Many low-income seniors, and people with disabilities, are you are eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) this fall.
The federal government recently announced changes to SSI regulations that went into effect on September 30. These changes are expected to result in more people being eligible for benefits, and in some cases larger benefits, while reducing the amount of information applicants and recipients must report.
The following is a quick look at how the current SSI system works, followed by how it changed at the end of September.
How Supplemental Security Income works
The Supplemental Security Income program, although not the same as traditional Social Security benefits, is also administered by the Social Security Administration.
“SSI provides monthly payments to adults and children who are disabled or blind, and to adults age 65 and older,” the federal agency said. “These benefits help cover essential needs such as rent, food, clothing and medicine.”
In general, you must also have limited financial resources and make less than $1,971 at work each month to qualify, but many other factors play a role – such as income from disability benefits, unemployment or pensions.
Most people receiving SSI benefits – 70% of them – live in households with household incomes of less than $30,000, including income from welfare benefits.
1. Eligibility will increase
Under one of the new laws, the definition of “public assistance housing” has been expanded to include people who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits – more commonly known as food stamps. This will make more people eligible for Supplemental Security Income.
Additionally, a requirement that may have prevented large households, including multigenerational ones, from qualifying for SSI was removed.
“The previous policy required all family members to receive public assistance,” the Social Security Administration said. “This change benefits SSI recipients who live in households where only certain members receive public assistance.”
Under the new law, the agency will assume that applicants for public assistance housing are not receiving financial assistance from friends or family they live with.
“This will allow more people to qualify for SSI and in some cases, receive higher SSI payments,” according to the agency.
2. Food aid will no longer count as income
Under one new law effective September 30, food aid is no longer counted as income for the purposes of calculating what the government calls “in-kind support and maintenance (ISM) statistics.”
ISM calculations can affect a person’s eligibility for Supplemental Security Income or reduce the amount of their benefit payments.
Therefore, now that the amount of food is no longer counted as ISM, people applying for SSI will no longer be penalized for receiving informal food assistance from friends, relatives or their community. They will also not be required to report that information.
3. Rental assistance will affect eligibility for SSI and minimum benefits
Another law that went into effect Sept. 30 expanded the policy currently available in seven states — Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Texas, Vermont and Wisconsin — nationwide. The policy changes the way the government assesses rental assistance such as rent subsidies.
In those seven states that already have this policy in place, employers’ residency programs are unlikely to affect their SSI eligibility or the amount of SSI benefits they receive.
“This new law extends the same benefit policy to all SSI applicants and recipients nationwide,” the Social Security Administration said. “This may increase the amount of payments some people are eligible for and will allow more people to qualify for critical SSI payments.”
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