A national program that provides supplemental payments to older persons who already receive public assistance. The program’s aim is to raise the incomes of these people to the poverty threshold.
A program of income support for low-income aged, blind and disabled persons, established by title XVI of the Social Security Act. SSI replaced State welfare programs for the aged, blind and disabled on January 1, 1972, with a Federally-administered program now paying a monthly basic benefit nationwide of $158 for an individual and $237 for a couple. States may supplement this basic benefit amount. Approximately 4 million people currently receive benefits under the program. Receipt of a Federal SSI benefit or a State supplement under the program is often used to establish Medicaid eligibility.