Depending upon the circumstances you were receiving SSI under you may have to pay them back if you get a job and begin supporting yourself later.
At the ripe old age of 28 Rift hasn't worked long enough to put anything into the SS system in order to receive money from it, so if he can work now he needs to pay that money back.
Social assistance isn't free, that money comes out of the pocket of other people who are working. While I don't begrudge anybody for needing a hand in a bad situation if you get out of that situation you need to return what you used so others can use it.