Sponsors (2)
The bill increases benefit access and prevents some double-counting for low-income people and sponsored immigrants by narrowing what counts as income, but it requires administration updates and risks transitional confusion or eligibility errors.
Low-income applicants and beneficiaries: in-kind support (for example food, housing, or other non-cash assistance provided by others) will not be counted as income, making more people likely to qualify for means-tested benefits.
Immigrants subject to sponsor deeming: sponsors' cash assistance that was already counted under deeming rules will not be double-counted as the immigrant's income during the 3-year deeming period, reducing the risk of wrongful income calculations that could deny benefits.
State and local administrators: narrowing what counts as income clarifies and simplifies income calculations across programs, which should reduce administrative disputes and appeals over eligibility determinations.
Applicants (especially low-income individuals and immigrants): inconsistent narrowing of income definitions across programs could cause confusion or temporary eligibility errors during the transition, potentially delaying or disrupting benefits.
State and local agencies: programs that previously excluded certain in-kind support may need to update rules, eligibility systems, and training, creating an administrative burden and one-time implementation costs.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Excludes certain in‑kind support from counting as income for SSI and clarifies sponsor cash deeming so it is not double‑counted.
Official title: To amend title XVI of the Social Security Act to exclude in-kind support and maintenance from income for the purposes of the Supplemental Security Income program, and for other purposes.
Introduced April 15, 2026 by Sharice Davids · Last progress April 15, 2026
Makes changes to how Supplemental Security Income (SSI) counts support as income by excluding certain support and maintenance provided in kind from being treated as income and by clarifying that some sponsor cash already counted under deeming is not double‑counted. The amendments revise cross‑references and punctuation in the Social Security Act to align rules and remove outdated or conflicting language. The bill takes effect one year after enactment and applies to all changes in the Act.