On September 30, 2024, a significant transformation takes effect for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries as the Social Security Administration (SSA) implements new rules that overhaul how rent subsidies and food assistance are handled.
These SSI changes will expand eligibility, increase monthly benefit amounts for many recipients, and simplify the application and maintenance processes.
By removing food from In-kind Support and Maintenance (ISM) calculations and nationalizing the rental subsidy exception, the SSA is breaking down longstanding barriers that have limited access to essential benefits for millions of Americans.
Key Highlights of the New SSI Rules
- Exclusion of Food from ISM Calculations: Starting September 30, 2024, the SSA will no longer count food provided by SNT Trustees, friends, family, or community support networks as part of ISM.
Previously, free food could reduce an SSI beneficiary’s monthly check by the Presumed Maximum Value (PMV) amount of $334.33 in 2024. This removal simplifies the process and helps recipients retain more benefits without fearing reductions due to food assistance. - Expanded Rental Subsidy Program: Also starting September 30, the SSA will allow for rental “business arrangements” with SNT trustees, friends, family, or community support networks of any amount above the PMV amount ($334.33 in 2024). If the SSI recipient pays at least this amount from their SSI check, the payment of rent by others will not reduce the SSI check.
SSA’s new rule nationalizes the state-specific rental subsidy exception, making it easier for SSI applicants and recipients nationwide to qualify for rental assistance.
Impact on SSI Beneficiaries
SSI provides monthly payments to eligible individuals with disabilities, blindness, or those over 65 with limited income and resources. As of January 2023, more than 7 million individuals received federal SSI benefits, averaging $654 monthly. The recent changes aim to make SSI more accessible and equitable by addressing key factors that previously hindered eligibility and benefit amounts. With the new rules:
- Increased Eligibility: More individuals will qualify for SSI, reducing the number of people who fall through the cracks due to previous restrictive ISM calculations
- Higher Benefits for Some: Current recipients may see an increase in their monthly payments, enhancing their financial stability.
- Simplified Process: Eliminating food and simplifying rent from ISM reduces the reporting burden on beneficiaries, improves payment accuracy, and leads to administrative savings for the SSA.
Contact Our Team
Clancy & Associates, Ltd., is the only full-service special needs planning law firm in Illinois. Our attorneys are dedicated to supporting individuals with special needs and their families. We, too, are parents and siblings of loved ones who have a disability and know how daunting and exhausting it is to go from firm-to-firm and provider-to-provider to find solutions and help.
Each child and family’s needs are very different — and we provide tailored, common sense ideas and strategies that reflect your goals, resources, and hopes for your family’s future security.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation to learn more about our services and talk about your planning needs.
