This NPR podcast episode delves into the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, a crucial safety net for disabled and low-income individuals in the U.S. Although designed to provide support, the program's outdated rules and low asset limits—set at $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples since 1989—keep recipients trapped in poverty. Its rigid structure makes it difficult for them to save, work, or even marry without the fear of losing their benefits. This situation underscores the urgent need for Congressional reform to modernize these outdated regulations.
