Glossary

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S

Senior Community Service Employment Program:
Part of the One-Stop Career Center System, the program provides part-time positions to needy workers age 55 or older in a variety of community service activities, usually developed jointly by the worker and the program operator through an individual employment plan.
Source: Department of Labor

Serious Mental Illness:
As defined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, adults with a serious mental illness are persons: age 18 and over, who currently or at any time during the past year, have had a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder of sufficient duration to meet diagnostic criteria specified within DSM-III-R, that has resulted in functional impairment which substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities.
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Services:
Medical care and items such as medical diagnosis and treatment, drugs and biologicals, supplies, appliances, and equipment, medical social services, and use of hospital facilities.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Service Connected:
Refers to a VA decision that an illness or injury was incurred in or aggravated during active military service.
Source: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Severe Condition:
In order to be considered disabled under Social Security, a person must suffer a severe condition, which must interfere with basic work-related activities. If it does not interfere, the person is not considered disabled under Social Security.
Source: Social Security Administration

Social Security:
When an individual works, he or she pays ongoing taxes into this system, and upon retirement or disability the worker, his or her spouse and his or her dependent children receive monthly benefits based on the reported earnings. Also, the worker’s survivors can collect benefits if the worker dies.
Source: Social Security Administration

Social Security Administration (SSA):
The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers the Social Security programs (retirement, survivors, and disability), as well as the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. Social Security provides financial protection to more than 152 million workers and their families and more than 45 million Americans receive monthly Social Security retirement, disability or survivors’ benefits. The SSI program pays monthly benefits to more than 6.6 million Americans who have little or no resources and who are aged, blind, or disabled.
Source: Social Security Administration

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI):
Administered by the Social Security Administration, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) pays benefits to an individual and certain members of their family if they are “insured,” meaning that they have worked long enough (at least 10 years) and paid Social Security taxes.

In general, monthly cash benefits are paid to people who are unable to work for a year or more because of a disability. Benefits usually continue until the recipient is able to work again on a regular basis.
Source: Social Security Administration

Social Security Number (Social Security Card):
An individual’s first and continuous link with Social Security is his or her number. The nine-digit Social Security Number (SSN) helps to maintain an accurate record of each person’s wages or self-employment earnings that are covered under the Social Security Act and to monitor each person’s record once Social Security benefits start.
Source: Social Security Administration

Social Security Office:
The local Social Security office is the place where a person can apply for a Social Security number; check on his or her earnings record; apply for Social Security benefits, black lung benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and hospital insurance (Medicare) protection; enroll for medical insurance; receive assistance in applying for food stamps; and get full information about individual and family rights and obligations under the Social Security law. There is no charge for the services of the office staff.
Source: Social Security Administration

Specified Low-income Medicare Beneficiaries (SLMBs) without Other Medicaid (SLMB Only):
These individuals are entitled to Medicare Part A, and are not otherwise eligible for Medicaid. Medicaid pays their Medicare Part B premiums only. Federal financial participation (FFP) equals the Federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP).
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

SLMBs with Full Medicaid (SLMB Plus):
These individuals are entitled to Medicare Part A, and are eligible for full Medicaid benefits. Medicaid pays their Medicare Part B premiums and provides full Medicaid benefits. Federal financial participation (FFP) equals the Federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP).
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

SS-5:
The application used to obtain a Social Security number and card through the Social Security Administration or a replacement card.
Source: Social Security Administration

State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP):
The State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was created by Congress in 1997 and is funded by both the Federal government and the states. The program is designed to help states initiate and expand the provision of child health insurance to uninsured, low-income children. SCHIP covers approximately 4.6 million children nationwide. SCHIP is administered by the states, which have three options for providing SCHIP coverage. They can create separate SCHIP programs, expand eligibility for benefits under the state’s Medicaid plan or use both approaches in combination. SCHIP funds must be used to serve children below the age of 19 who are living in families with incomes at or below 200 percent of the Federal poverty level.

At the Federal level, SCHIP is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Subsidy:
A grant by a government to a private person or company to assist an enterprise deemed advantageous to the public.
Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2003

Substantial Work:
Work that involves significant physical or mental activity.
Source: Social Security Administration

Supplemental Security Income (SSI):
A Federal supplemental income program funded by general tax revenues (not Social Security taxes). It helps aged, blind, and disabled people, who have little or no income by providing monthly cash payments to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter.
Source: Social Security Administration