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.”
Did you find this Information helpful?
About the Author
Comments
Comments are closed.
The S.
I get about $950 each month and my bills (rent,utilities,phone,credit cards that I have to charge/use to pay whatever remaining of the stated bills once I’ve used all my income which all together are still after consolidating around $1100 each month so I’m using my credit card for the remaining $150 I don’t have and that doesn’t include any hygiene or cleaning products or gas for my car or any other spending other than just necessities (bills).. So how the Hell is anyone like me supposed to pay all our bills and not go into complete debt maxing out credit cards due to the fact I only pay the minimum payment each month which believe me adds up real quick and my credit is getting worse and worse every month.. Forget buying another vehicle if my current one which is 20yrs old already w/problems I can’t afford to fix, not even afford regular maintenance which is as important to prevent it from completely breaking down.. So I really wish someone could explain how my supplemental Income (SSI) is actually supplementing.. What is it exactly supplementing cuz it sure the Hell isn’t even close to being adequate income
Frances W.
I get $943, my rent is $600and I get $67 in food stamps and I still have to spend over $200 for groceries and that doesn’t even count on my medicine 💊 that I have to pay for. When do we get a break in the prices of food.
Cheryl K.
I’m a 58 year old Disabled woman who has ADHA, severe Back and Neck pain. I live in pain every day of my life. I live on SSI, my State gives me $83.78 a month and SSI $939 a month. Not much to live on, with bills, rent, utilities etc. I can’t afford clothes. Fix my my Truck when needed, it’s my only transportation. Etc. Can’t afford to eat properly with the cost of food going up. So, really??? SSA WHAT IS THE TRUTH? How are you really going to HELP ME???
Antronette
I’m living with someone and have to help out with the light bill water bill which is about 400. Amonth with both bill.
Maria H.
With the cost of living going up and rent as well as food and clothes too and if your disabled and between both checks you receive from SSI and SSDI that add up to 936.00a month it don’t amount to anything much after you pay your bills and buy food and your personal hygiene products and household products you need and not counting shoes to wear. It’s heart breaking for some of us it’s just bad .I believe with the cost of everything going sky high the checks we receive every month should go up more then they do . People on Hud there vouchers she cover the cost of living and not have you at a low cost and the houses and apartments starting at $1000.00 and up …it’s just a shame …
Debra
I’m struggling with food and cleaning supplies and pet food for My cat, after rent and medication I may have 30.00 left out of my check, I have been told that I m 135% below poverty level
This i.
I’m barely getting by I am struggling so much I’m on SSDI I’m about to be on the street I live in Florida palmetto Florida I need a place to live I can’t find a place to live that I can afford I need help severely I can’t find help I’ve gone to every agency available in my state and I can’t get no help what do I do please help me
Montoya H.
Cost of food went up and everything went up so struggling on food with cancer, struggling on cleaning supplies without stealing… like come on now
Evonne W.
Still working at 74 domestic partner is disabled with heart condition at 76there is no help because I still work seniors are always left behind
Pamela b.
I cannot pay my rent. I’m bout to be evicted. What am I supposed to do? I only get SSI. My son has died. He was an adult. He was 28 years old and I’m not able to work at all because I have ADHD. I just don’t know what to do, and I’m scared because I can’t make my payment of rent
Troubled
I receive 926.00 on SSDI, 36.00 on SSI. My rent is 700.00 a month. I have a roommate who pays utilities, provides auto, auto upkeep, insurance and non food stamp items in the house. I get SNAP and medicaid. Do I qualify for any additional SSI? I cannot afford clothes or basic necessities. This is getting ridiculous.
Sheila K.
I am going through the same thing. How is this new information helpful to us who cannot afford anything after we pay rent? Will they increase out SSI more than 3% in January, when everything is going up at least 10%> I just don’t know how much longer I can live like this. It’s very disheartening..
Ruth
I’m moving into a more expensive apartment. Will my SSI increase
Some. B.
Are you kidding?? You are joking right?? We barely get by, and you want a upgrade.
S.S.
Hi Ruth. The amount of an SSI monthly benefit is based on the income, resources and living arrangements available to the person who receives SSI. To learn how and what type of income can affect the amount of SSI payments, visit here. For specific questions about how income may affect your SSI beneifts, please call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Stephen J.
To no surprise, democrats, who are always proclaiming to be the most concerned for humanity, to this day refuse to revise parts of the SSI. The system hasn’t been revised since either 1987 or ’88. For one, you’re not allowed to have more than $3,000 in a bank account. You’re not allowed to save more than this “regardless of need.” Let’s just say, you have an elderly parent (well over 80). You you have to make purchases for her because she’s no longer able to. You put these charges on your credit card. She gives you the money to pay off her charges on your credit card. Needless to say, all you’re doing is using the money to pay off her charges. Just don’t tell this the Social Security because they don’t want to hear it. They are only concerned with “I think, I feel and thats good enough for me” as if they are personally or professionally affected by it. So for the moment, you have over $3000 but “only” to the next billing cycle. This fact to them irrelevant. Since you now have over $3000, you will lose one month of SSI. This is just tip of the iceberg of things that I can mention. Their comments are cheap and deviant!
Francis
Our rent goes up 10percent every year yet we are only getting 3 percent SSDI increase