Social Security to Expand SSI Rental Subsidy Policy – Agency Continues to Remove Barriers to Accessing SSI Payments
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: April 18, 2024
Last Thursday, the Social Security Administration published a final rule, “Expansion of the Rental Subsidy Policy for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Applicants and Recipients.” This rule provides the second of several updates to the agency’s SSI regulations that will help people receiving and applying for SSI.
“Our mission is to continue to help people access crucial benefits, including SSI,” said Martin O’Malley, Commissioner of Social Security.
“Simplifying and expanding our rental subsidy policy nationwide is another common-sense solution that will improve program equality and will reduce agency time spent calculating and administering rental subsidy.”
SSI provides monthly payments to adults and children with a disability or blindness, and to adults aged 65 and older, who have limited income and resources. SSI benefits can 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 its SSI rental subsidy policy, which due to judicial decisions is currently only in place for SSI applicants and recipients residing in 7 states (Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Texas, Vermont, and Wisconsin). In those states, rental assistance, such as renting at a discounted rate, was less likely to affect a person’s SSI eligibility or payment amount. This new rule extends the same advantageous policy to all SSI applicants and recipients nationwide. This may increase the payment amount some people are eligible to receive and will allow more people to qualify for critical SSI payments.
The agency continuously examines programmatic policies and makes regulatory and sub-regulatory changes as appropriate. Look for more announcements in the coming weeks.
For more information on the SSI program, including who is eligible and how to apply, visit Supplemental Security Income (SSI) | SSA.
To read the final rule “Expansion of the Rental Subsidy Policy for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Applicants and Recipients,” visit Federal Register: Expansion of the Rental Subsidy Policy for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Applicants and Recipients.
The final rule expanding the rental subsidy policy is another announcement that removes barriers to accessing SSI payments. Learn about “Omitting Food from In-Kind Support and Maintenance (ISM) Calculations.”
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William S.
It would help Sr’s if the asset amount could be raised from $2,000.00 to $5,000.00. As inflation has taken a toll on investments allowed.
Sonja
In 2015, i was living w/ my mother who passed away a month before, i became eligible for ssi & because i had no landlord to pay rent to, the “free” home was deemed “in kind support” & my benefits reduced. You can’t live anywhere for free. I have to pay utilities insurance, taxes & maintenance. That’s just the house. Now add food,car insurance, phone bill etc. There’s no way. Receiving $300 less a month is devastating & discouraging. I’ve never been able to pay the taxes. So the arrears since 2015, are over $15k. I couldn’t keep up the homeowners insurance & the house was severely damaged in the Tx freeze. I couldn’t afford to pay anyone to fix anything accept the pipes & mold took over. I have nowhere else to live & after 3yrs of living in toxic mold, i have an oxygen tank because i have fungal aspergillus balls in my lungs. I’ve lost most of my hearing , sight balance & live w/constant brain fog. I can’t remember much if i don’t write it down. I paid a handyman to replace some sheetrock & he covered up hot wires in the walls & ceiling where there used to be gfci plugs & smoke alarms that beginning last year caused most of my plugs to short out. I have no lights that work. The plug to my stove went out & my refrigerator is plugged into a 50ft ext cord running to the back of the house because i only have a couple outlets that still work. I got a free estimate from an electrician, that’s impossible to pay but even worse he told me the loose hot wires will cause a fire. So now i can’t sleep, for fear of a fire. This maybe half of my problems. Can anyone tell me what i have to do to get the maximum amount of ssi? I truly need it. The house isn’t habitable & it’s killing me. In feb,i was diagnosed with MS. My moms will was never probated so I’ve no clue what’s going to happen to the house. My family hates me because i live in but can’t take care of it. I can’t rent anywhere because $600 a month isn’t enough money to rent anything. I’m so lost. I’m a 57 yr old female w/so many health problems & I’m alone in this world. Any advice is bet much appreciated. Thanks & may God bless you all
T.Y.
We’re sorry to hear about your situation, Sonja. For your security, we do not have access to personal information in this venue. We encourage you to work with your local Social Security office with specific questions about your case. You can also call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. We hope this helps.
Kyla H.
This assistance is greatly needed by many. Thank you for this information and could you supply the directions to apply for this program?
T.Y.
Hi, Kyla. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. To learn how to apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), visit Supplemental Security Income (SSI) | SSA. We hope this information is helpful.
Bryant
Hi, it’s all over the Internet about SSI/ssdi getting 1000 for rental assistance. Is this true & if so how can I apply?
T.Y.
Hi, Bryant. Thanks for reading our blog and for your comment. We do not provide rental assistance. You may be able to receive social services, including housing assistance, from the state in which you live. To learn about services in your community and to find out if you are eligible, you can contact your state or local social services agency or welfare office. For other resources, check out our recent blog: How Connecting to Benefits Programs Can Save You Money. We hope this helps.
Mam
When will the SSI Restoration Act 2024 be finally passed
S.D.
Hi, Mam. Thanks for reading our blog and for your questions. It’s up to Congress to pass any legislation to make changes to the Social Security Act. We hope this helps.
MARK A.
I REALLY NEED SOME HELP FOR A APARMENT AND WAS SUPPOSED TO GET DISABITY . WHAT STEPS NEED TO TAKE
S.S.
Hi, Mark. Thanks for reading our blog and for your questions. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs-based program that makes payments to adults and children with disabilities, and people 65 and older, who have limited income and resources. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are based on a worker’s earnings. Both SSI and SSDI are federal programs, and eligibility rules are the same in every state. To learn more about the differences between the two programs, visit our Frequently Asked Questions. If you still have questions, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. We hope this helps.
Miry S.
I want to clarify the age is 65 or more? It is only for the blind and disabled? What if the person was disable already 76 or 91 years old, He or she is not qualified anymore for SSI because he or she is more than 65 years old already? Is old age and has a pacemaker, or has liver transplant will not qualify for Supplemental Security Income? Only the blind and disabled are qualified to received Supplemental Security Income? How about illness, not considered disabled?
S.S.
Hi, Miry. Thanks for reading our blog and for your questions. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs-based program that makes payments to people 65 or older, and people with disabilities, who have limited resources and little or no income. The SSI resource limit is $2,000 for an individual, $3,000 for a couple. Some resources are excluded, including their home and vehicle. Income includes wages, Social Security benefits, unemployment, and pensions. We don’t count all income.
If a person lives alone, and has resources worth less than $2,000, and their only income is your monthly Social Security benefit, they may be eligible for both SSI and Social Security – commonly referred to as “concurrent” benefits. To be eligible for both, their 2024 monthly Social Security benefit should be less than $963. That’s the SSI monthly Federal payment rate for an individual plus $20. Generally, the more income they have, the less your SSI payment will be. You’ll find more details in our publication, What You Need to Know When You Get Supplemental Security Income. If you have questions or want to schedule an appointment to apply for SSI, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. We hope this helps.
Mary H.
It is time for SSA to look over the Ticket to Work program. Many disabled and non-disabled citizens believe once you are declared medically disabled which means you can no longer work to earn a substantial gainful income, how is it that weeks or months later through Maximus’s rule you can become employed, keep your check and make an earned income, while Maximus employees earn large incomes to find you a job? This is a practice that needs to STOP! You are either too disabled to work or you are not! Let those new high school and college grads get those jobs without competing with disabled 8850s!
Mack
For those of us in the program, we may be working for a few months and then realize we aren’t able to do “that” job. Or we get let go because of our disability.
So just because you see someone working that may still be collecting SSDI, they may not be able to continue working long term. It’s a trial period and we are required to send our payslip in for verification.
Myself, I am hoping to be able to find a job that understands my disability and is willing to make accommodations for me. Otherwise I have been unable to keep a job longer than 4-5 months because the company doesn’t want to deal with it.
Before you pop-off about a program that is giving me the opportunity to maybe get back to work, get all the information so you don’t ruin the chance for someone to get back out there.
P
PLEASE CHANGE SSI COUPLES. IT TAKES TOO MANY RESOURCES TO WORK AN SSI COUPLES CASE. SEPARATE THESE CASES AND PAY EVERYONE AS A “DISABLED INDIVIDUAL” THERE ARE SO MANY PAYMENTS ERRORS FROM SSI COUPLES CASES AND IF THIS WAS ELIMINATED THE AGENCY WOULD SAVE SO MUCH MONEY. THANK YOU.
S.D.
Thanks for reading and blog and for your comments. You can submit your feedback by visiting our How can we help? page. From there, select the “Email Us” link. This will take you to the “Email Our Support Team” form where you can submit your suggestion, compliment, or complaint. Thank you!
Ray n.
I want to sigh up for the rental subsidy I’m currently on ssi
S.D.
Hi, Ray. Thanks for reading our blog and for your comment. You may be able to receive social services, including housing assistance, from the state in which you live. To learn about services in your community and to find out if you are eligible, you can contact your state or local social services agency or welfare office. For other resources, check out our recent blog: How Connecting to Benefits Programs Can Save You Money. We hope this helps.
Deja
i’m assuming either the comment section it’s not being moderated or the moderator is MIA!