Supplemental Security Income: Recent Growth in the Rolls Raises
Fundamental Program Concerns (Testimony, 01/27/95, GAO/T-HEHS-95-67).

This testimony discusses growth of the Supplemental Security Income
(SSI) rolls and changes in the characteristics of SSI recipients. Last
year, the Social Security Administration paid nearly $22 billion in
federal benefit payments to about 6.3 million aged, blind, and disabled
SSI recipients. Since 1986, payments have risen by $13.5 billion, more
than doubling. Benefits for the disabled accounted for nearly 100
percent of this increase. Since 1986, the number of disabled SSI
recipients under age 65 has increased an average of more than eight
percent annually, adding nearly 2 million younger recipients to the
rolls, while the number of aged and blind recipients has remained level.
The trend toward younger beneficiaries, coupled with low exit rates from
the program, means that costs will continue to burgeon in the near term.
Without a slowing in the growth of this younger population, SSI will
become even more costly. Since 1991, three groups--disabled children,
legal immigrants, and adults with mental problems--have accounted for
nearly 90 percent of the SSI caseload growth. Of the two million
mentally disabled adults, roughly 100,000 are disabled mainly by drug
addiction or alcoholism. The dramatic increases pose fundamental
questions about eligibility standards, accountability, and program
effectiveness.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  T-HEHS-95-67
     TITLE:  Supplemental Security Income: Recent Growth in the Rolls 
             Raises Fundamental Program Concerns
      DATE:  01/27/95
   SUBJECT:  Supplemental security income program
             Future budget projections
             Disability benefits
             Eligibility criteria
             Immigrants
             Social security benefits
             Alcohol or drug abuse problems
             Handicapped children
             Beneficiaries
             Aid for the handicapped
IDENTIFIER:  Medicaid Program
             Food Stamp Program
             
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