The Social Security Administration has verified a further rise in SSI payments for thousands of low-income Americans over 65 years old, disabled persons, and children under particular financial circumstances as October gets ready.
The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program has been giving monthly payments to those trying to pay their living expenses since more than 50 years ago. The rigorous restrictions and criteria of this program mean that millions of Americans still cannot get these benefits even with the financial support from it.
Social Security makes official the SSI checks increase for thousands of Americans
Congress now places limits on couples and individuals seeking for and receiving SSI checks, including asset requirements not altered since 1989. Applied now, the partial 1989 change could make it more difficult for SSI recipients to save money and cause other problems.
Furthermore noteworthy is the fact that any changes to the asset limit and related marital rules could only be implemented by Congress since they have been created by legislation.
Congress also has been debating changing the SSI asset restrictions for several years. A legislative committee recommended in 2003, for example, that the threshold be changed to reflect inflation and move from $2,000 to $3,000 for single people and from $3,000 to $4,500 for couples.
Other legislative decisions have been taken since then. Once more, we are prepared to provide Congress our expertise during its deliberation and review of this issue.
While only Congress has the power to make specific changes, the SSA is working administratively to alter SSI rules to better assist persons with disabilities, clear processes, and lower burden.
For hundreds of thousands of handicapped Americans, three SSI enhancements—which were announced earlier this year—go into effect today and should produce new or greater SSI payments. Here you may discover all the details on the three new software enhancements:
- The Social Security Administration will no longer take into account the provision of food aid by friends and family when determining an applicant’s eligibility based on the in-kind support and maintenance (IMS) rules. This would enable more people to qualify for SSI benefits and raise monthly SSI payments for over 90,000 persons by roughly $131.
- Previously applicable in just seven states, the agency is extending the rental subsidy exception to all SSI applicants and recipients nationwide. This might make more people eligible and raise SSI payments for approximately 41,000 people by $132 per month.
- The SSA will incorporate SNAP benefits in the definition of a public assistance household and eliminate the need for all household members to receive help. In conclusion, these two modifications might enhance SSI payments to 277,000 persons, expand eligibility, and reduce public assistance home reporting requirements.
How much money do recipients receive in their SSI checks?
Depending on their income and resources as well as the filing category they selected when applying, beneficiaries of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program now have several payment amounts available. The confirmed SSI checks beneficiaries could be obtained in 2024:
| Social Security payments | SSI checks |
| On average | $698 |
| Other payments | Individuals: $943 Couples: $1,415 Essential person: $472 |
Once the COLA cost of living adjustment (COLA) is finalized this week, SSI recipients will most likely get a 2.5% raise for their next checks in 2025. Recipients might thus get an average of $715 per month; couples and individuals could be qualified to get up to $967 and $1,450.