How many people in rural Arkansas have never worked and paid FICA? Or whose spouse never worked and paid FICA? (W-2, 1099, or self employed.)
They do not qualify for Social Security and get SSI (which is NOT part of Social Security)?
Mostly immigrants I guess?
To wit, prior to the 1996 welfare reforms "noncitizen use of Supplemental Security Income (cash welfare for the aged and [the] disabled [who are NOT eligible for SDI]) rose by 80 percent between 1990 and 1995." That was in large part elderly reuniting with their children here in the U.S.
SSI is not part of SS and SDI though some states used to supplement SS and SDI with SSI payments.
Different problems require different fixes.
"In 2008, noncitizens accounted for 26.9% of all aged SSI recipients, down from a high of 31.8% in 1995. Noncitizens accounted for 5.3% of disabled (or blind) recipients in 2008, down from 6.3% in 1995."
The discussion in the PDF document is for much more than just SSI. Once again SSI is NOT Social Security and SSI is NOT SDI. Different problems require different fixes.
Disabled getting SSI are not eligible to apply for SDI* -- no matter how poorly funded, run or not even should be needed workers pay at least something for SDI along with SS payments (FICA). *Note some states used to supplement SDI with some SSI funds.
SSI requires nothing, until the 1996 reforms people moved their elderly relatives here and signed 'em up for SSI and the myriad other benefits the elderly can get for the asking no matter what language does the asking.
As you can see from the numbers it is still happening but to a lesser extent -- it appears.
Let's just say these are people who didn't draw many paychecks. That's not to say they never work for money.
Mostly immigrants I guess?
No, actually I don't recall an adult immigrant drawing SSI. Food stamps, medicare, and other benefits out the wazoo, but not SSI. Probably don't want to file any thing with "Tio Sam."
I've seen a few immigrant children that draw SSI.