Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act of 2026 | ChamberLight
Bills · HR 7828
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 7828Social Welfare
Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act of 2026
INTRO MAR 5· LAST ACTION MAR 5
READING
14MIN
COSPONSORS
34
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8
Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-written
This bill matters to voters because it directly addresses poverty and financial insecurity among some of the most vulnerable populations: low-income seniors and people with disabilities. If it becomes law, it would update SSI rules that haven't kept pace with inflation for decades, making the program more effective at lifting people out of poverty. For example, by linking benefits to the federal poverty line, it ensures that SSI payments will rise with the cost of living, unlike current benefits which often leave recipients below the poverty threshold.
Without this bill, many eligible individuals struggle to maintain basic living standards, often forced to deplete minimal savings or forgo essential items to remain eligible for a program that provides insufficient aid. The expansion to U.S. territories also addresses a long-standing inequity, extending a critical safety net to American citizens who have historically been excluded from federal programs available in the mainland U.S. It makes the SSI program more responsive to economic realities and more equitable across different regions and demographics.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extracted
PROVISION 01
Significantly increases the amount of income and savings (resources) an individual or couple can have while still qualifying for SSI benefits, and ties these limits to inflation.
This allows more low-income seniors and people with disabilities to receive aid and keep more of their modest savings and earnings without losing their benefits, ensuring the program's relevance over time.
PROVISION 02
Updates the standard SSI benefit for individuals to be equal to the federal poverty guideline, and twice that for couples, effectively repealing the 'marriage penalty'.
This ensures that SSI benefits provide a more adequate income, keeping pace with basic living costs, and removes a financial disincentive for eligible individuals to marry.
PROVISION 03
Excludes non-cash support (like free rent or food) and qualified retirement accounts from being counted as income or resources when determining SSI eligibility and benefit amounts.
This prevents people from losing benefits because they receive help from family or friends, and allows them to save for retirement without jeopardizing their eligibility.
PROVISION 04
Extends the full Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program to residents of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.
This provides a crucial federal safety net program to hundreds of thousands of American citizens in these territories who were previously largely excluded.
PROVISION 05
Repeals the penalty for disposing of resources (like selling assets for less than their market value) within a certain period before applying for SSI.
This removes a complex rule that could prevent or delay benefits for people who made financial decisions before applying, simplifying the application process.
This bill matters to voters because it directly addresses poverty and financial insecurity among some of the most vulnerable populations: low-income seniors and people with disabilities. If it becomes law, it would update SSI rules that haven't kept pace with inflation for decades, making the program more effective at lifting people out of poverty. For example, by linking benefits to the federal poverty line, it ensures that SSI payments will rise with the cost of living, unlike current benefits which often leave recipients below the poverty threshold.
Without this bill, many eligible individuals struggle to maintain basic living standards, often forced to deplete minimal savings or forgo essential items to remain eligible for a program that provides insufficient aid. The expansion to U.S. territories also addresses a long-standing inequity, extending a critical safety net to American citizens who have historically been excluded from federal programs available in the mainland U.S. It makes the SSI program more responsive to economic realities and more equitable across different regions and demographics.
KEY PROVISIONS
AI-extracted
high
Significantly increases the amount of income and savings (resources) an individual or couple can have while still qualifying for SSI benefits, and ties these limits to inflation.
This allows more low-income seniors and people with disabilities to receive aid and keep more of their modest savings and earnings without losing their benefits, ensuring the program's relevance over time.
high
Updates the standard SSI benefit for individuals to be equal to the federal poverty guideline, and twice that for couples, effectively repealing the 'marriage penalty'.
This ensures that SSI benefits provide a more adequate income, keeping pace with basic living costs, and removes a financial disincentive for eligible individuals to marry.
high
Excludes non-cash support (like free rent or food) and qualified retirement accounts from being counted as income or resources when determining SSI eligibility and benefit amounts.
This prevents people from losing benefits because they receive help from family or friends, and allows them to save for retirement without jeopardizing their eligibility.
med
Extends the full Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program to residents of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.
This provides a crucial federal safety net program to hundreds of thousands of American citizens in these territories who were previously largely excluded.
med
Repeals the penalty for disposing of resources (like selling assets for less than their market value) within a certain period before applying for SSI.
This removes a complex rule that could prevent or delay benefits for people who made financial decisions before applying, simplifying the application process.
SSI applicants who disposed of resources for less than fair market value (this penalty is repealed by the bill)
GLOSSARY
AI-written
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
A federal program providing monthly payments to adults and children with a disability or blindness who have income and resources below specific limits, and to people 65 and older without disabilities who meet the financial limits.
Resources
Cash, bank accounts, land, vehicles, life insurance, and other assets that a person owns and can turn into cash to use for food and shelter. SSI has limits on how much a person can have in resources to qualify for benefits.
In-kind support and maintenance
Non-cash help a person receives for food or shelter, such as living rent-free or having someone pay for groceries. Under current law, this can reduce SSI benefits.
Earned income exclusion
A specific amount of money earned from work that is not counted when determining eligibility or benefit amounts for SSI.
General income exclusion
A specific amount of unearned income (like pensions or other benefits) that is not counted when determining eligibility or benefit amounts for SSI.
Poverty guideline
An income threshold set annually by the U.S. government that is used to determine eligibility for various federal programs. It represents the minimum income needed for a family or individual to meet basic needs.
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTS
MAR 5
Introduced in House
INTROREFERRAL
MAR 5
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
A term used to describe situations where a married couple receives less in total benefits or pays more in taxes than they would if they were single individuals with the same combined income.
CPI-E (Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers)
A measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers age 62 and older for a market basket of consumer goods and services, used to adjust certain benefit amounts for inflation.
