More low-income seniors and people with disabilities Be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) this fall.
The federal government recently declare Changes to SSI regulations take effect on September 30. amount of information.
Here’s how the SSI program works now, and what’s changing at the end of September.
How Supplemental Security Income works
The Supplemental Security Income program, although different from traditional Social Security benefits, is also administered by the Social Security Administration.
“SSI provides monthly payments to adults and children with disabilities or blindness and to adults age 65 and older,” the federal agency said. “These benefits help pay for basic needs such as rent, food, clothing and medicine.”
Generally speaking, you must also have some financial resources Work for less than $1,971 per month Qualifybut there are many other factors to consider – such as income from disability benefits, unemployment or pensions.
Most recipients of SSI benefits (70% of them) live in households with incomes of Under $30,000including assistance welfare income.
1. The scope of qualifications will be expanded
below one Under the new rules, the definition of “public assistance household” has been expanded to include people who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits — widely known as food stamps. This would make more people eligible for Supplemental Security Income.
Additionally, requirements that could prevent large families, including multi-generational families, from qualifying for SSI are eliminated.
"Previous policy required all family members to receive public assistance," The Social Security Administration says. “This change benefits SSI recipients who live in households where only some members receive public assistance.”
Under the new rules, the agency will assume that applicants from public assistance households do not receive financial aid from friends or family members who live with them.
“This will allow more people to qualify for SSI and, in some cases, receive higher SSI payments,” the agency said.
2. Food aid no longer counts as income
under another new rules The bill, which takes effect on September 30, will no longer count food aid as income when calculating what the government calls its “in-kind support and maintenance (ISM) calculation.”
ISM calculations may affect a person’s eligibility for Supplemental Security Income or reduce their benefit amount.
Therefore, now that the value of food no longer counts toward ISM, people applying for SSI will no longer be potentially penalized for receiving informal food assistance from friends, relatives, or the community. They also don’t have to report that information.
3. Rental assistance has less impact on SSI eligibility and benefits
one Other rules The policy, which takes effect on September 30, expands the policy currently offered in seven states: Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Texas, Vermont and Wisconsin to the entire country. The policy changes how the government evaluates rental assistance such as rent subsidies.
In the seven states that have enacted this policy, renters’ living arrangements are unlikely to affect their SSI eligibility or the amount of SSI benefits they receive.
“This new provision extends the same benefits to all SSI applicants and beneficiaries nationwide,” the Social Security Administration said. “This may increase the payment amount some people are eligible to receive and make more people eligible. Critical SSI Payments.”
