Bill > S4001

This bill, titled the "Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act of 2026," proposes significant updates to the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, which provides financial assistance to low-income individuals who are aged, blind, or disabled. Key provisions include substantially increasing the income exclusion amounts, meaning recipients can earn more money before their SSI benefits are reduced, and raising the resource limits, which are the maximum assets an individual or couple can own to remain eligible for SSI. The bill also updates the maximum SSI benefit amounts to align with poverty guidelines and eliminates the "marriage penalty" where a couple's combined benefit was less than what they would receive as two individuals. Furthermore, it clarifies that certain forms of support and maintenance received in-kind, such as food or housing, will not be counted as income, and retirement accounts will be excluded from resource calculations. The bill also repeals the penalty for individuals who dispose of assets for less than their fair market value, instead requiring notification of potential Medicaid ineligibility. It also clarifies the treatment of certain state tax credits and tribal general welfare payments, excluding them from income and resource calculations. Additionally, the bill eliminates requirements for dedicated accounts for past-due benefits and installment payments, extends the period certain payments are excluded from countable resources, and modifies rules for determining marital relationships for SSI purposes. Crucially, this bill extends the SSI program to Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa, treating them as states for SSI purposes and allowing for waivers to adapt the program to local needs.