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Social Security Administration makes major eligibility change and 7.4million Americans could see higher checks
The tough criteria is being loosened
A MAJOR change from the Social Security Administration could mean bigger checks for millions of Americans.
The agency issued a final rule that will make it so food assistance programs don't lower payments to certain beneficiaries.
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The change applies to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) which sends monthly checks to those who are disabled, blind, 65 years or older, and have little to no income.
About 7.4 million Americans receive support partially or exclusively from SSI.
The rule goes into effect on September 30 and will no longer count toward calculations for eligibility for benefits.
These are known as In-Kind Support and Maintenance (ISM).
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Right now, support in the form of food, shelter, or both can sometimes count as unearned income for SSI beneficiaries, which can lower their payments or affect their eligibility for benefits.
In 2024, the maximum federal SSI amount an individual can receive a month is $943.
For couples, this number is $1,415, and for essential people, or those who live with an SSI recipient and act as a caretaker, the monthly payment is $472.
To qualify for SSI, recipients must earn less than $1,971 a month from work.
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They must also have less than $2,000 in resources per individual, or $3,000 for a couple.
Resources generally mean either money or other assets that can be turned into cash such as bank accounts, bonds, property, and stocks.
Supplemental Security Income schedule – Payments worth $841 go out this week
The new rule also means that SSI recipients won't have to worry that groceries or meals they get from family or friends might lower their monthly benefits, Darcy Milburn, director of Social Security and healthcare policy at The Arc told CNBC.
The Arc is a nonprofit that serves those with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Meanwhile, the Social Security Administration won't have to use limited resources to document every time a beneficiary receives free food and cut their monthly benefits, Milburn added.
"It represents a really meaningful step to address one of the most complex, burdensome, and inhumane policies impacting people with disabilities that receive SSI," she said.
Eligibility requirments for SSI
The SSI is a type of welfare to help certain members of society who have much lower incomes.
The maximum a recipient can receive is $1,415 per month and this number can depend on several factors.
Here is a list of eligibility requirements for the program:
- Be disabled, blind, or age 65.
- Have limited income and resources.
- Be a U.S. citizen or national or a lawfully permitted alien meeting additional requirements.
- Reside in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia or the Northern Mariana Islands, except for a child of military parent(s) assigned to permanent duty anywhere outside the United States or certain students temporarily abroad.
Other factors like marriage status and the income or resources of certain household members could also affect eligibility.
Source: Benefits.gov
The Social Administration said it plans to make more changes in the future for beneficiaries and applicants.
"Simplifying our policies is a common-sense solution that reduces the burden on the public and agency staff and helps promote equity by removing barriers to accessing payments," said Social Security Commissioner Martin O'Malley in a statement.
What is Supplemental Security Income?
SSI is run by the Social Security Administration but it is funded by general taxes and not Social Security taxes.
It is only available to people who live in the US and are US citizens.
As this benefit is dependent on how much wealth or how many assets a person has the application would require specific documents.
These include your Social Security number, information about your home, birth certificate, payroll slips, and other documents about your income.
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Blind or disabled people who apply must also provide details of the hospitals and clinics they've been to.
Recipients will receive the cash electronically.