The Effects of Living Arrangements on Your SSI Benefits

It’s not easy for everyone to thoroughly understand the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. Making it all the more difficult to find out how much you can receive and if you should apply.
It’s because, in addition to limits to your income and resources, your living arrangements also affect your benefits.
Different types of living arrangements
SSI takes into consideration various living arrangements like:

• Living independently in an apartment or home and paying total rent
• Living independently in an apartment or house where someone else pays some or your entire rent
• Residing in a group home facility, hospital, or nursing home
• Living in someone else’s house with or without rent

Living Arrangements That May Reduce Your Benefits

As many living arrangements reduce your SSI benefits, you need to calculate and find out the exact amount before applying. You will this way know how much you stand to receive and if it’s worth applying for benefits or not.
It includes living arrangements where you:

• Live with someone else and pay less than the market rate rent and housing expenses like utilities
• Independently live, and someone else pays for all or some of your housing expenses
• Live in a nursing home or hospital, and Medicaid pays for more than 50% of your care expenses. It, however, is applicable only if you stay in the facility for 90 days and more.

Those who live in a homeless shelter for up to 6 months within nine months span receive full SSI benefits.

What Happens to Those Who Receive In-Kind Support and Maintenance?

Someone else paying for your housing expenses constitutes in-kind support and maintenance, which is equivalent to someone paying you cash. It may, in turn, lead to a reduction in your SSI benefits, but it’s pretty rare.
So there’s no need to assume that you automatically are exempt from receiving SSI benefits if you receive in-kind support and maintenance.
Your SSI benefits, however, will not change if:

• You live alone and pay for your living expenses
• Live with your spouse and children without receiving assistance for housing expenses
• Live with others and pay your expenses

SSI Calculations Based on Different Living Arrangements

According to the PMV or presumed maximum value, in-kind support and maintenance now reduce your SSI payments up to $284.66 every month. PMV, in turn, is a third of the federal monthly SSI payment, plus $20.
So if you live in an apartment where your parents pay its $600 monthly rent, your SSI benefits are reduced by $284.66. But as you receive $20 as part of the general income exclusion, you subtract only $264.66 from your SSI benefits of $794. It means you eventually receive $529.34 as your benefits.
If you live with your brother who doesn’t charge rent, it implies that he’s giving you money equalling the rent every month. In this case, PMV minus the $20 income exclusion or $264.66 is subtracted from your monthly SSI benefits of $794. You thus receive $529.34 every month.
The rule also applies if someone pays your household expenses, like your parents paying your $150 electricity bill. You thus receive SSI benefits minus $150, or rather minus $80 after subtracting general income exclusion.

Your Social Security Benefits Attorney in Glendale Can Help with Calculations

Yes, things can get confusing while making these calculations!
There are so many factors to take into consideration.
That is why it is better to consult your Glendale social security benefits lawyer to help you out. They know everything about the SSI and how your living arrangements affect them. And thus will be able to give you the best advice for making a claim.