Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Celebrates 50 Years as a Lifeline

For 50 years, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) has been a lifeline to tens of millions of individuals with disabilities, together with kids, and older adults with restricted earnings and assets.  

In 1972, President Nixon signed laws creating the federal SSI program. In January 1974, Social Security issued the primary month-to-month SSI funds. A half century later, roughly 7.5 million folks – together with almost 1 million kids – obtain SSI funds each month to assist pay for fundamental wants like meals, hire, clothes, and drugs.  

SSI has been instrumental in lowering the variety of folks dwelling in excessive poverty in our nation. 

“Recently, we made nice progress in strengthening the SSI program by simplifying the foundations and serving to extra folks entry these advantages,” stated Martin O’Malley, Commissioner of Social Security. “As we have fun 50 years of SSI, we are going to proceed to search for methods to enhance this system and eradicate obstacles.” To hear Commissioner O’Malley’s total message about SSI, we invite you to look at a quick video. 

We are observing the 50th anniversary of SSI all year long, together with a June 5th celebration hosted by the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI). The occasion, “SSI @ 50: Reflections and the Road to Reform,” will characteristic Commissioner O’Malley and Senator Tom Harkin (ret-IA).   

Learn extra about how we’re working to increase entry to SSI, simplify the SSI utility course of, and enhance customer support. For extra info on the SSI program, together with who’s eligible and the way to apply, go to Supplemental Security Income (SSI). You may learn right now’s press launch. 

Please share this info with those that may have it and publish it on social media.  

Tags: Disability, fairness, SSI, supplemental safety earnings

See Comments