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How Do Fair Market Values on Housing Affect SSI Payments?

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Special Needs Alliance
How Do Fair Market Values on Housing Affect SSI Payments?

It’s not uncommon for parents of adult children with special needs to allow their children to live with them rent-free or charge them a low rental amount. They can do this more easily since they are typically the primary caregivers for the individual with special needs. They also often believe that it can help their child financially without impacting the child’s SSI payment. Despite their good intentions, this strategy has a downside—it does impact their payments.


The Social Security Administration (SSA) defines In-kind Support and Maintenance (ISM) as someone providing food and shelter to an SSI recipient for free or at a reduced cost, regardless of the source. While the SSA has proposed a rule change that could exclude food from this calculation in the future, the current rules factor in things like free housing, meals, or groceries. When calculating an individual’s SSI benefits, the SSA considers these contributions as ISM which counts toward income.


When an SSI recipient’s housing costs are below the fair market value of their neighborhood, it can indeed impact the recipient’s payments. When calculating SSI benefits, the SSA considers the value of ISM provided, including non-cash support such as housing. Therefore, it is essential for SSI recipients and those helping them to be aware of SSA’s rules and guidelines to ensure accurate reporting and eligibility for the appropriate benefits. If you are unsure about ISM and SSI payments, reach out to resources such as the Special Needs Alliance, where our members can guide you through the process.


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