Improvements to SSI In-Kind Support and Maintenance Policies

From Justice in Aging

"Due to regulatory changes, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients who receive help from friends and family with food and shelter will now be able to retain more of their SSI benefits. Last week, three new rules on the SSI program’s in-kind support and maintenance (ISM) policies went into effect. Under the SSI program’s previous ISM policies, SSI recipients could have their benefits reduced by up to one-third if they received help with food and shelter costs.

With the new rule changes, however, help with food will no longer be included in ISM calculations; people living in households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will not be subject to ISM deductions; and people who pay at least a third of their benefits towards rent will also be exempt from benefit reductions due to ISM. 

Justice in Aging and our partners advocated for these critical changes, which will help more SSI recipients keep the benefits they need and avoid deep poverty and homelessness. In the coming months, Justice in Aging will provide more resources to help advocates understand the new ISM rules."