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Omitting Food From In-Kind Support and Maintenance Calculations rule (2024)

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The Omitting Food From In-Kind Support and Maintenance Calculations is a significant rule issued by the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA), effective September 30, 2024., that updates Supplemental Security Income (SSI) regulations to remove food from calculations of In-Kind Support and Maintenance; adds the definition of income; clarifies meaning of position that "income may be received constructively."[1]

HIGHLIGHTS
  • Name: Omitting Food From In-Kind Support and Maintenance Calculations
  • Action: Final rule
  • Type of significant rule: Other significant rule
  • Timeline

    The following timeline details key rulemaking activity:

    Background

    The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program is a federal assistance program designed to provide financial support to low-income individuals who are elderly, blind, or disabled. The rule was implemented to address concerns regarding the treatment of food assistance benefits received by SSI recipients, particularly from programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Its purpose is to prevent double-counting of food assistance benefits as income for SSI eligibility and benefit calculation purposes, ensuring that individuals do not face reductions in their SSI benefits due to receiving essential food assistance.[1]

    Summary of the rule

    The following is a summary of the rule from the rule's entry in the Federal Register:[1]

    We are updating our Supplemental Security Income (SSI) regulations to remove food from the calculations of In-Kind Support and Maintenance (ISM). We are also adding conforming language to our definition of income. These changes simplify our rules by making them less cumbersome to administer and easier for the public to understand and follow, and they improve the equitable treatment of food assistance within the SSI program. This final rule also includes other minor revisions to our regulations related to income, including clarifying our longstanding position that income may be received 'constructively.'[2]

    Summary of provisions

    The following is a summary of the provisions from the rule's entry in the Federal Register:[1]

    This final rule exempts the value of food assistance received from being counted as income for determining SSI eligibility and benefit amounts. This provision aims to ensure that individuals receiving food assistance through programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) do not face reductions in their SSI benefits due to overlapping assistance. By excluding food assistance from income calculations, the rule helps prevent undue hardship for low-income individuals and families who rely on both SSI and food assistance programs.

    Significant impact

    See also: Significant regulatory action

    Executive Order 12866, issued by President Bill Clinton (D) in 1993, directed the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to determine which agency rules qualify as significant rules and thus are subject to OMB review.

    Significant rules have had or might have a large impact on the economy, environment, public health, or state or local governments. These actions may also conflict with other rules or presidential priorities. Executive Order 12866 further defined an economically significant rule as a significant rule with an associated economic impact of $100 million or more. Executive Order 14094, issued by President Joe Biden (D) on April 6, 2023, made changes to Executive Order 12866, including referring to economically significant rules as section 3(f)(1) significant rules and raising the monetary threshold for economic significance to $200 million or more.[1]


    The text of the Omitting Food From In-Kind Support and Maintenance Calculations rule states that OMB deemed this rule significant, but not economically significant:

    We have consulted with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and OMB has determined that this final rule meets the criteria for a significant regulatory action under E.O. 12866, as supplemented by E.O. 13563 and amended by E.O. 14094, and is subject to OMB review.[2]

    Text of the rule

    The full text of the rule is available below:[1]

    See also

    External links

    Footnotes

    1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Federal Register, “Omitting Food From In-Kind Support and Maintenance Calculations,” March 27, 2024
    2. 2.0 2.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.