From a recent new posting to Social Security's Covid-19 page:
We recently changed our rules about what financial assistance can affect your eligibility for SSI or your monthly SSI payment amount. Specifically, we no longer count the financial assistance listed below against your eligibility or payment amount. We are reviewing SSI claims and other SSI records going back to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to restore SSI payments for people whose SSI was affected by receiving any of the assistance listed below. ...
- Economic Impact Payments (EIP)
- State Stimulus Payments (Some exclusions may apply.)
- Unemployment Assistance (also includes regular unemployment)
- Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): Loan Forgiveness to Employers and Self-Employed Individuals
- Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program: Loans/Grants to Employers and Self-Employed Individuals /Grants
- Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – Direct Payments to Farmers and Ranchers
- COVID-19 Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program
- COVID-19 Funeral Assistance
- Emergency Rental Assistance Fund
- Emergency Assistance for Rural Housing/Rural Rental Assistance
- Homeowner Assistance Fund
- Housing Assistance and Supportive Services Programs for Native Americans
- Tribal Payments from the Coronavirus Relief Fund and the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
- Supporting Foster Youth and Families
- Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund
- Emergency Assistance to Children and Families through the Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund
- Farm Loan Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers
- USDA Assistance and Support for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers, Ranchers, Forest Land Owners and Operators, and Groups ...
The cynic in me wonders why this wasn't recognized last year but maybe the change in the COSS position has played a role?
ReplyDeleteWe were told to start holding all unemployment about 7 months ago with no additional instructions. Now we’re going to have to clean up a mess and don’t have the staff to do it.
ReplyDeleteIronically, it was really crazy how many SSI recipients who supposedly can’t work qualify for unemployment benefits. Most of them will be overpaid in the end anyway because they were working and not reporting it. This will alleviate some of the issues though.
Actually, given how hard SSA tries to get SSI recipient's to report their wages timely it's clear the agency knows a lot of SSI recipients work. They likely just don't make SGA level wages, but make something. I spoke with 2 young ladies yesterday who both get SSI and have jobs at a nursing home and agrocery store that went away during pandemic. I suspect they did not file for unemployment but likely should have. I suspect a lot of folks will be like them. Eligible but didn't realize it or maybe they did and had their SSI reduced. But accurate timely SSI wage reporting has been a thorn in the side of the program for 40 years, so why surprise at them working?
ReplyDeleteI understand not counting the PUA unemployment but why regular unemployment? Are they also getting rid of the resource limit?
ReplyDelete