10/15/2021

Social Security Benefits to Increase 5.9 Percent for 2022 

SSA has announced that Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for approximately 70 million Americans will increase 5.9 percent in 2022. This cost-of-living adjustment is the largest in forty years. Increased payments to about eight million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 30, 2021. 

For details, read SSA's new Fact Sheet for 2022.

9/3/2021

SSI Restoration Act

Congress is currently considering a bill that would strengthen the SSI program. The SSI Restoration Act would make greatly needed updates to SSI, including but not limited to:

• Increasing the SSI benefit rate to at least 100% of the Federal Poverty Level and adjusting it annually to keep pace with inflation.
• Eliminating “in-kind support and maintenance” (ISM) as a type of countable income
• Increasing and inflation-index resource limits for the first time since 1989
• Updating the earned and general income disregards, which have not been adjusted since 1974, and
• Eliminating installment payment requirements and extending the time SSI recipients have to spend down retroactive benefits.

We at McGill & Noble think that these updates to the SSI program, which will help millions of seniors and disabled Americans, are long overdue.  If you agree, please reach out to your elected officials and ask them to include the SSI Restoration Act in the upcoming recovery legislation.    Call the  Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to your representative and senators OR click here to find the links to your representatives' websites.  You can also click here to send a letter drafted by the National Organization of Social Security Representatives.  

8/27/2021

Biden Signs Bill Providing Service Dogs for Veterans

On Wednesday, President Biden signed a pilot program into law that will provide service dogs to veterans struggling with PTSD.

The Puppies Assisting Wounded Service members for Veterans Therapy Act (PAWS) requires the VA to implement a five-year program to provide service dogs and training to veterans diagnosed with PTSD.

Find details of the bill from Congress.

8/13/2021

Social Security Won't Penalize Disabled People For Saving Stimulus Checks

In a reversal, Supplemental Security Income recipients won't lose benefits even if coronavirus relief payments are still in their bank accounts.

Information from SSA

Read the full article from HuffPost.

4/30/20 

Action Needed for People Receiving SSI with Dependents and Who Do Not File
Tax Returns to Receive $500 Per Child Payment.

SSA Commissioner Andrew Saul announced on Friday that Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients who did not file 2018 or 2019 taxes and have qualifying children under age 17 should immediately go to the IRS web page to provide their information. SSI recipients who have dependent children need to act by Tuesday, May 5 in order to receive an additional $500 payment per eligible dependent.

If they do not provide additional information to the IRS by the May 5 deadline, qualifying SSI recipients will need to file a tax year 2020 tax return to obtain the additional $500 per eligible child.

SSI recipients with qualifying children should update their information with the IRS here.

4/29/20

Hearing Offices Continue to Suspend In-Person Hearings

On 4/28/20, SSA has announced that, due to COVID-19 related concerns, hearing offices in North Carolina, Alabama, Florida, George Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennesee will continue to suspend in-person hearings.  Hearing office will hold telephonic hearings only through the month of August.   Claimants who do not agree to telephone hearings may elect to postpone their hearings until in-person hearings resume.  

4/28/20 

SSA Offices Remain Closed to Public

SSA Commissioner Andrew Saul announced on Friday that, for the time being, SSA offices will remain closed to the public for face-to-face service, and their employees will continue to work remotely. SSA will continue to provide critical services, and recipients of Social Security benefits will continue to receive their monthly benefit amount if they use Direct Deposit. SSA will post updates on its website at www.socialsecurity.gov/coronavirus

 

4/15/20 

UPDATE:  COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments for Supplemental Security Income Recipients

Yesterday, SSA announced that SSI recipients with no qualifying children do not need to take any action in order to receive their $1,200 economic impact payment. The payments will be automatic.

SSI recipients who have qualifying children under age 17, however, should go to the IRS Website to provide their information in order to receive the $500 per dependent child payment in addition to their $1,200 individual payment. If SSI beneficiaries in this group do not provide their information to the IRS soon, they will have to wait until later to receive their $500 per qualifying child.