The Social Security Administration administers the SSI program, but unlike the OASDI program, general revenues fund the SSI program. When the SSI program began in 1972, the agency's existing field office network and its automated data processing capabilities made it uniquely qualified to administer the program. Since the administration of the SSI and OASDI programs is integrated, 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 into SSA's Limitation on Administrative Expenses (LAE) account, which funds the total operating expenses of the agency. A Government Accountability Office approved method of cost analysis determines the appropriate share of administrative expenses borne by each funding source, and a final settlement of costs occurs by the end of the subsequent
fiscal year. If necessary, section 201(g)(1) of the Social Security Act provides that the Social Security trust funds may finance SSI administrative expenses, including Federal administration of State supplementation payments. General revenues subsequently reimburse the trust funds, including any interest lost.
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. VR strives to help individuals with disabilities achieve and sustain productive, self-supporting work activity.
