John in Kansas' post regarding SSI is pretty good, but there are some errors in his information.

The Supplemental Security Income , aka SSI, was established in 1974.

For adults, The definitions of aged, blind or disabled are legally identical for SSI and Social Security, and when applies for one, application is automatically made for the other. The only difference in the two programs for adults is that SSI is also "means tested." That makes the process for an adult (I don't know much about the process or eligibility for disabled children) applying for SSI disability every bit as difficult and delayed in terms of establishing disability as it is for Social Security Disability, but not more so. In fact, in most, perhaps all states, when an adult makes application for benefits based on disability, applications for both SSI and SSD are automatically and simultaneously generated and handled by the same agency.

None of which has anything to do with the issues around a requirement for a negative drug test in order to receive a welfare check.

Philosophies are great, and necessary. So is self-interest. But people, step outside of both and use your good brains.