Not long ago, the Social Security Administration (SSA) unveiled interesting information. Thousands of recipients of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program will not receive their regular benefits from the federal agency.
According to SSA data, more than 100,000 individuals nationwide were removed from the SSI rolls last year. In May 2023, 7,380,737 people received SSI payments, but by May 2024, that number had dropped to 7,261,342, marking a decrease of 119,395 beneficiaries.
Why has the number of SSI recipients dropped?
If you currently qualify for SSI benefits or are planning to apply for this Social Security program, it’s crucial to understand the reasons behind this decrease in beneficiaries.
Some of the reasons may be due to income changes, resource limits exceeded, living arrangements changed, not meeting all the requirements and conditions, or even going to jail or to a government-funded institution.
SSI benefits are typically available to blind adults, adults with a disability, seniors aged 65 or older, and children who have little or no income. This group forms the majority of SSI claimants, comprising about 6.1 million of the 7.2 million people on SSA’s payroll for these benefits. The remaining 1.1 million claimants are aged 65 and over.
Specifically, there was a noticeable decrease in the number of people with a disability or blind claimants no longer receiving the benefit. The total number fell by 140,034, from 6,281,068 in May 2023 to 6,141,034 in May 2024.
Interestingly, while there was a decline in people with a disability or blind claimants, the 65+ age group saw an increase of 20,639 beneficiaries, rising from 1,099,669 in May 2023 to 1,120,308 in May 2024.
If you are impacted by these changes or are considering applying for SSI benefits, staying informed about these trends can help you better understand the evolving landscape of SSI benefits. The recent decline in the number of blind or people with a disability receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits has left many puzzled.
Significant Decrease in SSI Applications and Beneficiaries
California, despite having the highest number of applications among all 50 states, saw a significant decrease. Between May 2023 and May 2024, there was a drop of 16,573 SSI applications.
Additionally, over 17,000 individuals who were receiving disability benefits became ineligible. This group primarily consisted of those classified as blind or disabled. The total number of beneficiaries in this category fell from 708,695 to 690,351.
State-by-State Analysis
Texas
In Texas, the number of SSI beneficiaries decreased by 14,587, from 591,710 in May 2023 to 577,123 in May 2024.
New York
New York also experienced a decline, with the number of SSI beneficiaries falling from 568,777 to 559,222.
Other States
Other states with high population densities reported similar declines in SSI claimants:
- North Dakota: A slight decrease from 7,923 beneficiaries last year to 7,906 this year, with almost all recipients being blind or disabled.
- Rhode Island: A minor variation, with the number of beneficiaries changing from 30,317 in 2023 to 30,015 in May 2024.
Understanding the Trends
While some states saw substantial reductions in the number of SSI claimants, others experienced only minor changes. The exact reasons behind these trends remain unclear, but the data highlights a notable shift in the landscape of SSI benefits across the United States.
As we continue to monitor these changes, it is crucial to understand the underlying factors affecting the eligibility and enrollment of blind or disabled individuals in SSI programs.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced significant updates to the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. These changes, unveiled last month, aim to streamline the disability determination process and expedite the claims evaluation.
What’s Changing in Disability Benefits?
The federal agency has updated the final rule to enhance the disability claims process and reduce the wait times for decisions. A key aspect of this new rule, which went into effect on June 22, 2024, simplifies the fourth step of the evaluation process. This step examines whether an applicant can perform any relevant work.
Key Updates in the Process
- Five-Year Lookback Period: Under the new rule, the SSA will only consider the applicant’s employment history from the past five years. This is a significant reduction from the previous requirement of providing information for the past 15 years.
- Short-Term Jobs Exclusion: Jobs that begin and end in less than 30 calendar days will no longer be considered relevant. This change aims to simplify the process and avoid complications arising from short-term employment details.
Previously, individuals had to provide extensive information about their employment history over the last 15 years. This often made the application process cumbersome and resulted in inaccurate or incomplete reporting. The new regulation addresses these issues by allowing applicants to focus on their most recent relevant job activity.
As the SSA stated, “The new regulation makes it easier for people to apply for benefits since they may focus on their most recent relevant job activity while still providing enough information to make accurate evaluations.”
These changes are designed to make the process more efficient and user-friendly, ensuring that applicants can provide the necessary information without unnecessary hurdles. By focusing on the most recent work history, the SSA aims to make more accurate determinations, ultimately benefiting those who rely on SSDI and SSI benefits.