White House looking to cut certain disability benefits

"Zoom in: The changes involve Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, a federal program that provides monthly cash payments to people who are very poor and unable to work - typically because they're disabled. Often they're older Americans who haven't earned enough during their lifetime to qualify for any meaningful Social Security benefits. How it works: The maximum monthly SSI payment is about $900 per month. Recipients can't have more than $2,000 in the bank to qualify."

"Beneficiaries receive up to one-third less money if they live with someone who helps them with food and shelter; it's counted as "in-kind support and maintenance." If a beneficiary, however, lives with people who are themselves struggling, and using "public assistance," then the federal government won't cut their benefits."

"The trick is how the government defines "public assistance." In the past, if everyone in the household was receiving assistance through certain welfare programs, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and some other small programs, then that counted. But few people get cash welfare these days -only about 2 in 10 poor people - a far higher share receive SNAP, or food stamps. So the Biden administration last year put in place a new rule that if anyone in the household was receiving SNAP - then SSI recipients could still get full benefits"

"By the numbers: The change meant that about 300,000 people saw increased benefits; and 100,000 more became eligible, according to a government estimate. State of play: The Trump administration last week proposed rescinding the rule. SNAP no longer counts as public assistance. That would mean hundreds of thousands would lose benefits - and it would create a lot of red tape for the Social Security Administration, which administers SSI and is struggling with reduced staffing, says a report from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities."

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides monthly cash payments to very poor, disabled, or elderly Americans who lack sufficient earnings for Social Security. The maximum monthly SSI payment is about $900, and recipients must have no more than $2,000 in assets. SSI benefits can be reduced when someone in the household provides food and shelter as in-kind support, unless household members receive qualifying public assistance. The Biden administration redefined public assistance to include SNAP, raising benefits for about 300,000 people and qualifying 100,000 more. A proposed rollback would remove SNAP from that definition, cutting benefits and increasing SSA administrative burdens.

Read at Axios