In September, the Social Security Administration will introduce significant changes to its Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, impacting approximately 7 million beneficiaries. Unlike retirement benefits, which often receive the most attention, SSI is specifically designed to provide support to low-income individuals over the age of 65, people with disabilities, and children facing economic hardships.
The upcoming changes, which include new definitions and adjustments to eligibility policies, aim to expand access to these crucial benefits. However, under the new regulations, this requirement will change: it will only be necessary for one member of the household to be an SSI recipient, with at least one other person in the household receiving some form of means-tested public assistance.
New rules in Social Security: how they will impact beneficiaries
One of the most significant adjustments to the SSI program is the redefinition of what qualifies as a public assistance household. Previously, for a household to be eligible for SSI benefits, all members needed to be receiving some form of public assistance.
This new definition will also incorporate the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as part of the recognized public assistance within the household. This change is expected to enable more families to qualify for SSI benefits, especially those where not all household members are receiving public assistance.
Overall, this adjustment is anticipated to simplify the process of accessing SSI payments and provide support to a greater number of individuals in need.
Review of food assistance: what is changing
Another key change involves how food assistance is accounted for in the SSI program. Under previous rules, food assistance was classified as “in-kind support and maintenance” (ISM), meaning it was counted as unearned income. This classification often resulted in a reduction in the amount of SSI benefits a person could receive since food assistance was treated as an additional income source.
With the new rules, the Social Security Administration will no longer include food assistance in the eligibility calculation for SSI. This could lead to an increase in payments for beneficiaries who previously experienced reduced benefits due to the consideration of food assistance as income.
The change has been implemented in response to concerns that the prior policy discouraged families from providing support to their relatives, as doing so could reduce the amount of SSI benefits.
Expansion of the rental subsidy policy
The third major modification the Social Security Administration will implement this September pertains to the rental subsidy policy. Previously, receiving assistance with rent, such as renting at a reduced rate, could impact SSI eligibility and reduce the amount of payments. However, this policy was only enforced in certain states, including Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Texas, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
With the new regulations, the rental subsidy policy will be expanded on a federal level. This means that all states will apply the same criteria, which could increase the number of people eligible for SSI and potentially raise the benefits for those already receiving them. The expansion aims to ensure that SSI beneficiaries across the country receive fair treatment, regardless of where they reside.
Preparing for the Social Security changes
As these changes are set to take effect soon, it is important for current SSI beneficiaries and those who may become eligible to review their situation to understand how they will be impacted. Some individuals who were previously ineligible may find that they now qualify under the new rules, while those already receiving benefits might see an increase in their monthly payments.
If you think you might be eligible for SSI under the new guidelines, it is advisable to contact the Social Security Administration as soon as possible to gather more information. Additionally, if you are already an SSI beneficiary, it’s important to review any changes in your circumstances, such as income or household composition, that could affect your benefits.