United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office Health, Education, and Human Services Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1995-07-07 monographic deposited born digital 46 p. GA 1.13:HEHS-95-137 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-95-137 P0b002ee18039e865 f:he95137 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-HEHS-95-137 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-HEHS-95-137 HEHS-95-137 Supplemental security income Social security benefits Disability benefits Beneficiaries Disadvantaged persons Handicapped persons Federal social security programs Aid for the handicapped Eligibility criteria Resident aliens Supplemental Security Income Program OASDI Old Age Survivors and Disability Insurance Program Social Security Disability Insurance Program Medicaid Program Food Stamp Program AFDC Aid to Families with Dependent Children Program Letter Report HEHS GAO provided information on the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, focusing on the factors contributing to caseload growth and changes in the characteristics of SSI recipients.<p/>GAO found that: (1) the SSI program is making benefits available to a broader population than it did in the 1980s, as congressional actions and court decisions allow a wider range of impairments to qualify as disabilities, particularly for mentally impaired adults and children; (2) Congress has mandated outreach and publicity efforts to help overcome barriers to getting SSI benefits; (3) disabled recipients may stay on SSI longer and receive more benefits because the program has devoted little effort to ensuring that recipients are disabled and helping them return to work; (4) since the mid-1980s, the number of disabled SSI recipients has increased an average of over 8 percent annually, while the number of aged recipients has remained almost level; (5) children, noncitizens, and mentally impaired adults have accounted for almost 90 percent of SSI growth since 1991; (6) SSI recipients tend to be younger, stay on SSI longer, and depend more on SSI as a primary source of income; (7) the SSI program should emphasize helping recipients achieve their productive capacity and decrease their dependence on SSI; and (8) increasing the number of recipients' disability reviews would help ensure that those who are no longer disabled do not receive SSI benefits. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-95-137/html/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-95-137.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-95-137/pdf/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-95-137.pdf GAO/HEHS-95-137 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-95-137 Letter Report GAO/HEHS-95-137; Supplemental Security Income: Growth and Changes in Recipient Population Call for Reexamining Program; Supplemental security income Social security benefits Disability benefits Beneficiaries Disadvantaged persons Handicapped persons Federal social security programs Aid for the handicapped Eligibility criteria Resident aliens Supplemental Security Income Program OASDI Old Age Survivors and Disability Insurance Program Social Security Disability Insurance Program Medicaid Program Food Stamp Program AFDC Aid to Families with Dependent Children Program