This year, the Social Security Administration (SSA) celebrates 50 years of administering the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. President Richard Nixon signed the bill in 1972, and in January 1974, SSA began issuing the first SSI payments to nearly four million eligible people. The goal of the SSI program was to aid aged, blind, and individuals with disabilities with very limited income and resources.
Fifty years later, the SSI program remains a lifeline by providing cash assistance to about 2% of the U.S. population, approximately 7.5 million people, with limited income and resources, including nearly one million low-income children with disabilities. SSI benefits can help pay for basic needs like rent, food, clothing, and medicine, reducing the number of people in extreme poverty, and alleviating the burden on other family members.
“SSI works, and has for the last 50 years, because of hardworking and dedicated SSA employees. SSI is an effective yet complex program, and SSA employees work hard to ensure payments are accurate and timely,” said Martin O’Malley, Commissioner of Social Security. “Recently, we made great progress in strengthening the SSI program by simplifying the rules and helping more people access these benefits. As we celebrate 50 years of SSI, we will continue to look for ways to improve the program and eliminate barriers.”
The agency will commemorate SSI’s 50th anniversary with local and national events throughout the year. For more information on the SSI program, including who is eligible and how to apply, visit https://www.ssa.gov/ssi.
Provided information
