In 1972, Congress enacted the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program to ensure that disabled and blind individuals, as well as low-income elderly persons, would have a minimum level of income. The program replaced several existing programs that were funded through federal grants-in-aid to the states. The need for SSI arose from the fact that many disabled and elderly persons were living in poverty despite the fact that they were eligible for Social Security benefits. What is the Supplemental Security Income?Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, is a program that provides financial assistan…