Difference Between SSI and SSA

Many governments have a number of independent agencies and programs to provide various forms of assistance to citizens in need. The government of the United States is an appropriate example for the same; SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and SSA (Social Security Administration) are a welfare program and an independent agency, respectively. The key difference between SSI and SSA is that SSI is a national income program in the United States that is designed to provide assistance to aged, blind, and disabled persons and children whereas SSA is an independent agency of the United States federal government, administering a number of programs such as social security program, social insurance program, and Supplemental Security Income. Thus, there is a close relationship between SSI and SSA.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is SSI
3. What is SSA
4. Side by Side Comparison – SSI vs SSA in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is SSI?

SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is a national income program in the United States designed to provide assistance to aged, blind, and disabled people and children who have little or no income to fulfill basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing. SSI was founded in 1974 and is administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA); the funds for this program are provided by the U.S. Treasury general funds. The main intention of this program is to standardize the eligibility criteria in order to provide assistance for the most needed. The program was restructured, and the new federal program was incorporated into Title XVI of the Social Security Act. The eligibility criteria may change over time, and the latest overall requirements are as per below.

Aged

• Individuals of age 65 or older

Disabled 

• For those above the age of 18 years
• Inability to do any substantial gainful activity; and
• Can be expected to result in death; or
• Have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which is expected to last or has lasted at least 12 continuous months
• For those below the age of 18 years
• Results marked and severe functional limitations; and
• Can be expected to result in death; or
• Have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which is expected to last or has lasted at least 12 continuous months

Blind 

• Have a central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with use of a correcting lens; or
• Have a visual field limitation in the better eye – the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees

What is SSA?

SSA or Social Security Administration is an independent agency of the United States federal government that administers programs such as social security program and social insurance program consisting of retirement, disability, and survivors’ benefits. Funding for these programs is collected via social security taxes. SSI is also a key program administered by the SSA.

Social Security

Social security program of SSA provides a number of benefits including retirement income, disability income, Medicare, and death and survivorship benefits. Even though referred to as social security in common terms, the actual name of this programs is Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program. Furthermore, the program is primarily funded by Federal Insurance Contributions Act tax (FICA) or Self Employed Contributions Act Tax (SECA).

Social Insurance 

Social insurance includes all government-sponsored programs with the following characteristics, thus also includes the OASDI program.

• Benefits and eligibility criteria of the program are defined and subsequently updated by statute;
• Overt provision is made to account for the income and expenses;
• The program is funded by taxes collected from or on behalf of participants
• The program serves a well-defined population, established by the government

In addition to the OASDI program, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) program, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) program and state-sponsored unemployment insurance programs are also amount to social insurance programs.

What is the Difference Between SSI and SSA?

Summary – SSI vs SSA

The difference between SSI and SSA mainly depends on the fact that SSI is a federal program offered to provide assistance to aged, blind, and disabled persons and children by the SSA, which is an independent agency of the United States federal government that administers social security. SSA provides a number of other welfare and development programs to US citizens other than SSI. Distinct guidelines are provided for the participants of both SSI and SSA in order to select the most suitable participants in need.

References:

1. “Social Security.” Supplemental Security Income. N.p., n.d. Web. Available here. 29 June 2017.
2.”2011 Annual Report of the SSI Program.” THE SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME PROGRAM. N.p., n.d. Web. Available here. 29 June 2017.
3.”Social Security Administration.” USAGov. N.p., n.d. Web. Available here. 29 June 2017.
4.”Social Security.” Investopedia. N.p., 10 Feb. 2017. Web. Available here. 29 June 2017.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Flag of the United States Social Security Administration” By (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia