The Social Security Administration (SSA) has issued an update to the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) regulations, resulting in a significant change in how in-kind support and maintenance (ISM) calculations are determined.
The SSA will no longer include food in ISM calculations beginning September 30, 2024, in an effort to simplify SSI benefit administration and make the guidelines more understandable to the general public.
This regulatory change also includes conforming adjustments to the definition of income, which align with the broader purpose of improving the equitable treatment of food assistance within the SSI program. Furthermore, the rule modifies the constructive treatment of income, thereby clarifying long-standing policy interpretations and providing improved services to applicants and recipients.
The background for this update emphasizes the importance of the adjustment, concentrating on the complexities of accounting for in-kind receipt of food in ISM calculations. Following a lengthy review and public comment period that began with a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on February 15, 2023, the decision demonstrates a commitment to equity, eliminates administrative costs, and ensures equal treatment of food aid, irrespective of its source.
Under the new guideline, ISM calculations will only take into account shelter expenses such as rent, mortgage payments, and electricity, while omitting food prices entirely. This improvement simplifies the evaluation process for both applicants and SSA administrators, potentially reducing the number of benefit recalculations and the possibility of payment errors caused by fluctuating food costs and reporting.
The SSA’s decision to remove food from ISM calculations is supported by the complexity and inconsistency of food assistance, as well as its disproportionate impact on low-income people, particularly those with disabilities, who are more likely to face food insecurity.
By removing this factor from the equation, the SSA hopes to foster better parity within the SSI program, acknowledging the various sources of food assistance that users may have, ranging from family and community networks to charitable or government organizations.
We encourage individuals to directly contact the SSA through its designated channels for more information on these changes, as well as assistance with eligibility and benefits.
This rule modification is a significant step toward simplifying the SSI benefits process, underscoring the SSA’s commitment to improve service delivery and the well-being of its beneficiaries.
