Social Security to Expand Access to SSI Program by Updating Definition of a Public Assistance Household
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: June 26, 2024
The Social Security Administration recently published a final rule, “Expand the Definition of a Public Assistance Household.” This final rule announces one of several updates to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) regulations that will help people receiving and applying for SSI. SSI provides monthly payments to adults and children with a disability or blindness, and to adults aged 65 and older. These benefits help pay for basic needs like rent, food, clothing, and medicine. People applying for and receiving SSI must meet eligibility requirements, including income and resource limits.
Under the final rule, beginning September 30, 2024, the agency will expand the definition of a public assistance household to include households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments and households where not all members receive public assistance. The expanded definition will allow more people to qualify for SSI, increase some SSI recipients’ payment amounts, and reduce reporting burdens for individuals living in public assistance households.
The revised rule also changes the definition of a public assistance household when determining who in a household receives public assistance. The new rule defines a public assistance household as one that has both an SSI applicant or recipient, and at least one other household member who receives one or more of the listed means-tested public income-maintenance (PIM) payments (the any other definition). The previous policy required all household members to receive public assistance. This change benefits SSI recipients living in households where only some members receive public assistance.
“I’m committed to making systemic changes to help people access the critical benefits they need, including SSI,” said Martin O’Malley, Commissioner of Social Security.
“By simplifying our policies and including an additional program geared towards low-income families, such as the SNAP, we are removing significant barriers to accessing SSI. These changes promote greater equity in our programs.”
SNAP is the first PIM benefit added to the agency’s public assistance household definition since it was established in 1980. This change helps ensure the agency’s policies better represent the current landscape of means-tested programs in the United States.
These changes are key because, if an applicant or recipient is determined to be living in a public assistance household, the agency assumes they are not receiving assistance from other household members that would otherwise be counted as income. This will allow more people to qualify for SSI and in some cases, receive a higher SSI payment.
This regulation update is one of several that Social Security is publishing to improve the SSI program. The agency recently announced it will exclude the value of food from SSI benefit calculations. The agency also recently announced it will expand its rental subsidy exception, currently only in place for SSI applicants and recipients residing in seven States, as a nationwide policy.
Social Security continuously examines programmatic policy and makes regulatory and sub-regulatory changes as appropriate.
For more information on the SSI program, including who is eligible and how to apply, visit Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
To read the final rule, visit Federal Register: Expand the Definition of a Public Assistance Household.
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Tags: Disability, General Information, SSI, supplemental security income
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Jeff
This is ridiculous and insane!
Handing out more FREEBIES to those who should not be getting them!
These people DON’T work and should never be allowed to get this stuff.
More Democratic Crap!
Chuck B.
I am 73 and have contributed to MY account sense age 17 on the promise that the money would be there when I retire. Never trust a political troll with a D or R as a title. !
Bonnie F.
I AGREE !!! There are so many people getting money from SS in forms of SSI (Welfare)…. and other forms of freebies…..lots of reforms need to be done!
Jeanette
Just in time to benefit all the illegals and
Screw the senior Americans that paid in!! Just another fraud to steal our funds
Mark H.
“These changes are key because, if an applicant or recipient is determined to be living in a public assistance household, the agency assumes they are not receiving assistance from other household members that would otherwise be counted as income. This will allow more people to qualify for SSI and in some cases, receive a higher SSI payment.“
This is troubling, if 10 wage earners classified as PIM living in the same household means everyone in the household can collect SSI because the total income will no longer be counted. Even if the SSI to each member is only $1000 that’s $10,000 monthly to the address plus SNAP. It will destroy the fund quicker.
MajJohn
None of what you are saying is true.
Martha P.
Seems like if you were born and worked in the US, but have fallen on hard time, if your white you will have an extremely hard time receiving any help or if you do you have to hire a lawyer; which is if you need help you can’t afford a lawyer! Stop handing out freebie to people are more than capably of working and taking care of themselves.
Chuck B.
The government lies. I have contributed sense 1968 because I believed the lie. This is the state of our once great American dream.
Doug
I guess this is another of Joe Bidens tactics to buy votes and to use the less fortunate to his advantage and place a larger burden to all those receiving benefits during retirement and further ruin SS. He forgets that SS is the recipient’s money and not the Government’s to be handed out. I paid into this account all my life and it is the Government who is obligated to protect
It
Deb M.
Probably since most illegals are getting SSI
Silverio
Do you have proof, that illegals are getting SSI, or are you only blabbering?
Chuck B.
Read the article, it does not talk openly about illegals. What it is saying is that new citizens who have never contributed a dime are eligible !!!
SJ
Thank you. So many ppl just want to claim illegals are getting everything and they just like you ask blabbering.
Malissa
In regards to SSI being made available for more people.
Could this be the reason SSA will runs out?
SSA for people that worked their whole life. SSI is not.
Why does this seem right?
MajJohn
SSI comes out of the general revenues and not any of the SS trust funds. It has zero to do w/ SSA funds running out.
Bonnie
Respectfully – I dont believe that……….where did you get your information from – I would need to read that section.
S.D.
Hi, Malissa. Thanks for reading our blog and for your questions. The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program makes monthly payments to people with disabilities, and people 65 or older, who have limited income and resources. SSI is financed by general funds of the U.S. Treasury. Social Security taxes collected under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) and the Self-Employed Contributions Act (SECA) help fund Social Security benefits, not SSI. To learn more about the differences between SSI and Social Security, visit our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
dan S.
I’m over 70, own a home in Fla. Insurance doubled, sole proprietor with failing business. Can’t afford house payment, insurance, electric, and food. Would I be eligible to apply?
Mark H.
Probably not because you’re collecting SS and you sound white.
MajJohn
Maybe if you meet the income/resource tests. Check with your local SSA office.
S.D.
We’re sorry to hear about your situation, Dan. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs-based program that makes payments to people 65 or older, or people with disabilities, who have little or no income and limited resources. The resource limit is $2,000. To find out if you might be able to get SSI in addition to your Social Security benefit, visit our Who can get SSI webpage. You may also want to check out our blog about Senior Nutrition Programs. We hope this helps.
Jami
There will be many people who scoff at this.
Have ready a copy of Representative Larson’s poster, showing Cook, Gates, Bezos, and others with the
admonition …they pay their Social Security Tax within minutes of any New Year. Scrap the cap.
Constance T.
When are benefits for Reg SS recalculated with continued employment? Read it is every 3 years. How can I request for the reevaluation to be performed. Have multiple years that are higher to replace lower years.
MajJohn
Last time I checked, the moneys’ still there and you should be drawing your benefits for some time.
MajJohn
Annual recomps around the end of September.
S.D.
Hi, Constance. Thanks for reading our blog and for your questions. If you work while receiving Social Security benefits, your monthly benefit amount could go up. Each year, we review the records of all working Social Security beneficiaries to find out if your additional earnings will increase your monthly benefits. If you’re due an increase, we’ll send you a letter with your new benefit amount. For more information, visit our Frequently Asked Questions and our Receiving Benefits While Working webpage. We hope this helps.
Lynn
How does retirement Social Security factor into this? If people have that but not work.
S.D.
Hi, Lynn. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs-based program that makes payments to people 65 and older, or people with disabilities, who have little or no income and limited resources. Income includes your monthly Social Security retirement benefit. The resource limit is $2,000 for an individual, $3,000 for a couple. To find out if you may be able to get SSI in addition to your Social Security benefit, visit our Who Can Get SSI webpage. If you have questions, you can call us 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. We hope this helps.
corey l.
This is a Very Good deed considering that some families are struggling with public assistance and providing extra public assistance household would be a great help thanks