Editing Supplemental Security Income (section)

{{Short description|United States government program}}
{{Distinguish|Social Security Disability Insurance}}
{{Disability sidebar}}

'''Supplemental Security Income''' ('''SSI''') is a [[means-tested]] program that provides cash payments to disabled children, disabled adults, and individuals aged 65 or older who are citizens or nationals of the [[United States]].<ref>Understanding Supplemental Security Income SSI Eligibility Requirements -- 2020 Edition</ref> SSI was created by the Social Security Amendments of 1972 and is incorporated in Title 16 of the [[Social Security Act]]. The program is administered by the [[Social Security Administration]] (SSA) and began operations in 1974.

Individuals or their helpers may start the application for SSI benefits by completing a short form on SSA's website. SSA staff will schedule an appointment for the individual or helper within one to two weeks and complete the process.<ref name="Get Started to Apply for SSI">{{Cite web|title=Get Started to Apply for SSI|url=https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/ssi/start.html|website=www.ssa.gov}}</ref>

SSI was created to replace federal-state adult assistance programs that served the same purpose, but were administered by the state agencies and received criticism for lacking consistent eligibility criteria. The restructuring of these programs was intended to standardize the eligibility requirements and level of benefits.<ref>(''SSA'' "Teleservice Representative Basic Training Curriculum: Supplemental Security Income" p. 7)</ref> Although administered by SSA,<ref>(''SSA'' "Teleservice Representative Basic Training Curriculum: Supplemental Security Income" p. 5)</ref> SSI is funded from the [[United States Department of the Treasury|U.S. Treasury general funds]],<ref name="SSAP2">(''SSA'' "Supplemental Security Income (SSI)" p.&nbsp;2)</ref> not the [[Social Security trust fund]]. As of July 2022, the program provides benefits to approximately five million Americans.<ref>{{cite web|title=Monthly Statistical Snapshot, July 2022 (issued August 2022)|url=https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/quickfacts/stat_snapshot/2022-07.html|author=Social Security Administration}}</ref>