WHAT ARE THE NEW SSI REGULATORY CHANGES THAT WENT INTO EFFECT ON 09/30/2024?

The Agency is committed to simplifying our policies, reducing burden on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) applicants and recipients, as well as our technicians. We have updated certain regulations relating to living arrangements and In-Kind Support and Maintenance (ISM) to help us achieve this goal. First, effective September 30, 2024, we no longer include food in our ISM calculations. Second, we are expanding the definition of a Public Assistance (PA) household and adding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to our list of Public Income Maintenance (PIM) programs. Third, we are making the Rental Subsidy Exception rule effective nationwide, expanding the exception that existed in Connecticut, New York, and Vermont (Second Circuit), and Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin (Seventh Circuit) and Texas.

HOW ARE MY PAYMENTS AFFECTED BY THE OMITTING FOOD FROM IN-KIND SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE CALCULATION CHANGE?

With this new rule, food is no longer used for ISM calculations when determining if your contribution equals or exceeds your share of the household expenses. While food continues to remain in the definition of income, food is not used to calculate ISM. Therefore, there may be a reduction or elimination of the amount of ISM.

WHAT IS THE NEW DEFINITION OF A PUBLIC ASSISTANCE HOUSEHOLD?

We revised the definition of a PA household to one that has both an SSI applicant or recipient, and at least one other household member who receives one or more of our listed PIM payment programs. In addition, the SNAP program has been added as an additional program to our list of PIM payment programs. The following are PIM payment programs recognized by SSA:

• Title IV-A of the Social Security Act – Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF);
• Title XVI of the Social Security Act (SSI, including federally administered State supplements and State administered mandatory supplements);
• The Refugee Act of 1980 (payments based on need);
• The Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act;
• General assistance programs of the Bureau of Indian Affairs;
• State or local government assistance programs based on need;
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs programs (payments based on need); or
• Effective only as of 09/30/2024 – The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

DOES RENTAL SUBSIDY APPLY TO ME?

Rental Subsidy applies when you or someone in your household is related to the landlord or landlord’s spouse as a parent or child. Under the expanded rule, we only charge you Rental Subsidy if your required monthly rent does not equal or exceed the lesser of the Presumed Maximum Value (PMV) or the current market rental value (CMRV). Likewise, we determine that no Rental Subsidy exists if the required monthly rent that you pay equals or exceeds the PMV or the CMRV, whichever is less.