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Repeat After Me: ‘SSI Is Not Social Security’

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Repeat After Me: ‘SSI Is Not Social Security’
SSI is a federal welfare program that has absolutely nothing to do with Social Security other than the fact that it happens to be managed by the Social Security Administration. Popartic/Shutterstock
Tom Margenau
Updated:

If I had a million dollars, I'd buy commercial time at the upcoming Super Bowl and run an ad that would say, in big bold letters, “SSI is not Social Security.” I have written dozens of past columns about this topic.

But I’ve just got to do so again. It seems to me that just about everyone in this country confuses the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program with the Social Security program. To clarify, let’s start with some background.

Tom Margenau
Tom Margenau
Author
Tom Margenau worked for 32 years in a variety of positions for the Social Security Administration before retiring in 2005. He has served as the director of SSA’s public information office, the chief editor of more than 100 SSA publications, a deputy press officer and spokesman, and a speechwriter for the commissioner of Social Security. For 12 years, he also wrote Social Security columns for local newspapers, and recently published the book “Social Security: Simple and Smart.” If you have a Social Security question, contact him at [email protected]
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