Retirees Impacted: Goodbye to SSI Payments from Social Security Benefits
According to Lagradaonline, The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced a significant decrease in the number of recipients receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Over 100,000 individuals have been removed from the SSI rolls nationwide, prompting questions about the reasons behind this decline.
SSI Beneficiaries Decline Significantly
As of May 2023, approximately 7,380,737 individuals were receiving SSI payments. By May 2024, this number dropped to 7,261,342, reflecting a decrease of 119,395 beneficiaries. The bulk of SSI recipients—about 6.1 million—are blind adults and children with little or no income. In contrast, around 1.1 million are aged 65 and older.
Specifically, the number of blind or disabled claimants dropped by 140,034 from May 2023 to May 2024, decreasing from 6,281,068 to 6,141,034. Meanwhile, the group aged 65 and over saw a slight increase, with the number of beneficiaries rising from 1,099,669 to 1,120,308.
Possible Reasons for the Decrease
The reasons behind the decline in blind and disabled claimants are not immediately clear. An inquiry made by Newsweek revealed that over 10,000 people in various states were no longer enrolled in SSI benefits. Notably, California experienced a drop of 16,573 SSI applications, despite having the highest number of applications nationwide. Additionally, more than 17,000 individuals lost their disability benefits, primarily those classified as blind or disabled. The number of beneficiaries in this category decreased from 708,695 to 690,351.
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Texas reported a reduction of 14,587 SSI recipients, dropping from 591,710 in May 2023 to 577,123 in May 2024. New York also saw a decrease in SSI beneficiaries, falling from 568,777 to 559,222. Conversely, some states, such as North Dakota, experienced minimal change, with only a 17-person drop in recipients. In Rhode Island, the number of beneficiaries fluctuated slightly, decreasing from 30,317 to 30,015.
Changes to SSI and SSDI Application Processes
In response to ongoing challenges, the SSA has announced changes to the disability determination process for both the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) programs. These updates, which took effect on June 22, 2024, aim to streamline the application process and reduce wait times for decisions.
The new rule simplifies the fourth step of the evaluation process, focusing on whether an applicant can perform relevant work. The SSA will now look back only five years to assess prior relevant work, down from the previous requirement of 15 years. This change aims to alleviate the burden on applicants, who often found it challenging to provide extensive employment history, leading to inaccuracies and incomplete information.
Additionally, jobs that last less than 30 calendar days will no longer be considered in the evaluation process. According to the SSA, “The new regulation makes it easier for people to apply for benefits since they may focus on their most recent relevant job activity while still providing enough information to make accurate evaluations.”
Conclusion
The recent decline in SSI beneficiaries has raised concerns among current and prospective recipients. Understanding the reasons behind this decrease, along with the changes to the application process, is essential for individuals navigating these programs. Keeping informed can help ensure continued access to vital support for those who rely on SSI benefits.