Question

How does the United States financially support people with disabilities who want to live independently?

- By providing a Supplemental Security Income as long as the person has no other means of support
- By requiring businesses to hire one disabled person for every twenty five workers employed
- By providing cash benethts regardless of thei hranciai resources
- By providing benefit's based on the financial resources of tho recipients

Answer 1

The U.S. supports individuals with disabilities through means-tested programs like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for those with limited income and resources, as well as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), which is based on prior earnings.

Step-by-step explanation:

Support for Independent Living of People with Disabilities in the United States

The United States offers financial support to individuals with disabilities through various social security programs, primarily aimed at enabling them to live independently. One key program is the Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which provides additional income to disabled adults or children who have limited income and resources. This program is tailored to individuals who have a disability that is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. Furthermore, benefits are means-tested, meaning they are available to those who fall below a certain income threshold.

Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, also provides monetary assistance to qualified workers who are incapable of working due to a disability. SSDI benefits are calculated based on the disabled person's previous earnings and contribution to the Social Security fund through payroll taxes. Other government programs that assist individuals with disabilities include Medicare and Medicaid, as well as various housing assistance programs, unemployment insurance, and the SNAP food assistance program.

To give context to the importance of these programs, the Social Security system is a major source of income for the elderly and disabled, accounting for a significant portion of federal spending. Close to half of the retired population depends on Social Security benefits for their livelihood, with the program notably reducing the rate of elderly poverty from 35.2% in 1959 to 10.2% today.

By providing these benefits based on financial needs and resources, these programs help maintain the dignity of individuals with disabilities and empower them to contribute to society to the best of their abilities, while also safeguarding against the risks associated with a lack of income due to disability.