While SSI is a federal program (administered by the Social Security Administration), and the federal government pays a standard base rate of $794 per month, most SSI recipients receive less than the federal benefit rate, and some receive more.

How does one qualify for Supplemental Security Income?

To get SSI, you must meet one of these requirements: Be age 65 or older. Be totally or partially blind. Have a medical condition that keeps you from working and is expected to last at least one year or result in death.

How many people are on Supplemental Security income?

En español | Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a benefit program managed by the Social Security Administration that provides monthly payments to people facing significant financial and physical challenges. More than 7.9 million people were receiving SSI benefits as of January 2021.

What are the spotlights on Supplemental Security income?

SSI Spotlights are a series of 27 fact sheets about a variety of SSI topics, e.g., living arrangements, and are designed to supplement the guidelines in Understanding SSI (see above). You may link directly to each of the spotlights, or you may link to them from the text of the guidelines. In addition,…

Are there any states that do not offer Supplemental Security income?

Forty-six states and the District of Columbia offer supplemental SSI payments. (The states that don’t are Arizona, Mississippi, North Dakota and West Virginia.) States that provide additional payments may have their own rules regarding income and eligibility.

When was the Supplemental Security Income program created?

SSI was created in 1974 to replace federal-state adult assistance programs that served the same purpose, but was administered by the State agencies and received criticism for lacking consistent eligibility criteria throughout the United States.