Difference Between SSA And SSI
Leo Rossler
It's a question we receive often.
"What's the difference between SSA and SSI?" Or "Are Social Security and Supplemental Security Income the same thing?"
The short answer is no, they're not. Here's the long answer.
The Social Security Admin-istration (SSA) is the government agency that administers both Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. But the two programs are not the same, and the funds come from different places.
Social Security comes in three varieties: retirement benefits, disability benefits and survivors' benefits. SSI comes in two: disability and aged benefits.
Social Security benefits are funded through the Social Security trust funds; your Social Security payroll or FICA taxes are earmarked for Social Security benefits. SSI is funded through general tax revenue.
Social Security is a social insurance program based on contributions. In order to collect benefits, you must have paid into the system and become insured. Most people need about 40 credits, or 10 years of work, to qualify. SSI is a needs-based program that pays benefits to people with limited income and resources who are either disabled or age 65 or older.
When you get Social Security, what you own, including bank accounts, property, and investments, does not affect your benefits. Since SSI is needs-based, your resources do count when you receive SSI benefits.
Social Security was established by the Social Security Act on Aug. 14, 1935. SSI was created by the amendments of 1972.
One thing that is the same for Social Security and SSI benefits is that you can easily sign up for direct deposit of payments.
SSA and SSI may seem only a letter apart, but there's a world of difference between the two programs.
To learn more, visit our Web site at www.socialsecurity.gov. You can also call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). The Tyler office is located at 5509 S. Donnybrook Ave.
Leo Rossler is a Social Security district manager based in Tyler.
"What's the difference between SSA and SSI?" Or "Are Social Security and Supplemental Security Income the same thing?"
The short answer is no, they're not. Here's the long answer.
The Social Security Admin-istration (SSA) is the government agency that administers both Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. But the two programs are not the same, and the funds come from different places.
Social Security comes in three varieties: retirement benefits, disability benefits and survivors' benefits. SSI comes in two: disability and aged benefits.
Social Security benefits are funded through the Social Security trust funds; your Social Security payroll or FICA taxes are earmarked for Social Security benefits. SSI is funded through general tax revenue.
Social Security is a social insurance program based on contributions. In order to collect benefits, you must have paid into the system and become insured. Most people need about 40 credits, or 10 years of work, to qualify. SSI is a needs-based program that pays benefits to people with limited income and resources who are either disabled or age 65 or older.
When you get Social Security, what you own, including bank accounts, property, and investments, does not affect your benefits. Since SSI is needs-based, your resources do count when you receive SSI benefits.
Social Security was established by the Social Security Act on Aug. 14, 1935. SSI was created by the amendments of 1972.
One thing that is the same for Social Security and SSI benefits is that you can easily sign up for direct deposit of payments.
SSA and SSI may seem only a letter apart, but there's a world of difference between the two programs.
To learn more, visit our Web site at www.socialsecurity.gov. You can also call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). The Tyler office is located at 5509 S. Donnybrook Ave.
Leo Rossler is a Social Security district manager based in Tyler.
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