People who are disabled, blind or elderly may not be able to work or afford to live on their own. If you can’t work, have no other sources of income, and have limited assets, you may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

The federal government created the SSI program to help people in this situation. Those who qualify for SSI receive a monthly check to pay for those basic needs. SSI is run by the Social Security Administration.

SSI should not be confused with Social Security’s insurance programs:

  • Social Security retirement benefits, available to all Americans over 62 who have worked; or
  • Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), which pays cash benefits to people who have worked long enough and paid into its insurance system before they became disabled.

These are also run by the Social Security Administration, but they are completely separate programs.