SSI at 50: Modernizing the Social Safety Net for People with Disabilities and Older Adults

In the 50 years since the program made its first payment, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) has offered critical assistance to older adults as well as children and adults with disabilities. Today, the Social Security Administration sends SSI payments to more than 7 million people in the United States.

Despite SSI’s significance to the nation’s social safety net, advocates argue that it has not received the attention it needs from policymakers and is in desperate need of modernization. Many of its program rules have not been updated in four decades, despite dramatic changes in the country’s attitudes about and policies meant to support full community inclusion of people with disabilities. Applying for SSI can be a lengthy and complicated process, program eligibility and payment requirements can be confusing, and asset limits discourage saving for life’s unexpected events.

Mathematica’s Center for Studying Disability Policy and the National Academy of Social Insurance co-sponsored a virtual panel discussion on Tuesday, October 8, at 1 p.m. Eastern Time to examine the status of SSI today and discuss evidence-based reforms that could strengthen the program for the next 50 years.

Speakers

• Gina Livermore, Director, Center for Studying Disability Policy, Mathematica (moderator)
• Tracey Gronniger, Managing Director, Economic Security, Justice in Aging
• Jeffrey Hemmeter, Deputy Associate Commissioner, Office of Research, Demonstration, and Employment Support, Social Security Administration
• Katie Savin, Assistant Professor of Social Work, California State University, Sacramento
• Jack Smalligan, Senior Policy Fellow, Income and Benefits Policy Center, Urban Institute