Social Security Administration's Report on Supplemental Security Income: Incomeand Resource Exclusions and Disability Insurance Earnings-Related Provisions

摘要

As required by Section 303(d) of the Ticket to Work and Work IncentivesImprovement Act of 1999, this report identifies all income and resource disregards (exclusions) under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) programs. It analyzes selected exclusions and provides a range of options for their modification. It also discusses several issues pertaining to the SSI exclusion concerning educational grants, scholarships, and fellowships. Finally, it examines and presents options for selected earnings-related provisions in the DI program. SSI is a program of last resort for the aged, blind, and disabled whose income and resources are below specified levels. Therefore, income and resource exclusions pertain to the SSI program. On the other hand, DI is an entitlement program, and is thus, not means-tested. Earnings in the DI program are used to measure work incapacity in making initial and continuing disability determinations. SSI law requires some income and some resources to be excluded from countable income and resources for determining eligibility and payment amount. SSI income may be divided into two types: unearned income and earnings. A variety of exclusions apply to both types of income. Regarding unearned income, about two-thirds of aged beneficiaries and one-third of disabled beneficiaries aged 18 through 64 also receive Social Security benefits. Fewer than 2 percent of the aged and about 7 percent of SSI beneficiaries with disabilities aged 18 through 64 receive earned income. More than half (54 percent) of SSI beneficiaries receive no income other than SSI benefits, and therefore would not be affected by any changes to income exclusions.