Autism Child Care Connection Network

Advocacy and Support for Individuals w/Autism and their Families

News you can use----Possible updates to SSI asset limits

My children have been the recipients of SSI since being diagnosed. One of the bittersweet realities of the aid is its asset limits. If you don't have any income the aid helps in providing for basic necessities, but once you have an income or are in transition, you can lose that aid at a time where you really need it(which is what happened to me when I started working!)

I was pleasantly surprised to see some proposed changes coming please read below if it affects you and yours. Please share comments below as well.

Social Security - SSI Savers Act Introduced

Rep. Tom Petri (R-WI) and Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-MA) introduced a bill to reform asset limit tests in the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. The SSI Savers Act of 2011 (H.R. 2103) would increase SSI asset limits for the first time since 1989, to make it easier for beneficiaries to work and save. The bill increases asset limits from $2,000 (individuals) and $3,000 (couples) to $5,000 and $7,500 respectively, and indexes those limits to inflation. For recipients younger than 65, the bill excludes retirement, education savings, and individual development accounts from counting against the limit. For beneficiaries 65 and older, it allows retirement accounts to reduce SSI benefits, instead of creating an immediate cut off. Raising the asset limit is a long time goal of The Arc.

Tags: aid, disability, financial, security, social, ssi