The SSI Federal Income Program - Paper Example

Definition of the problem

Policy formulation on Supplementary Security Income (SSI) is a federal income program funded by the general tax revenues designed to help the blind, disabled and the aged people in the society who have low incomes and assets. The major focus based on people with limited resources doing the government act in protecting the economic well-being of ineligible individuals to earn a better living. The Congress was created in 1972 and was meant to replace the patchwork system of federal grants to states in assisting the aged individuals among others. It was launched in 1974 and managed to guarantee a minimum level of income to the qualified personnel through another company called Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance(OASDI) who made them collect their social security benefit. The SSI acts as an assistance of the last resort in helping the incompetent people have funds for survival (Berryl&Caplan, 2010).

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Ideology

The study determines the analysis of this program and gives the policies underlying its investigation to benefit everyone in the nation. Ideas that support the claim of the problem was the low income received by retirees, those workers who lost their jobs or the disabled people that had little funds to purchase basic needs for their families. Such a federal program had a definite aim of formulating ways to finance these individuals to reduce poverty among the population (Erickson, et al., 2010). The program targeted support from communities to show interest in concentering on low-income earners and provide revenues to support the services rendered to these residents.

Social problem existed

The social problem that existed which led to the creation of the problem was the small payments that employees received at their workplaces and have worked for longer periods later having low their social security benefit making the SSI help them solve their financial problem. Furthermore, the income inequalities and poverty among some individuals created a concern not only to SSI staffs but also the government making it a national issue that requires implemented policies and solutions.

Benefits

There are several benefits of this program in which cash is offered to meet the basic needs of these incompetent people in the community such as food, clothing, and shelter. Another advantage is that most payments are always made the first day of every month also assures that all the respondents get medical coverage under several states to ensure that they receive concurrent access to medication. Furthermore, in some countries, the payments are made by the state officials thereby improving the cash assistance through the availability of SSI (Morton, 2014). The program was formed to improve the well-being of the individuals, increase their income and reduce poverty making them live happily.

Suffers

Suffers were those people who earned a good income as much of their salary was taxed as revenue to help other individuals in the society that were not able to provide for their families basic requirements. The continuation of the problem makes that rich person suffer more as high taxes are imposed on their payment of goods and their salary income as much of it will be used in compensating those people who cannot provide for their basic needs.

Historical Development

It has a comprehensive origin being that it started as part of President Nixons social reforms based on his roles in politics through the legislation. His idea was to be to improve the countrys welfare programs and to merge them into one through his administration. Moreover, each state had same programs such as Aid to the Elderly and Aid to the Blind among other which made Nixon have an idea of making the programs as a central unit operating under administration. In 1972, President Nixon signed the Social Security Amendment that led to the rebirth of a new enterprise called the SSI program which later began operation in 1974. Current research shows that the beneficiaries of this program have gradually increased from 6.6 million in the year 2000 to 8.3 million making its spending to increase from $33billion in 2000 to $57billion in 2013 creating a 70% increase.

Current research shows that the beneficiaries of this program have gradually increased from 6.6 million in the year 2000 to 8.3 million making its spending to increase from $33billion in 2013. The program has steadily increased from 6.6 million in the year 2000 to 8.3 million making its spending to increase from $33billion in 2000 to $57billion in 2013 creating a 70% increase. It was designed under the title XVI of the Social Security Act of 1935. The policy was advocated for by President Nixon, and in his statement, he mentioned that grants should be authorized to the States to aid services and support to the blind and poor elderly in the society.

Social events

The social events are designed to prevent the people against the loss of income that emerged from retirement or disability. The events were based on the persons earnings as it is considered as a program of the last resort because they are entitled to pensions through the revenues generated (Daly&Burkhauser, 2002).

Political advocates

Lawyers played a significant role in ensuring that the recipients were represented by law to get full compensation of funds offered by the SSI to claim full benefit. The advocates enacted rules followed when a transfer penalty is conducted to another person making their appeals for discussion. On the other hand, Social Security Association (SSA) advocated for the eligibility and sustainability of other equal programs such as Patient Advocate Foundation Mission (PAFM) organization was another program formed by the state in giving public service and assistance for the health benefit of the elderly and the disabled people. They offered the right to health to all the clients and adjusting the guidelines in dealing with direct patient services such as accessing care for the underserved and uninsured patients.

Policy oppose

The plan was strongly opposed by LSR with the effort of having a channel for the benefit on the SSI. The organization opposed the program for debate at the Senate due to the rising if income inequalities imposing a charitable entitlement for future generation.

Policy Content

Goals and objectives

The purpose of SSI is to offer help to the disabled people and the elderly in the community who their financial income is limited as per their expectation. Moreover, it gives benefits to disabled children and adults after the law was revised by the US government. The objective is determining the dependents of SSI and stating the eligibility requirements of people with disability and giving the procedures to be followed in claiming the benefits.

Beneficiaries

The recipients in this program are all disabled persons, children, adults and elderly in the society. The standard eligibility of the recipient showed that the number of children with mental disability is qualified for receiving the recipient. Everyone with a disability was treated in a transparent way to ensure that they all received equal compensation and services provided to them by the government in collaboration with SSI. The beneficiaries were created to be the Same to every person.

Benefits

Cash benefits are provided for basic needs to the children and individuals registered with the SSI who met the qualifications of federal disability, for example, the old and have low-income resources. The benefit was greater to these people when the state decided to supplement them when they realized that despite SSI compensation, their payment was small making them get involved in making payment to cater up for the marginal difference in cash payment which was standardized at one level. As a young adult in SSI program, they receive monthly financial support that will assist them in paying the necessary living expenses and making transitions from school to work as they grow (Halfon, et al., 2012).

Administrative

The administration was amended to appeal for the set- up of the enterprise that enabled the clients to ensure that the bills are allocated appropriately. However, they were to make sure that all claims made by the client discussed, and a decision made to them based on leverage services with integrity.

Funding

Provision for this corporation is offset by the federal government from the general taxes revenues from individuals with valuable income. To achieve the funding programs, the policy makers conducted direct census data in the society so that they use the information to guide them in distributing annual payments to the disabled and the old in the community. Under the Federal Transit Act, funds were allocated for mass transit and offer other facilities such as housing in a transparent way.

Interactions

The SSI staffs interacted with the members in ensuring that the incompetent peoples rights are incorporated effectively. Further, the public, the government and the organization to help the community in helping the members. The interactions gave good relations and openness to the public. By interacting with these people in the society and the organizations that assist them to earn a living is an ethical way of showing care and love which makes them feel part of the community without any discrimination.

Policy Critique/ Recommendation

The policy proposal is adopted to measure the cost of living allowances for the disabled and the elderly. The critiques were to eliminate time limits on beneficiaries for humanitarian immigrant eligibility once they become citizens in the U.S. the government was also to ensure that adequate funds for the social security to assist in the booming of funding. The states in the country should also provide more supplements to SSI for additional coverage and compensation for the recipients. Another recommendation is that the inspectors working together with SSI should ensure that financial accounts and information are monitored to reduce the number of overpayments through researching related initiatives that will help in decreasing improper payments within the organization.

Conclusion

To conclude, the SSI program provided essential information that will help the people make good choices about their future. The income maintenance program was developed as it played a significant role in increasing the social safety and cash entitlement in monthly income to all civilians. The program worked with integrity in ensuring that administer policies and procedures in implementing the goals and long-lasting strategies in achieving their administrative plans to the society.

References

Erickson, W., Lee, C. G., & von Schrader, S. (2010). 2008 Disability Status Reports: United States. http://www.gao.gov/assets/680/670598.pdf

Morton R.W.(2014). A primer on Disability Benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL32279.pdf

Berry, H. G., & Caplan, L. J. (2010). Employment and earnings growth among transition-age Supplemental Security Income program participants. Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 1044207310379096. Chicago. http://www.nj.gov/humanservices/ddd/documents/supplemental_security_income(SSI)_factsheet.pdf

Daly. C.M& Burkhauser R.V(2002). The Supplemental Security Income Program. http://www.frbsf.org/economic-research/files/wp02-20bk.pdf

Halfon N. Houtron A. Larson K & Newacheck P. W. (2012). The changing landscape of disability in childhood. The Future of Children, 22(1), 13-42. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/124/6/1702.