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Medicare & SSI

Medicare and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are two programs run by the Social Security Administration. These programs help senior citizens and people with low income to receive benefits. Most of the time, when you qualify for one of the Social Security programs, you also might qualify for other benefits.

  1. SSI Identification

    • Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a Social Security program that helps people with low income. The objective of SSI is to help people pay for their basic needs, such as food, clothing and shelter. Unlike the Social Security Disability program (another program that pays benefits for people with disabilities), SSI is not funded by the Social Security tax. Even though this program is run by the Social Security Administration, it gets its funding from the U.S. Treasury's general fund. For those who qualify, the Social Security Administration makes benefit payments on the first day of every month.

    SSI Eligibility and Benefits

    • To be eligible to receive benefits from the SSI program, you must prove that you have low income and that you are either older than 65 years of age, disabled or blind. The Social Security Administration evaluates your income and resources to determine whether or not you are eligible to receive benefits. If you are eligible, the Social Security Administration sends you monthly payments either by mail or as a direct deposit. The base payment for SSI benefits is the same in all states. As of 2010, the Social Security Administration pays you $674 if you are single and $1,011 if you are married.

    Medicare Identification

    • Medicare is also run by the Social Security Administration. Medicare is a health insurance program for elderly people that helps them to pay for medical costs. Medicare has four parts. Part A pays for hospital and clinic costs. Part B pays for the costs of medical treatments. Part C is an additional coverage for Part A and Part B that is offered through private companies approved by Medicare. Part D pays for the cost of prescription drugs. Only Part A is free because it is funded by the Medicare tax, which is 1.45 percent of each employee's wage. The other parts of Medicare are voluntary, and they have a monthly premium attached to their coverage.

    Medicare Eligibility

    • Whether or not you receive SSI benefits does not interfere with whether or not you qualify to receive Medicare. Every American employee who has paid his taxes, more specifically Medicare tax and Social Security tax, is automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B when he turns 65 years of age. To be enrolled in the other parts of Medicare, you must apply with the companies listed on the Medicare website, and the only requirement is to have either Medicare Part A or Part B.

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