The second half of this year has three extra SSI changes that will affect beneficiaries, in the paychecks of retirees. Thanks to these changes, more older adults with reduced incomes and specific people with a disability will be able to apply for the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program this fall, if you qualify for the SSI program or are interested in applying for these monthly benefits.
The Social Security Administration (SSI) is in charge of administering the retirement, survivors, and disability insurance (RSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit programs, according to the government agency, Supplemental Security Income. (SSI) pays monthly benefits to people age 65 or older, as well as adults and children who are blind or disabled.
These benefits help cover fundamental costs such as housing, food, clothing, and medicine. To be eligible, you typically need to earn less than $1,971 per month at work and have limited financial resources, but there are many other considerations, such as pension income, unemployment benefits or disability payments.
Are You Eligible for More SSI Benefits?
It is important to take into account that 70% of SSI recipients are part of households with combined family income less than $30,000, which includes income from the assistance program, as confirmed by the SSA, the new SSI changes will help expand the program, allowing more people to apply for these benefits.
Rental assistance will not have the same impact on SSI eligibility and benefits.
The change in rental assistance is one of the most relevant changes to SSI that will go into effect on September 30 of this year, a program that is now offered in seven states (Connection, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Texas, Vermont and Wisconsin) will now be available nationwide thanks to the new rental assistance rule.
The policy changes how the government measures rental assistance, including rental subsidies.
New Requirements to Receive SSI Benefits
The policy has already been implemented in seven states, so renters’ living circumstances are unlikely to have an impact on their eligibility for SSI or the number of payments they receive. This new rule gives all SSI applicants and beneficiaries nationwide access to the same favorable policy, as stated by the SSA.
Furthermore, as a result, more people will be able to qualify for essential SSI benefits, which could increase the payment amount that some people are eligible to receive.
Among other SSI changes, a new rule will include recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, also known as food stamps, in the definition of “public assistance household.” As a result, more people will qualify for Supplemental Security Income. It also removes a provision that could have prevented larger households, especially multigenerational ones, from qualifying for SSI.