Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – REPRESENTATIVE PAUL RYAN PROPOSES ENDING CHILDHOOD SSI BENEFITS

A Congressional proposal could drastically affect benefits for children receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI).  On June 7, 2016, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, released an outline of proposals to supposedly address poverty titled “Poverty, Opportunity and Upward Mobility.” One of the more concerning proposals is to end childhood SSI monetary benefits. Childhood SSI benefits are very difficult to qualify medically and financially.  The child must meet strict medical requirements ground in medical evidence and the family income must fall below certain limits.

For those that do qualify, the small amount of money and insurance benefits can be life-saving and provide needed resources to enable the child to grow and eventually become a productive member of society. Representative Ryan’s proposal would somehow replace cash benefits with some sort of in-kind services though this is merely a euphemism for ending cash benefits since qualifying children become entitled to Medicaid (or state equivalence such as TennCare) when they get SSI already. Thus, Speaker Ryan’s proposal merely does away with monetary benefits and adds nothing of substance. Speaker Ryan is also ignoring the fact that childhood SSI benefits can only be spent on certain, qualifying expenses and the account is monitored by SSA.

If you need more information about a Social Security Disability/SSI, personal injury, EEOICPA, long or short-term disability, Railroad Retirement Board disability, or a workers compensation matter, please contact the Law Offices of Tony Farmer and John Dreiser for a free case evaluation. We can be reached at (865) 584-1211 or (800) 806-4611 or through our website.