The main lobbying organization for claimants and claimants’ attorneys, NOSSCR, has been working hard to secure some long overdue changes to the rules for SSI eligibility and impacts on benefits.
Starting 9/30/24, rental assistance will likely have less of an impact on your benefits, but only in seven states currently (Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Texas, Vermont, and Wisconsin). SSA has simplified the rules so that decisions for eligibility can be processed more quickly, apply for equally nationwide, and save time at the administration in processing claims.
Besides changes to rental assistance counting against you in SSI eligibility, SSA will no longer count food assistance against your benefits. In the past, SSA would reduce your SSI payments if you received food from friends, family, or community supports like food pantries.
Finally, SSA has a new rule that expands the definition of a “public assistance household”, making it easier for individuals to qualify for SSI, increase some SSI recipients’ benefits, and reduce some SSI recipients’ reporting requirements.
