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Expanding Opportunities for Workers with Disabilities

Employment Rate of Maine Individuals on Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal program that gives cash support to very poor people with severe disabilities. In 2007, there were 31,810 individuals receiving SSI in Maine, and 2,278 (7.2 percent) were working. The number of SSI beneficiaries in Maine rose steadily over the past eight years, from 27,000 in 2000 up to almost 32,000 in 2007. But the number of SSI beneficiaries who worked has remained at approximately 2,300 over the same period, so the proportion of SSI recipients who work fell from 8.6 percent in 2000 down to 7.2 percent in 2007.

Work incentives are special rules that make it possible for SSI beneficiaries to work and still receive monthly payments. Very few SSI beneficiaries in Maine utilize the available work incentives. Of 31,810 blind or disabled SSI recipients statewide, only 36 had a “Plan for Achieving Self-Support” and only 18 took advantage of the “Impairment-related Work Expenses” income exclusion.

Source: Social Security Administration

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