The majority of the welfare recipients that are disabled and receiving federal benefits receive it through the Supplemental Security Income Program(SSI) which is NOT funded by Social Security. It is essentially a federal welfare program for the disabled who do not have the required coverage from having paid into the Social Security(SSA) System. It is administered through SSA but has a different funding source. None of the SSA insurance funds are used for the SSI program. Contrary to popular belief, being an addict or an alcoholic does not qualify you for the program. You must have other physical or mental problems in order to be eligible.
I know that this information is going to cause a hullabaloo, but I just wanted the information disseminated that the SSI and SSA programs are two distinctly different programs.
When you receive SSA disability, you become eligible for Medicare after 24 months. With the SSI program, you qualify for Medicaid, NOT Medicare, again from a different funding source.