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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Joyce B.
My adult daughter is on SSI and is her own household, she rents a room from me and pay’s her fair share of expenses. They opened housing choice vouchers in our county-if she receives a voucher and her rent goes down will her SSI go down?
Quacy M.
i have a great plan to save only americans and no immigrants. only homeless americans and is use their social security money to pay for them for rental at a hotel for housing or home, apartments for life or a lifetime
Quacy M.
write this in the law please it to help all citizen americans only. please and thank you
Quacy M.
i have a great plan to save only americans and no immigrants. only homeless americans and is use their social secuity money to pay for them for rental at a hotel for housing or home, apartments for life or a life time
Suzanne B.
So , I recieve ssdi I get my check on the third of the month its only for $925.00 I pay $700.00 rent and gas and electric I have no money it takes my entire che k for my bills , so I was wondering how I get rental assistance, I live in st. Louis Missouri. So I am wondering did I read this right or wrong so if u get help with rent from this program and u recieve 900.00 and ur rent is 800.00 they will pay 400 of the rent but then ur check will only be 600 if I read this correctly. Then I dont understand how they are helping because they just taking it out of ur check instead of u paying the rent ur paying them to help u. Or do they pay the 400 and u don’t get your check touched. I have no clue im totally confused … I really hope I read it wring bc I could really use help but I cant afford for anyone to take any of my chevk
S.S.
Hi Suzanne. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. You may be able to receive rental assistance from the state in which you live. To learn about other benefits programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), check out our recent blog: How Connecting to Benefits Programs Can Save You Money. We hope this helps.
Mr. F.
A few months back, I found this site offering rental assistance of $1000. Now it’s gone!!! Where did it go!!!???
Debra J.
My son receives SSD of $857 per month. He did get $107 in SSI, but not anymore. He has new landlords that raised the rent from $650 to $975. We looked around for 2 months trying to find a lower priced apartment and had no luck. Actually, most of the places were even higher. Since he had to give them an answer whether he was continuing with the lease, we had no choice but to say ‘yes’. In order for him to continue living there, I, in good faith helped him with $200 toward his rent to keep him from living on the street. He has lost his SSI, which now makes it even more difficult to pay his rent and other expenses. How can SS consider help from a parent as income so their child doesn’t have to be homeless. Also, SS wants repayment of nearly $1200 for the months I’ve been helping him to keep his apartment. I’m appealing their decision but It’s likely a lost cause. Does anyone have any experience with this issue? I’m tired of being screwed over by SS. I’d appreciate any advice or suggestions with this issue.
So tired of being screwed over by SS.
MN
If you gave him the money directly then it’s considered income if you paid the landlord directly it’s considered third-party payment that may make a difference.
Kathy M.
I really can’t believe there taking people checks away how are us poor people going to make it we depend on those checks . everyone will be moving to the streets because they can’t make there bills.we will be digging in the trash while everyone else with money is eating steaks is that fair?
Scott c.
I didn’t see it say there taking away checks,if your 65 you get help with rent food and electric,it also mentioned they were going to configure the rent food and electric in to the monthly checks,I get SSD per month and the rent has gone way up just under half my check,so I watch it carfull,there’s agency’s out there today that will get you a place to live depending on your monthly check amt.one person I know pays 250.00 per month for a nice 2 bedroom apt,him and his cousin,so those people are out there,you just have to check in your area,I’m checking into it now,rent and food never had to go this high,and then to have company’s close early at night-very strange.
Jeremy A.
How can I get help with rent…And I’m on ssi
Timothy S.
Need help my rent on ssi
S.D.
Hi, Timothy. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. You may be able to receive rental 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, including BenefitsCheckUp, you may want to read our blog, How Connecting to Benefits Programs Can Save You Money. We hope this helps.
Gerry
Geez l am begging l need a place to live anywhere l have pancreatitis an living on the street sucks HELP 623-225-3735
S.D.
We are sorry to hear about your situation, Gerry. You may be eligible to receive social services from the state in which you live. These services may include housing, Medicaid, free meals, transportation or help with other concerns. To get information about services in your area for people experiencing homelessness and to find out if you qualify, you can contact your state or local social services or welfare office.
If you are not receiving benefits, we pay disability benefits through two programs: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). SSI is a needs-based program that provides payments to adults and children with disabilities or blindness, and people 65 and older, who have limited income and resources. SSDI is based on a worker’s earnings, not need. To be found disabled, you must be unable to work because of a physical or mental condition that is expected to last at least 1 year or to end in death. For more information, visit Apply for Social Security benefits. Or you can contact your local Social Security office. To find someone who may be able to help you, visit our webpage, People Experiencing Homelessness & Their Service Providers. We hope this helps.
S.S.
Hi Jeremy. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. You may be able to receive rental assistance from the state in which you live. To learn about other benefits programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), check out our recent blog: How Connecting to Benefits Programs Can Save You Money. We hope this helps.
Gerry C.
How an who do l contact
Scott c.
So your 65,if so look for agency’s in your area,if there are free meal places near you or churches,that give food boxes,then people from these agency’s are usually hanging out there,or punch in rent dependant on SSI amount,in your zip code,there around,they exist,check it out!
COREY B.
I am 34 years old battling cancer when I got approved for my SSI benefits last year I was living with my brother therefore my benefit amount monthly was determined by the fact that I had no rent or utilities basically living expenses since then I have moved into my own house and now I paid rent monthly and I pay all of the utilities how do I request that the social Security administration review and redetermine how much I receive each month based on the increase in my living expenses and does this article affect me?
S.S.
Hi Corey, thank you for using our blog. For security reasons, we do not have access to personal information in this venue. It may be best for you to visit your local Social Security office to discuss your SSI benefits. You’ll find more details in our publication, What You Need to Know When You Get Supplemental Security Income. Hope this helps!
Nghia T.
applying for SSI to pay for the Rent and Foods
Nghia T.
applying for SSI to pay for the Rent and Foods
Ronald J.
I’m disabled and wife and I are homeless and tired is there any help my god please
S.D.
We are sorry to hear about your situation, Ronald. We pay disability benefits through two programs: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). SSI is a needs-based program that provides payments to adults and children with disabilities or blindness, and people 65 and older, who have limited income and resources. SSDI is based on a worker’s earnings, not need. To be found disabled, you must be unable to work because of a physical or mental condition that is expected to last at least 1 year or to end in death. For more information, visit Apply for Social Security benefits. Or you can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., to schedule an appointment. You can learn more at our webpage, People Experiencing Homelessness & Service Providers.
In addition, you may be eligible to receive social services from the state in which you live. These services may include Medicaid, free meals, transportation or help with other concerns. To get information about services in your area for people experiencing homelessness and to find out if you qualify, you will need to contact your state or local social services or welfare office. We hope this helps.