Social Security benefits will change in the second half of 2024

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently announced systemic changes intended to expand access to essential Social Security benefits for certain households in the country. An estimated 7.5 million Americans with demonstrated financial need receive assistance from Supplemental Security Income (SSI). People who are elderly, blind, disabled, or have children are eligible for these Social Security benefits. While SSI benefits are a lifeline for those in need, it can be difficult to qualify for or maintain full benefits due to the program’s strict resource limits and regulations. 

The good news is that the SSA has issued several new regulations aimed at increasing accessibility and removing barriers to receiving assistance. According to Martin O’Malley, Commissioner of Social Security, the federal agency is committed to making systemic changes to help people access critical benefits like Social Security Insurance (SSI). He also highlighted that the SSA has plans to simplify policies and create a low-income program so that the most vulnerable Americans can have access to Social Security benefits that can make the difference between making ends meet and falling into poverty. 

Some resource limits complicate access to Social Security benefits

In 2024, the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) has been paying up to $943 per person or $1,415 per couple per month. Up to $472 can also be awarded to family caregivers who care for SSI beneficiaries in their homes. The amount of money and resources that recipients can bring home and still be eligible for is limited by the government. People must have less than $2,000 in resources, earn less than $1,971 per month from their jobs, and receive less than $963 per month in “unearned” money in 2024. Couples are allowed to have up to $3,000 in resources, $1,435 in unearned income, and $2,915 in earned income.

Moreover, to avoid having their Social Security benefits canceled or reduced, Social Security beneficiaries are required to monitor and report their income. This increases the administrative burden on both the Social Security Administration and recipients. In addition, gifts of free food from relatives, help from other household members, and subsidized rent affect the way benefits are counted in determining income. These complicated rules prevent some people who would otherwise be eligible for benefits from receiving them while reducing benefits for others or causing overpayments or underpayments due to accounting problems.

New changes could expand access to Social Security benefits

The Social Security Administration has issued three final rules to streamline and increase benefit eligibility. Read below how the new changes will impact Social Security benefits for overall candidates in the country. 

1. Food gifts no longer count as unearned income: Beginning in September, food gifts will no longer be included in the calculation of in-kind support and maintenance (ISM) for SSI recipients. Instead, only free or discounted shelter will be counted. This change will benefit the 9% of SSI recipients whose payments are reduced because of food gifts and ensure that they don’t experience fluctuating payments because of food gifts. This change will prevent payments from fluctuating from month to month.
2. Updates in the public assistance household definition: A new final rule expands the definition of a public assistance household to include SNAP as a benefit. This change affects benefits for SSI recipients living in such households because assistance from other household members can count as income and affect benefits. Currently, all household members receive benefits, but the new rules require only one other household member to receive assistance.
3. Rental subsidy policies from SSI to be expanded: Finally, a rule already in place in seven states—which reduces the likelihood that rental assistance will affect eligibility for benefits—will be expanded by the latest rule, which went into effect in September.