[NFBOH-Cleveland] Social Security to Expand Access to SSI Program by Updating Definition of a Public Assistance Household

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Social Security to Expand Access to SSI Program by Updating Definition of a
Public Assistance Household

Social Security Administration

May 09, 2024

 

(SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION) - The Social Security Administration
recently published a final rule, "Expand the Definition of a Public
Assistance Household." This final rule announces one of several updates to
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) regulations that will help people
receiving and applying for SSI. SSI provides monthly payments to adults and
children with a disability or blindness, and to adults aged 65 and older.

 

These benefits 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
the definition of a public assistance household to include households
receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments and
households where not all members receive public assistance. 

 

The expanded definition will allow more people to qualify for SSI, increase
some SSI recipients' payment amounts, and reduce reporting burdens for
individuals living in public assistance households.

 

The revised rule also changes the definition of a public assistance
household when determining who in a household receives public assistance.
The new rule defines a public assistance household as one that has both an
SSI applicant or recipient, and at least one other household member who
receives one or more of the listed means-tested public income-maintenance
(PIM) payments (the any other definition). 

 

The previous policy required all household members to receive public
assistance. This change benefits SSI recipients living in households where
only some members receive public assistance.

 

"I'm committed to making systemic changes to help people access the critical
benefits they need, including SSI," said Martin O'Malley, Commissioner of
Social Security. "By simplifying our policies and including an additional
program geared towards low-income families, such as the SNAP, we are
removing significant barriers to accessing SSI. These changes promote
greater equity in our programs."

 

SNAP is the first PIM benefit added to the agency's public assistance
household definition since it was established in 1980. This change helps
ensure the agency's policies better represent the current landscape of
means-tested programs in the United States.

 

These changes are key because, if an applicant or recipient is determined to
be living in a public assistance household, the agency assumes they are not
receiving assistance from other household members that would otherwise be
counted as income. This will allow more people to qualify for SSI and in
some cases, receive a higher SSI payment.

 

This regulation update is one of several that Social Security is publishing
to improve the SSI program. The agency recently announced it will exclude
the value of food from SSI benefit calculations. (Refer to
<https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/releases/2024/#3-2024-4> Press Release |
Press Office | SSA) 

 

The agency also recently announced it will expand its rental subsidy
exception, currently only in place for SSI applicants and recipients
residing in seven States, as a nationwide policy. (Refer to
<https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/releases/2024/#4-2024-1> Press Release |
Press Office | SSA)

 

Social Security continuously examines programmatic policy and makes
regulatory and sub-regulatory changes as appropriate.

 

For more information on the SSI program, including who is eligible and how
to apply, visit  <https://www.ssa.gov/ssi> Supplemental Security Income
(SSI) | SSA.

 

To read the final rule "Expand the Definition of a Public Assistance
Household," visit
<https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/04/19/2024-08364/expand-the-
definition-of-a-public-assistance-household> Federal Register: Expand the
Definition of a Public Assistance Household

 

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