The SSI program is administered by the Social Security Administration, but unlike the OASDI program, is funded from general revenues. SSA was given responsibility for the SSI program when it was created in 1972 because of the agency’s existing field office network and its administrative and automated data processing capabilities. Because of the integration of the administration of the SSI and OASDI programs, it is more practical to fund them from a single source. The trust funds and the general fund pay their appropriate share of
administrative expenses through SSA’s Limitation on Administrative Expenses (LAE) account, which in turn funds the total operating expenses of the agency. The appropriate share of administrative expenses borne by each funding source is determined based on a Government Accountability Office approved method of cost analysis, with a final settlement of costs by the end of the subsequent
fiscal year. If necessary, section 201(g)(1) of the Social Security Act provides that SSI administrative expenses, including Federal administration of State supplementation payments, may be financed from the Social Security trust funds with reimbursement, including any interest lost, to the trust funds from general revenues.
The SSI program also provides beneficiary services to recipients through State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies and Employment Networks for VR services and payments under the
Ticket to Work program. For SSI recipients, the objective of VR is to help disabled individuals achieve and sustain productive, self-supporting work activity.
