40

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 Government 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 1978-97

[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 (partially estimated) . . . . . . . . . . 2,248 46.0
41

1997 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 were 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

benefits and either the special cash benefit or Medicaid eligibility under section 1619.
1997 SSI Annual Report

42

Act

1996 (Public Law 104-193, enacted August 22.)

For individuals under age 18, the “comparable severity” standard was eliminated and

replaced with a requirement that a child would be considered disabled if he/she had a

medically determinable impairment that resulted in “marked and severe functional limitations,” and met the existing statutory duration requirement. The law also eliminated

references to “maladaptive behaviors” in the Listing of Impairments for children, and discontinued 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.

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 was 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 was continued for a disabled or blind child who was receiving SSI benefits

and living with a parent who is a member of the U.S. Armed Forces assigned to permanent duty ashore outside 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.

Sponsor-to-alien deeming period extended from 3 years to 5 years, effective January 1,

1994, through September 30, 1996.
43

1997 SSI Annual Report

Act

1996 (Public Law 104-193, enacted August 22.)

Prohibits SSI eligibility for all noncitizens, with exceptions for certain classes of refugees

and asylees, active duty military and veterans and their spouses and minor children, and

lawful permanent residents who earn, or can be credited with, 40 qualifying quarters of

earnings.

(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.

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

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.

1994 (Public Law 103-296, enacted August 15.)

Any individual who is receiving SSI based on a disability where drug addiction or alcoholism (DA&A) 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 benefit suspensions.

Before benefits 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 benefits; however, this does not prevent such individuals from reapplying and again becoming

eligible for benefits.

SSI disability benefits 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.
1997 SSI Annual Report

44

Act

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 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 required.

1996 (Public Law 104-121, enacted March 29.)

An individual is not considered disabled if drug addiction or alcoholism is a contributing

factor material to a finding of disability.

Applies drug addiction and alcoholism representative payee requirements enacted under

Public Law 103-296 to disabled SSI recipients who have a drug addiction or alcoholism

condition and are incapable of managing their benefits. In addition, these beneficiaries

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, up to 2 full months of full-rate benefits can be made to recipients of

special SSI payments under section 1619 if they reside in certain public medical, psychiatric, or Medicaid facilities, or in private Medicaid facilities.

1987 (Public Law 100-203, enacted December 22.)

Effective January 1, 1988, payments may be made to persons who are residents of public

emergency shelters for the homeless, for up to 6 months in a 9-month period.

Effective July 1, 1988, continued payment of SSI benefits for up to 3 months is permitted,

at the rate that was applicable in the month prior to the first full month of institutionalization, for individuals whose expected institutional stay on admission is not likely to

exceed 3 months and for whom the receipt of benefits is necessary to maintain living

arrangements to which they may return.
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1997 SSI Annual Report

Act

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.
1997 SSI Annual Report

46

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 beneficiaries who medically

recover while participating in a State VR program to include beneficiaries participating

in a non-State VR program.

f. Continuing Disability Reviews and Eligibility Redeterminations

1994 (Public Law 103-296, enacted August 15.)

During each of fiscal years 1996, 1997, and 1998, required SSA to conduct continuing disability reviews (CDRs) on a minimum of 100,000 SSI recipients. In addition, during the

same period, required 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.)

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.

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.

 1 Recipients who have lost eligibility for SSI benefits for fewer than 13 consecutive months are in suspended payment status.
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1997 SSI Annual Report

Act

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.

Continues deeming from an ineligible spouse or parent who is absent from the household

due to active military service.

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 revised 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;

and

 • provides that in certain cases, deeming would not apply for a 12-month period if the

noncitizens (or their children) have 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.
1997 SSI Annual Report

48

Act 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.

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, living arrangements, and other

conditions 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-of-living 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.
49

1997 SSI Annual Report

Act 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.

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.

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.

— 8 157.70

 8 Subject to automatic provisions, see table IV.A2

8 236.60 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).

— 8 314.00 8 472.00 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.

— 8 78.90 — Effective July 1, 1975.

1983 9. . . . — 152.50 — Effective July 1, 1983 (general benefit increase).

— 8 157.00 — 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).
1997 SSI Annual Report

50

Act

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.

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 Act of 1974

extended on a permanent basis. Effective January 1, 1978.
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1997 SSI Annual Report

Act

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 97-424, enacted January 6.)

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.

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.)

Above provisions for 1983 continue to October 1, 1987.

1986 (Public Law 99-498, enacted October 17.)

Educational assistance used for educational expenses under the Higher Education Act of

1965 as amended.

1987 (Public Law 100-203, enacted December 22.)

The 1983 provisions for support and maintenance and home energy assistance made permanent.

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.
1997 SSI Annual Report

52

Act

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.

Redefined 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.

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.

a. General Exclusions

1972 (Public Law 92-603, enacted October 30.)

A home of reasonable value—established by regulation as not exceeding a fair-market

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.
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1997 SSI Annual Report

Act 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 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.

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 permitted 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.
1997 SSI Annual Report

54

Act

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, within reasonable limits. Shares of

nonnegotiable stock in regional or village corporations held by natives of Alaska.

For persons transferred from State programs to SSI, resource exclusions equal to the

maximum amount permitted as of October 1972 under the State program.

1988 (Public Law 100-383, enacted August 10.)

Restitution payments made to Japanese internees and relocated Aleutians.

1989 (Public Law 101-239, enacted December 19.)

Specifies that no limitation can be placed on property essential to self-support used in a

trade or business, or by an individual as an employee (including the tools of a tradesperson and the machinery and livestock of a farmer).

Payments from the Agent Orange Settlement.

1990 (Public Law 101-508, enacted November 5.)

Earned income tax credit excluded for the month following the month the credit is

received.

Payments received from a State-administered fund established to aid victims of crime

excluded for a 9-month period. Individual not required to file for such benefits.

Payments received as State or local government relocation assistance excluded for a 9-

month period. (The provision expired 3 years after its effective date.)

Payments received under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act.

1993 (Public Law 103-66, enacted August 10.)

Made 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.)

Dedicates financial institution accounts required to be established for disabled individuals under age 18 with a representative payee.
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1997 SSI Annual Report

Act 7. Presumptive and Emergency Payments and Interim Assistance 

Reimbursement

a. Presumptive Payments

1972 (Public Law 92-603, enacted October 30.)

A person applying on the basis of disability who meets all other criteria of eligibility, and

is likely to be disabled, may receive payments for 3 months pending the disability determination.

1976 (Public Law 94-569, enacted October 20.)

Presumptive payment provision was extended to persons applying on the basis of blindness.

1990 (Public Law 101-508, enacted November 5.)

Extends the period for receipt of payments to 6 months.

b. Emergency Advance Payments

1972 (Public Law 92-603, enacted October 30.)

Any applicant who can be presumed to meet the criteria of eligibility, but has not yet been

determined eligible, and who is faced with a financial emergency may receive an immediate cash advance of up to $100.

1987 (Public Law 100-203, enacted December 22.)

Increases the maximum emergency advance payment amount to the maximum amount of

the regular Federal SSI monthly benefit rate, plus, if any, the Federally-administered

State supplementary payment.

1996 (Public Law 104-193, enacted August 22.)

May be made if applicant has a financial emergency in the month of filing, if other eligibility requirements are met. 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 was 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.
1997 SSI Annual Report

56

Act 8. Medicaid Eligibility

1972 (Public Law 92-603, enacted October 30.)

States can provide Medicaid coverage to all recipients of SSI payments. Alternatively,

they could limit coverage by applying more restrictive criteria from the State Medicaid

plan in effect on January 1, 1972.

States can accept SSA determination of eligibility, or make their own determination.

1976 (Public Law 94-566, enacted October 20.)

Preserves the Medicaid eligibility of recipients who become ineligible for cash SSI payments due to the cost-of-living increases in Social Security benefits.

1980 (Public Law 96-265, enacted June 9.)

Blind or disabled recipients under age 65 no longer eligible for either regular or special

SSI payments because of their earnings may retain SSI recipient status for Medicaid eligibility purposes under the following conditions: (1) they continue to have the disabling

impairment, (2) they meet all nondisability eligibility criteria except for earned income,

(3) they would be seriously inhibited from continuing employment without Medicaid services, and (4) their earnings are insufficient to provide a reasonable equivalent of SSI

payments and Medicaid.

In States that do not provide Medicaid coverage categorically to all SSI recipients, qualification for Medicaid benefits depends on the State’s specific eligibility and program

requirements.

The Medicaid provision of the 1980 legislation was in effect from January 1, 1981,

through December 31, 1983. Under a 1-year demonstration project, beginning January 1,

1984, this provision was continued for persons already eligible for regular or special SSI

payments or for retention of Medicaid eligibility.

1984 (Public Law 98-460, enacted October 9.)

Medicaid provision of 1980 legislation extended through June 30, 1987 (retroactive to

January 1, 1984).

1986 (Public Law 99-272, enacted April 7.)

Restored Medicaid eligibility for some disabled widow(er)s who became ineligible for SSI

due to a change in the Social Security disabled widow(er)s benefits reduction factor.

Medicaid protection for disabled widow(er)s whose title II benefits increased in 1984

because of a change in the actuarial reduction formula.

(Public Law 99-643, enacted November 10.)

The SSI recipient status for Medicaid eligibility provision of the 1980 amendments was

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—
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1997 SSI Annual Report

Act

 • impairment-related work expenses of disabled persons;

 • work expenses of blind persons;

 • income required for achieving an approved self-support plan; and

 • the value of publicly funded attendant care services.

Effective July 1, 1987, preserves the Medicaid eligibility of recipients who become ineligible for SSI payments because of entitlement to, or an increase in, Social Security disabled

adult child benefits on or after the effective date.

Effective July 1, 1987, requires all States to provide Medicaid coverage for recipients in

special SSI status (either receiving special SSI payments or in the special recipient status

described for 1980) if they received Medicaid coverage the month before special SSI status.

1987 (Public Law 100-203, enacted December 22.)

Effective July 1, 1988, restores or preserves the Medicaid eligibility of persons aged 60 or

older who are eligible for Social Security benefits as widows or widowers (but not eligible

for Medicare) and who become ineligible for SSI payments or State supplementation

because of the receipt of old-age or survivors insurance benefits under Social Security.

1990 (Public Law 101-508, enacted November 5.)

Age limit for retention of SSI recipient status for Medicaid eligibility purposes (1980 and

subsequent work incentive provisions, above) 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.

9. State Supplementation

1972 (Public Law 92-603, enacted October 30.)

States were 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, was 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.)
1997 SSI Annual Report

58

Act

1973 (Public Law 93-66, enacted July 9.)

Provision was 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 cost-of-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.)

Began a 3-year phase out of “hold harmless” protection. Effective with fiscal year 1985,

Wisconsin and Hawaii (the only remaining “hold harmless” States) assumed the full cost

of their supplementary payments.

1983 (Public Law 98-21, enacted April 20.)

Federal pass-through law is adjusted (1) by substituting the State supplementary payment levels in effect in March 1983 for those in effect in December 1976 as the levels that

States must maintain in complying with the pass-through requirements, and (2) with

regard to the $20 (individual) and $30 (couple) increase in the Federal SSI standard in

July 1983, by requiring States to pass through only as much as would have been required

if the SSI cost-of-living adjustment had been made in July 1985.

1987 (Public Law 100-203, enacted December 22.)

Provided for Federal administration of State supplements to residents of medical institutions.

Provided 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.)

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1993 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.
59

1997 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 it 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 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; 

 • 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. 
1997 SSI Annual Report

60

 • 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; 

 • 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 received SSI as a blind or disabled individual

prior to age 65; 

 • 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; and

 • Unearned income excluded by other Federal laws. See Appendix to Subpart K, 20 CFR 416.

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; 
61

1997 SSI Annual Report

 • 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; 

 • Payments or benefits provided under a Federal statute other than title XVI of the Social Security

Act where exclusion is provided by such statute; 

 • 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); and

 • Dedicated financial institution accounts for disabled children.
1997 SSI Annual Report

62

C. HISTORICAL ALLOWANCE DATA

At the end of 1996, 79 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 to the DDS for a reconsideration of that

initial denial. Persons denied at the reconsideration level may apply to the Office of Hearings and

Appeals (OHA) for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), and beyond OHA to the Federal court system. 

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 determination process and only captured various point-in-time snapshots of this

process. A complete picture of the disability determination process can be fully understood only by

compiling a longitudinal data base from administrative records at all level of appeals. Beginning in

1993, such a longitudinal data base (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 data base, 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 150 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. As a result, the research file is updated only annually (usually beginning in July). Therefore, research file data are not yet available for claims filed in 1996. 

Methods used for estimating results (through January 1997) for claims filed in 1996—Although decision counts are available for 1996 filers (from many of the “source” files), those counts do not translate directly into the claims/appeals counts included in the following table, 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 January 1997) for 1996 filers, we started from

the latest available transaction data, such as the SSA-831 data, and took into account recent years’

experience of the relationship between corresponding earlier transaction data and the resulting

claims/appeals data in completed research files. 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 January 1997, whereas the final

research files will reflect information through June 1997. Actual data for 1996 will be available to

replace these estimates in the 1998 annual report.
63

1997 SSI Annual Report

2. General Considerations

Some general points that apply to table V.C1 are as follows:

 • Data for 1988-95 filers are as of June 1996. Results for those years’ filers have been updated to

include OHA results through August 1996. 

 • Data for 1996 filers are preliminary estimates as of January 1997, and reflect larger numbers of

claims still pending. January 1997 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. Experience shows that there is a lower allowance rate

on claims that have been pending in OHA a year or more, than on previously decided appeals. 

 • Computations of overall allowance rates exclude cases which have been appealed and for which a

decision is pending.
1997 SSI Annual Report

64 Table V.C1.—Disposition of Applications for SSI Disability Benefits by Year of Filing 1 , Level of Decision, and Program Involvement

 1 Data for claims filed in 1988-95 reflect results as of June 1996. Data for claims filed in 1996 are preliminary estimates as of January 1997. The ultimate number of allowances and denials are subject to change until all initial decisions have

Calendar 

been completed and all appeals are final.

year of 

filing 

Total 

claims

filed

Initial decisions Reconsiderations Appeals beyond reconsideration 2 

 2 Includes cases appealed to the Office of Hearings and Appeals, as well as beyond OHA to the Federal courts.

Selected summary totals

Pending

Allowances

Denials

Appeals to 

reconsideration

Pending

Allowances

Denials

Appeals to beyond

reconsideration Allowances

Allowances at all 

levels

Allowances at all 

appeal levels

Denials after all 

appeals

Number

Percent 3 

 3 Percentage of decisions at this level.

Number

Percent 4 

 4 Percentage of denials at this level appealed to next level.

Number

Percent 3 Number 5

 5 Number of persons appealing beyond the reconsideration level.

Percent 4 Pending 6

 6 Includes cases remanded to OHA from the Federal courts.

Number

Percent 7 

 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.

Denials 8

 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).

Number

Percent 9 

 9 Percentage of initial decisions excluding appealed cases pending decisions.

Number

Percent 10 

 10 Percentage of initial denials.

Number

Percent 10

Disabled adult claims

1988 946,603 — 272,204 28.8 674,399 265,151 39.3 — 38,385 14.5 226,766 140,649 62.0 — 82,405 58.6 58,244 392,994 41.5 120,790 17.9 553,609 82.1

1989 969,218 — 292,044 30.1 677,174 274,823 40.6 — 43,505 15.8 231,318 146,051 63.1 — 90,151 61.7 55,900 425,700 43.9 133,656 19.7 543,518 80.31990 1,099,805 — 347,823 31.6 751,982 320,207 42.6 — 52,055 16.3 268,152 175,365 65.4 — 109,005 62.2 66,360 508,883 46.3 161,060 21.4 590,922 78.61991 1,288,329 — 415,336 32.2 872,993 383,667 43.9 — 59,158 15.4 324,509 222,311 68.5 1,560 139,224 63.1 81,527 613,718 47.7 198,382 22.7 673,051 77.11992 1,415,624 — 436,888 30.9 978,736 433,244 44.3 — 58,819 13.6 374,425 261,846 69.9 8,121 156,608 61.7 97,117 652,315 46.3 215,427 22.0 755,188 77.21993 1,503,276 — 416,300 27.7 1,086,976 485,164 44.6 — 57,939 11.9 427,225 297,059 69.5 39,731 159,096 61.8 98,232 633,335 43.3 217,035 20.0 830,210 76.4

1994 1,434,411 — 354,673 24.7 1,079,738 477,574 44.2 — 54,895 11.5 422,679 289,014 68.4 105,524 119,464 65.1 64,026 529,032 39.8 174,359 16.1 799,855 74.11995 1,312,740 8,985 322,868 24.8 980,887 411,516 42.0 24,938 42,508 11.0 344,070 218,679 63.6 161,450 40,331 70.5 16,898 405,707 36.3 82,839 8.4 711,660 72.61996 1,311,700 171,200 322,000 28.2 818,500 339,500 41.5 54,700 39,300 13.8 245,500 112,600 45.9 99,600 9,830 75.6 3,170 371,130 37.6 49,130 6.0 615,070 75.1

Disabled child claims

1991 250,962 — 148,220 59.1 102,742 24,702 24.0 — 5,605 22.7 19,097 9,222 48.3 95 3,865 42.3 5,262 157,690 62.9 9,470 9.2 93,177 90.71992 372,971 — 189,079 50.7 183,892 49,297 26.8 — 9,463 19.2 39,834 19,889 49.9 870 7,396 38.9 11,623 205,938 55.3 16,859 9.2 166,163 90.41993 496,131 — 212,268 42.8 283,863 75,967 26.8 — 11,338 14.9 64,629 31,476 48.7 6,242 9,713 38.5 15,521 233,319 47.6 21,051 7.4 256,570 90.41994 525,205 — 172,593 32.9 352,612 91,646 26.0 — 11,339 12.4 80,307 37,987 47.3 17,720 8,654 42.7 11,613 192,586 37.9 19,993 5.7 314,899 89.31995 488,553 2,595 145,167 29.9 340,791 82,308 24.2 4,619 8,799 11.3 68,890 29,641 43.0 24,357 2,461 46.6 2,823 156,427 34.2 11,260 3.3 300,555 88.21996 475,200 109,000 121,500 33.2 244,700 50,900 20.8 14,200 3,000 8.2 33,700 10,820 32.1 10,610 109 51.9 101 124,609 36.5 3,109 1.3 216,781 88.6
65

1997 SSI Annual Report

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 600,000 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 recipients. Although the Committee on Finance of the Senate stated in its report on this legislation that the same continuing disability reviews (CDR) 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

Table V.D1.—SSI Redeterminations Completed, Fiscal Years 1986-96

[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 SSI Annual Report

66

again in 1996 legislation was enacted adding some mandates for the performance of CDRs under the

SSI program.

Public Law 104-296 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 (using the criteria

for adults who file new applications for benefits) to all SSI child recipients who are eligible for the

month before the month in which they attain age 18 and 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.

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 39,241 cases for which a scheduled title XVI

CDR was processed in 1996.

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. Table V.D2 presents the latest available summary of results on CDRs of title XVI recipients

performed under titles II and XVI since 1993. This table includes only cases for which a full medical

review was conducted. In particular the table does 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.
1997 SSI Annual Report

67

Table V.D2.—Disposition of SSI Continuing Disability Medical Reviews by Fiscal Year of Initial Decision 1 , Level of Decision, and Review Category

 1 Data reflects results as of February 1997. The ultimate number of continuations and cessations are subject to change until all appeals are final.

Fiscal 

year of 

initial DDS 

decision

Initial decisions Reconsiderations Appeals beyond reconsideration 2 

 2 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.

Selected summary totals

Total initial 

DDS 

decisions

Continuations

Cessations

Appeals to 

reconsideration

Pending

Continuations

Cessations

Appeals to beyond

reconsideration Continuations

Cessations

Continuations at 

all levels

Cessations at 

initial level

Cessations after 

all appeals

Number

Percent 3 

 3 Percentage of decisions at this level.

Number

Percent 4 

 4 Percentage of cessations at this level appealed to next level.

Number

Percent 3 Number 5 

 5 Number of persons appealing beyond the reconsideration level.

Percent 4 Pending 6 

 6 Includes cases remanded to OHA from the Federal courts.

Number

Percent 3 Number Per- cent 7 

 7 Percentage of initial decisions excluding appealed cases pending decisions.

Number

Percent 8 

 8 Percentage of initial decisions.

Number

Percent 7

Reviews of concurrent title II/XVI cases initiated under title II

1993 1,363 1,298 95.2 65 54 83.1 11 20 46.5 23 10 43.5 6 3 75.0 1 1,321 98.1 65 4.8 25 1.91994 10,978 9,236 84.1 1,742 1,221 70.1 30 635 53.3 556 344 61.9 216 63 49.2 65 9,934 92.6 1,742 15.9 798 7.41995 16,270 12,128 74.5 4,142 2,825 68.2 101 1,447 53.1 1,277 665 52.1 520 64 44.1 81 13,639 87.2 4,142 25.5 2,010 12.81996 26,884 20,631 76.7 6,253 3,799 60.8 1,333 1,274 51.7 1,192 461 38.7 444 7 41.2 10 21,912 87.3 6,253 23.3 3,195 12.7

Title XVI initiated reviews for low-birth-weight children

1994 1,207 756 62.6 451 157 34.8 7 52 34.7 98 42 42.9 30 3 25.0 9 811 69.3 451 37.4 359 30.71995 4,391 2,211 50.4 2,180 657 30.1 39 193 31.2 425 145 34.1 123 4 18.2 18 2,408 56.9 2,180 49.6 1,821 43.11996 5,709 2,490 43.6 3,219 868 27.0 356 193 37.7 319 84 26.3 84 — — — 2,683 50.9 3,219 56.4 2,586 49.1

Total XVI initiated reviews excluding low-birth-weight children

1995 7,680 5,688 74.1 1,992 1,161 58.3 71 451 41.4 639 290 45.4 240 19 38.0 31 6,158 83.6 1,992 25.9 1,211 16.41996 69,163 55,347 80.0 13,816 7,945 57.5 3,499 2,177 49.0 2,269 683 30.1 663 9 45.0 11 57,533 88.5 13,816 20.0 7,468 11.5
1997 SSI Annual Report

68

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 (SEI).

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 income exclusions 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 limit that is ordinarily considered to

represent substantial gainful activity (SGA) 1 ; 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. 2 

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 For the period 1980-89, the monthly SGA limit was set at $300. It was increased to $500 effective January, 1990.

 2 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.
69

1997 SSI Annual Report

Table V.E1.—SSI Federally-Administered Blind or Disabled Working Recipients as of December, 1987-96

In current-payment status 1619(b) Total

Year 1619(a) workers 1

 1 In January, 1990, the SGA limit 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).

Other workers 2

 2 Workers’ earnings are at or below the SGA limit.

workers 3

 3 1619(b) recipients are not in current-payment status but retain SSI recipient status for Medicaid purposes.

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

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

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

as of December, 1987-96

[In thousands]

1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996

0

50

100

150

200

250

1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996

Calendar year

 1619(a) workers

 1619(b) workers

Other workers
1997 SSI Annual Report

70

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 benefitting

from more than one of these selected work incentive provisions. This data is available only for calendar years 1990 and later.

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.

2. Vocational Rehabilitation

Individuals who are blind or disabled applying for or receiving Federal SSI benefits are referred to

State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies to the extent that “the maximum number of such individuals may be rehabilitated into productive activity.” 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 public non-State

VR providers when a State VR agency does not serve an SSI recipient whom SSA refers for services. 

Table V.E2.—SSI Federally-Administered Blind or Disabled Individuals With SSI Recipient Status Participating 

in Other Work Incentives as of December, 1990-96

PASS 1 

 1 Includes only PASS plans which exclude income. Data is not available on PASS plans which exclude only resources.

Year Non-workers 2

 2 PASS plan excludes unearned income.

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 limit.

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

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

Disabled Working Recipients, as of December, 1987-96

Blind or disabled workers with SSI recipient status

In current-payment status 1619(b) Total

Year 1619(a) workers 1

 1 In January, 1990, the SGA limit 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).

Other workers 2

 2 Workers’ earnings are at or below the SGA limit.

 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
71

1997 SSI Annual Report

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 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 limit for 9 continuous months. Effective with the 1990 amendments reimbursement for the cost of VR services was authorized for individuals who were not receiving Federal SSI benefits for any month for which 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. 

 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 1987-96

[Amounts in thousands]

Fiscal year

Concurrent title II/XVI claims Title XVI only claims Total claims

Number

Amount

title XVI Number Amount Number Amount

1987 . . . . . ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1,493 $10,010 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

1988 . . . . . ( 1 )

 1 For fiscal years 1987-89, data on title II reimbursement claims involving concurrent title XVI reimbursement claims are not

available.

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

( 1 ) 1,720 14,831 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

1989 . . . . . ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1,871 18,366 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

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 SSI Annual Report

72

F. INVOLVEMENT OF SSI BENEFICIARIES 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—Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)

and Interim Assistance Reimbursement (IAR)—at the point that a person applies for SSI benefits.

Of the 6.6 million people receiving SSI payments in January 1997, almost 1.5 million had at some

time received income from the program formerly known as AFDC (1.469 million). While most of those

receiving AFDC at the point of application for SSI were children (54 percent), a large number were

disabled individuals (42 percent) who received assistance benefits 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 January 1997, about 6,500 had part of their initial

SSI check paid to their State as reimbursement for interim assistance.
73

1997 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 and others.” Given the volume of research that

has been done since the inception of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program and the brief

period available for us to prepare this first report, we concluded that we could most effectively optimize interested readers’ access to this information by developing a comprehensive bibliography for

them, rather than by attempting to synopsize numerous, sometimes lengthy and complex documents. 

The following list of reference sources includes studies and reports regarding various aspects of the

SSI program that were 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 benefit levels,

recipients, and reform proposals. It is not intended to be an exhaustive compilation of relevant studies. In future reports, we may attempt to expand the listing and to include research summaries, particularly of relevant studies completed since the last report.

American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). 1988. Rates of Participation of the Elderly in the

Supplemental Security Income Program. ICF Inc. and AARP, Washington, D.C. 

Beedon, Laurel. 1989. What States are Providing for the Low-Income Aged: State SSI Supplements

and Fiscal Well-Being. AARP, Public Policy Institute, Washington, D.C. 

Brady, Henry E. and Snow, Barbara West. 1996. 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. October 1996. University of California

Data Archive and Technical Assistance, University of California, Berkeley.

Coe, Richard. 1985. Nonparticipation in the SSI Program by the Eligible Elderly. Southern Economic

Journal, Sarasota, Fl. 

Courtney, Mark E. 1996. Welfare Reform and Child Welfare Services. Paper prepared for Conference

on Child Welfare, Washington D.C. October 1996. Institute for Research on Poverty and School of

Social Work, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Davies, Paul S. 1996. The Participation of Mexican-born Households in Means-tested U.S.Welfare Programs. Research Paper. University of Colorado, Center for Economic Analysis.

Fox, Harriette and Greaney, Ann. 1989. Disabled Children’s Access to Supplemental Security Income

and Medicaid Benefits. Fox Health Policy Consultants, Washington, D.C. 

Horlick, Max. 1973. Supplemental Security Income for the Aged: a Comparison of Five Countries. U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services, Social Security Administration, Office of Research and

Statistics, Washington, D.C.

Joe, Tom and Bogatay, Alan. 1980. The Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income Program. University of Chicago, Center for the Study of Welfare Policy, Chicago, Il. 

Koitz, David, Kollmann, Geoffrey, and Cornelius, Jim. 1996. Current Social Security Issues. Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 

Kollmann, Geoffrey. 1996. Summary of Major Changes in the Social Security Cash Benefits Program:

1935-1996. Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

Lahiri, Kajal, Vaughan, Denton R., and Wixon, Bernard. 1995. Modeling Social Security’s Sequential

Disability Determination Using Matched SIPP Data. Social Security Bulletin. Winter 1995, Vol. 58,

No. 4, pp. 3-42. Social Security Administration, Office of Research and Statistics, Washington, D.C.
1997 SSI Annual Report

74

Leavitt, Thomas, and Schulz, James. 1988. The Role of the Asset Test in Program Eligibility and Participation: The Case of SSI. Brandeis University and AARP, Public Policy Institute, Washington, D.C.

Menefee, John A., Edwards, Bea, and Schieber, Sylvester J. 1981. Analysis of Nonparticipation in the

SSI Program. Social Security Bulletin. June 1981, Vol. 44, No 6, pp. 3-21. U.S. Department of Health

and Human Services, Social Security Administration, Washington, D.C.

Reischauer, Robert. 1994. Reducing Entitlement Spending. Congressional Budget Office, Washington,

D.C. 

Rupp, Kalman and Scott, Charles. 1995. Length of Stay in the Supplemental Security Disability Program. Social Security Bulletin, Spring 1995 Vol. 58, No.1, pp. 29-47. Social Security Administration,

Office of Research and Statistics, Washington, D.C.

Shiels, J., Barnow, B., Chaurette, K., Constatine, J., and Bartolomei-Hill, S. 1990. 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. 

Shuptrine, Sarah and Grant, Vicki. 1989. SSI Application Barriers and Denial of Benefits to Elderly

Applicants. The Villers Foundation/Families U.S.A. Foundation, Columbia, S.C.

Social Security Administration. 1992. Supplemental Security Income Modernization Project, Final

Report of the Experts. Social Security Administration, Baltimore, Md. 

Solomon, Carmen. 1995. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Drug Addicts and Alcoholics: Welfare

Reform in the 104th Congress. Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service, Washington,

D.C. 

Taylor, H., Humphrey, Kagay, Michael, and Leichenko, Stuart. 1986. Problems Facing Elderly Americans Living Alone. Louis Harris and Associates, New York, N.Y. 

U.S. House of Representatives, Select Committee on Aging. 1988. The Elimination of Poverty Among

the Elderly: Supplemental Security Income Reform. U.S. House of Representatives, Hearing before

the Select Committee on Aging, Washington, D.C.

U.S. House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Human Resources. 1989. Proposals to Improve the

Supplemental Security Income Program. U.S. House of Representatives, Hearing before the Subcommittee on Human Resources, Washington, D.C. 

U.S. Senate, Committee on Finance. 1995. Growth of the Supplemental Security Income Program.

U.S. Senate, Hearing before the Committee on Finance, Washington, D.C.

U.S. Senate, Committee on Finance. 1977. The Supplemental Security Income Program. U.S. Senate,

Hearing before the Committee on Finance, Washington, D.C. 

U.S. Senate, Special Committee on Aging. 1984. The Supplemental Security Income Program: a 10

Year Overview: an Information Paper. U.S. Senate, Hearing before the Special Committee on Aging,

Washington, D.C. 

Zedlewski, Sheila and Meyer, Jack. 1989. Toward Ending Poverty Among the Elderly and Disabled

through SSI Reform.