The social security benefits and SSI programs have many things in common. The first thing is that both of these programs pay the benefits on a monthly basis. Secondly, the medical standards for disability are quite similar in both Social Security SSI and benefits programs for applicants of age 18 or older.

However there is a separate definition of disability under the SSI program in case of children from birth to the age of 18.

Both of these federal income supplement programs are administered by the Social Security Department of the Federal Government.