As stipulated in a new rule, many more people will soon qualify to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and some of those who are already beneficiaries will see increases in their payments per month, the department of the department announced. Social Security Administration, the changes are being made under a recently completed regulation that expands what is considered a “public assistance home.”
The agency is expanding the definition so that more households are included to receive payments from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP benefits, as well as those households where not all have public assistance.
SNAP Benefits and Social Security SSI Now Compatible in the Same Household
Starting next September 30, a household that has public assistance income will be considered one in which an SSI applicant or recipient and at least one family member receives public income maintenance payments subject to the validation of resources, previously, all members of the household had to receive public assistance to be taken into account.
In cases where a person resides in a publicly assisted household, the Social Security Administration is responsible, who does not receive assistance from other members of the household that could be counted as income.
Furthermore, by increasing eligibility and payment amounts for some, the rule is expected to reduce the reporting burden experienced by people living in public assistance homes. The Social Security Administration indicated that it estimates that the rule change will result in an additional 109,000 people receiving SSI and increasing monthly payments for approximately 277,000 beneficiaries by the year 2033.
What the Head of the SSA Says About the Plan
“I am committed to making systemic changes to help people access the critical benefits they need, including SSI,” said Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley. “By simplifying our policies and including an additional program aimed at low-income families, like SNAP, we are removing important barriers to accessing SSI. “These changes promote greater equity in our programs.”
The rule is one of many SSI updates taking effect in September, the Social Security Administration said it will also change the way it handles “in-kind support and maintenance” in the form of a rent subsidy and will stop counting food as part of in-kind support and maintenance.
About 7.5 million U.S. citizens, including many with disabilities, are going to be beneficiaries of SSI every month, the program is currently providing a maximum federal benefit of $943, for single people and $1,415 for couples.
Redefining What a Public Assistance Household Is
Since 1980, SNAP was the first PIM benefit to be added to the agency’s definition of a PA household; on average, 41.2 million people in 21.6 million American households received SNAP benefits monthly in the fiscal year 2022, and about 7.5 million people received SSI payments in December 2022, the new changes will allow millions of United States citizens to receive the benefits of SSI payments and reduce the administrative burden, for low-income households.
SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is a crucial resource for many low-income families and individuals in the United States. By providing nutrition benefits through an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, SNAP ensures that eligible households can purchase essential groceries from authorized retailers. This guide aims to explain the intricacies of SNAP, including eligibility criteria, benefit calculations, and the application process.
Eligibility for SNAP is determined at the household level. A SNAP household consists of everyone who lives together and purchases and prepares meals together.
Income Limits
To qualify for SNAP, households must meet both gross and net income limits, which vary based on household size.
- Gross Income Limits: This is the total, non-excluded income before any deductions are applied. It must be at or below 130% of the federal poverty level.
- Net Income Limits: This is the income after allowable deductions have been subtracted. It must be at or below 100% of the federal poverty level.
