Navigation Social Security Removing Barriers to Accessing SSI Payments
The Social Security Administration has issued a press release notifying the public of a final rule, “Omitting Food from In-Kind Support and Maintenance (ISM) Calculations.” This final rule announces the first of several updates to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) regulations.
SSI is a monthly payment for adults and children with a disability who have limited income and resources. People applying for and receiving SSI must meet eligibility requirements, including income and resource limits. Under the old SSI rules, ISM calculations included food that a person receives and counted this as unearned income, which could affect eligibility or reduce payment amount.
The final rule, beginning September 30, 2024, will not include food in ISM calculations. According to the Social Security Press release, “The new policy removes a critical barrier for SSI eligibility due to an applicant’s or recipient’s receipt of informal food assistance from friends, family, and community networks of support. The new policy further helps in several important ways: the change is easier to understand and use by applicants, recipients, and agency employees; applicants and recipients have less information to report about food assistance received from family and friends, removing a significant source of burden; reducing month-to-month variability in payment amounts will improve payment accuracy; and the agency will see administrative savings because less time will be spent administering food ISM.”
