Bill > S2065

This bill, the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Restoration Act of 2021, aims to update the eligibility and benefit amounts for the SSI program. Key provisions include: 1. Increasing the general income exclusion, earned income exclusion, and resource limits for individuals and couples to account for inflation. 2. Updating the SSI benefit amounts to equal the federal poverty line for individuals and twice the poverty line for couples, eliminating the "marriage penalty." 3. Excluding support and maintenance provided in-kind from being counted as income. 4. Excluding retirement accounts from being considered as resources. 5. Repealing the penalty for disposing of resources for less than fair market value. 6. Clarifying the treatment of certain state tax credits. 7. Eliminating dedicated accounts for past-due SSI benefits and the requirement for installment payments. 8. Extending the period of exclusion for certain payments from countable resources. 9. Modifying the rules to determine marital relationships for SSI purposes. The bill is intended to modernize and improve the SSI program, which provides cash assistance to low-income individuals who are elderly, blind, or disabled.