Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

The SSI program is federally administered, with state participation (in California), providing financial assistance to aged, blind, and disabled persons. Eligibility is based upon both disability and need. In California, the SSI monthly cash payment is a combination of the State Supplemental Program and Federal Benefit Rate. The definition of disability in the context of SSI, is that the worker cannot achieve “substantial gainful activity,” because of a severe impairment, listed in, or equal to, the social security listings of impairments. Eligibility for SSI, automatically entitles the recipient to “categorically-linked” Medi-Cal benefits