Social Security Administration Plans to Reverse Expanded Public Assistance Definition for SSI
The Social Security Administration has signaled plans to reverse a Biden-era rule that expanded who counts as a “public assistance household” for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) purposes.
Details of the Recent Change
Under the change finalized last year, a household qualifies as receiving public assistance if at least one person besides the SSI applicant or recipient receives means-tested benefits such as SNAP. Previously, every household member had to be receiving public assistance to meet that definition.
Implications of the Broader Classification
That broader classification shields some SSI recipients from a reduction tied to “in-kind support and maintenance” — noncash help such as housing provided by family — which can lower benefits by as much as a third, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP).
Projected Impact of the Rule Expansion
The Social Security Administration estimated that the rule expansion would result in about 109,000 additional people receiving SSI and raise monthly payments for roughly 277,00...