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1 (October 26, 2016)

handle is hein.crs/crsmthmanxk0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional as Research Service MEMORANDUM October 26, 2016 Subject: Cash Assistance for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled in Puerto Rico From: William R. Morton, Analyst in Income Security, 7-9453 This memorandum was prepared to enable distribution to more than one congressional office. This memorandum examines Puerto Rico's cash assistance program for low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities, known as Aid to the Aged, Blind, or Disabled (AABD). It begins by providing background information on the national cash assistance program for the aged, blind, and disabled, known as Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Next, it provides an overview of cash assistance programs in the territories and discusses the specifics of Puerto Rico's AABD program. After that, the memorandum provides a comparison of the SSI and AABD programs. Lastly, it provides a legislative history of cash assistance for the aged, blind, and disabled in Puerto Rico, as well as examines legislation during the 1970s to extend SSI to Puerto Rico. Supplemental Security Income' Established under Title XVI of the Social Security Act, SSI is a means-tested federal entitlement program that provides monthly cash benefits to the aged, blind, and disabled.2 The program is intended to provide a guaranteed minimum income to adults who have difficulty covering their basic living expenses due to age or disability and who have little or no Social Security or other income. It is also designed to supplement the support and maintenance of needy children with severe disabilities. SSI is commonly known as a program of last resort because claimants must first apply for all other benefits for which they may be eligible; cash assistance is awarded only to those whose income and assets from other sources are below prescribed limits. Although SSI is administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA), it is not part of Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI), commonly known as Social Security. The SSI program, which was enacted in 1972 and implemented in 1974, operates in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Eligibility Requirements To be categorically eligible for SSI, individuals must be aged, blind, or disabled as defined in federal law.3 Aged refers to individuals who are age 65 or older. The blind are individuals of any age who have central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the use of a correcting lens or have a visual 1 See CRS In Focus IF10482, Supplemental Security Income (SSI). 2 42 U.S.C. §§1381-1383f. 3 Section 1614(a) of the Social Security Act; 42 U.S.C. §1382c(a). Cn o~Rsa e~7O wwcsg

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