Benefits are paid from general revenues and, in general, most beneficiaries are eligible for the same benefit amount. There Are Over 1 Million Concurrent Beneficiaries and Few Work

Concurrent beneficiaries, who comprised about 14 percent of SSA’s disability population, were likely to have mental impairments and be female. About 11 percent of concurrent beneficiaries worked and had a median earned income of about $250 a month. More than One-half of Concurrent Beneficiaries Have Mental Impairments

Of the more than 6 million working-age adults receiving disability benefits under the DI program and the more than 3.5 million working-age adults receiving SSI, our analysis of the February 2002 SSA data indicates that, approximately 1.2 million—14 percent—received benefits from both programs. In addition, 53 percent were female. Little Coordination of DI and SSI Programs Exists for Concurrent Beneficiaries Who Work

There is little coordination between SSI and DI program rules, especially for concurrent beneficiaries who work and, as a result, SSA must apply the complex provisions of the two programs independently. Specialists in one program lack integrated guidance to readily determine the effect of work on the benefits in the other program. The Application of Both DI and SSI Rules Makes It Difficult for Concurrent Beneficiaries to Make Informed Decisions about Work Activity

Just as SSA has no special procedures for administering the rules for concurrent beneficiaries, it does not provide concurrent beneficiaries with any integrated explanation of the effects of work on both DI and SSI benefits through its public information materials. Concurrent beneficiaries who do not understand the programs’ provisions may make decisions about work that will make them worse off financially. For more detailed explanations, SSA could direct beneficiaries to contact an SSA representative knowledgeable of both programs. Appendix II: Comments from the Social Security Administration
What GAO Found

In calendar year 2001, the Social Security Administration (SSA) paid cash benefits of $60 billion to more than six million working-age adults with disabilities and eligible family members under its Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) program, and $20 billion to more than 3.5 million working-age adults with disabilities under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. Some beneficiaries, known as concurrent beneficiaries, receive cash and medical benefits from both programs. Concurrent beneficiaries comprised about 14 percent of SSA's disability population; 58 percent have mental impairments, and about 53 percent are female. Eleven percent of concurrent beneficiaries worked and earned a median income of approximately $250 per month. There is little coordination between SSI and DI program rules for individuals who work and receive benefits from both programs concurrently. Because most field office staff specialize in one program, they may not be sufficiently knowledgeable of the procedures for the other program to ensure that concurrent beneficiaries who work are paid the appropriate benefit amount under both programs. Applying both SSI and DI program rules to concurrent beneficiaries may make it difficult for them to make informed decisions about attempting work and could result in an increase or decrease in overall income, depending on the amount of earnings. Concurrent beneficiaries may not receive adequate explanations from SSA staff or published materials about the complete effect work has on their disability benefits. However, because the rules are complex and may be difficult to understand even with a detailed explanation, beneficiaries who do not understand them could possibly make decisions about work that would not meet their needs or improve their situation.