Social Security announces ‘systemic changes’ that will expand access to ‘critical benefits’ for certain households — what you need to know

“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 … we are removing significant barriers to accessing SSI.

“These changes promote greater equity in our programs.”

Here’s what you need to know.

Resource limits complicate access to SSI benefits

SSI provides a monthly income of up to $943 per individual or $1,415 per couple in 2024. Essential persons who care for SSI beneficiaries in their household can also receive up to $472.

These are means-tested benefits. The government limits the income and resources recipients can bring home and still be eligible. In 2024, individuals must earn less than $1,971 per month from work, less than $963 monthly from "unearned" income, and have less than $2,000 in resources. Couples can earn up to $1,435 in unearned income, $2,915 in earned income, and have up to $3,000 in resources.

Social Security beneficiaries must track and report income and will see benefits reduced or eliminated if they cross these thresholds. This creates an administrative burden both for recipients and the Social Security Administration. What's more, gifts of free food from family, assistance from others in the household, and subsidized rent impact benefits as they're counted when calculating income.

Because of these complex rules, some individuals who'd otherwise qualify for benefits are shut out, while others see benefits reduced or receive overpayments or underpayments as a result of accounting challenges.

New rules aim to address some of these problems.

Rule changes could expand access

The Social Security Administration announced three final rules to simplify and expand access to benefits.

• Food gifts no longer count as unearned income: Under current rules, when family or community members offer food assistance to SSI recipients, the free or discounted food is considered in-kind support and maintenance (ISM) and counted as unearned income. However, starting in September, food gifts will no longer be part of the ISM calculation. Under a new Final Rule, only free or discounted shelter counts in this way. For the 9% of SSI recipients who see payments reduced due to gifts of groceries, they’ll no longer need to worry about this issue and SSI recipients won't see their payments fluctuate from month-to-month as gifts of groceries reduce their benefits.
• Updating the definition of a public assistance household: When SSI recipients live in a public assistance household, the SSA assumes they're not receiving financial help from household members. That's important, because assistance from others in the home can count as income and affect benefits. A new Final Rule broadens the definition of a public assistance household, adding SNAP as a type of benefit entitling a household to this classification. And, while current rules require all household members to receive benefits, the new rules only require one other household member to receive help besides the SSI recipient.
• Expanding SSI rental subsidy policies: Finally, the last rule taking effect in September expands a policy in place in seven states that makes rental assistance less likely to impact benefits eligibility.

Each of these rule changes should simplify SSI, help more people access benefits, and help recipients maintain their benefit levels from month-to-month — making them a welcome change for Americans in need.