rescueme
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Folks keep on mixing terms/programs (good catch!).Supplemental Security Income is a program for the needy. One does not ever have to pay 1 cent into it, in order to receive it.
There are three programs - SS (normal), SSD (Social Security Disability, which you get if you were paying SS but become unable to work), and SSI (which unlike SS/SSD is administered by the individual state, along with different eligibility rules; however it is partially funded by the federal government). As stated, you need no income nor ever have to pay into SS to receive SSI benefits (based upon indivudial state qualification/rules).
My son receives SSD, based upon his SS payments before he was declared totally disabled. However, working in a sheltered workshop, he still pays SS on his (very little) earnings. Sort of like he's "paying himself", but that's the way it is...