The Social Security Administration wants to make sure Marylanders know about the Supplemental Security Income program. Supplemental Security Income or S-S-I is a federal assistance program providing financial support to individuals with limited income and resources who are elderly, blind, or disabled, including children. Abigail Zapote with the Social Security Administration says the pandemic impacted S-S-I applications.

"Since the pandemic we've noted at the agency that there has been a great decline in SSI applications in underserved communities. "

S-S-A reports there are over 117-thousand Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries in Maryland with over 17-thousand children receiving benefits. Researchers at Boston College published a report in March which found a 30-percent decline in child S-S-I applications after the onset of the pandemic.

What is commonly known as Social Security includes old-age, survivors, and disability insurance. In Maryland over 31-thousand people are receiving both S-S-I and an additional social security benefit. While the standard social security benefit is available to most retirees, some recipients may only qualify for partial benefits and may still fall below the federal poverty line. Zapote says some people on social security also qualify for S-S-I.

"For folks that might not be receiving their full retirement benefits, because they might have been a contractor, might be a caregiver, and might not have completed their 40 full credits to receive full retirement benefits. They definitely might be eligible for SSI, if the amount that they're receiving is still leaving them under the federal poverty line. "

More info on Supplemental Security Income can be found at ssa.gov/ssi.