Disability Law Blog

New Method of Wage Reporting in the SSI Program

The Social Security Administration announces a pilot program to test an additional method of wage reporting in the SSI program in an effort to reduce overpayments to SSI recipients:

SSA will conduct a pilot to test an additional method for individuals to report wages for the SSI program. We are testing to determine if, given an easily accessible automated format, individuals will increase compliance with reporting responsibilities. Increased timely reporting could result in a decrease in improper payments. . . The participants will access SSA's system using knowledge-based authentication (providing name, SSN and date of birth). Participants will either speak their report (voice recognition technology) or key in the information using the telephone key pad. SSA will issue receipts to disabled recipients who report wages using this method.

Available in text and PDF.

70 FR 53266 (September 7, 2005)

SSA Proposes Changes to Income and Resource Provisions of SSI

The SSA issued proposed rules changing the way income and resources are considered in the Supplemental Security Income program:

We propose to revise our regulations on how we determine an individual's income and resources under the SSI program based on the SSPA of 2004, enacted on March 2, 2004. Some of the provisions of the SSPA make a number of changes in the way we determine income and resources including: how we calculate infrequent and irregular income; what interest and dividend income we exclude; how we count cash military compensation; and when we exclude gifts for tuition or educational expenses from income or resources. We are also proposing to apply the exclusions required by the SSPA when determining the countable income and resources of an ineligible spouse or ineligible parent.

The comment period ends November 7, 2005.

Available in text and PDF.

70 FR 52949-52952 (September 6, 2005)

Commissioner Barnhart Testifies on SSI Program Before House Ways & Means Subcommittee

Commissioner Jo Anne Barnhart testified before the Subcommittee on Human Resources on April 29, 2004.
An excerpt:

"SSI beneficiaries are among the most vulnerable members of our society. All of them are either blind or disabled, or aged 65 and older. All have very limited incomes and little or no assets. The maximum income an individual can have and still be eligible for SSI represents less than 75 percent of the poverty level for a one-person household, and the maximum income a couple can have and remain eligible for SSI represents less than 85 percent of the poverty level for a two-person household. Only 35 percent of SSI beneficiaries receive other cash benefits such as Social Security benefits. It is clear that without SSI, the vast majority of beneficiaries would be destitute. . . .

By any measure, SSI recipients are among the poorest of the poor. For them, SSI is truly the program of last resort and is the safety net that protects them from complete impoverishment. In administering this program we must recognize both the vulnerability of those served by it as well as our obligation to the American taxpayer to ensure that payments made under the program are consistent with the program’s requirements. . . . "

"However, as you know for FY 2004, SSA’s appropriation for administrative expenses was significantly lower than the President’s budget request. I found that I had to balance the need for CDRs [Continuing Disability Reviews] and redeterminations against the need to process claims filed by aged and disabled citizens—arguably the most vulnerable of our population. And we are not going to be able to do as many CDRs and redeterminations as I had originally planned."