Washington — A bipartisan group of 30 lawmakers has announced plans to reintroduce the SSI Restoration Act, a bill designed to modernize the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program and offer relief to millions of Americans struggling with rising living costs. The proposed legislation seeks to expand and strengthen SSI benefits, which have not seen significant updates in over five decades.

SSI Program Faces Criticism for Outdated Thresholds

The SSI program provides monthly benefits to Americans with limited income or resources who are 65 or older, blind, or have a qualifying disability. As of 2026, the maximum monthly SSI payments are $994 for individual beneficiaries and $1,491 for eligible married couples. About 7.4 million Americans rely on SSI checks to meet basic needs, but the program has been criticized for its outdated income and resource thresholds.

Social Security Administration (SSA) guidelines currently restrict non-employment income to $20 per month for SSI recipients. This threshold has remained unchanged since 1974. If income increases, SSA can reduce benefits or limit eligibility. The SSI Restoration Act would raise this limit to $158 per month, helping recipients who receive additional support from pensions or other non-employment sources.

Proposed Changes to Earned Income and Resource Limits

The bill also proposes to adjust the earned income exclusion. Currently, the first $65 in earnings for SSI recipients does not count as income. Under the new proposal, this amount would increase to $512 per month. Additionally, the resource limits for SSI beneficiaries would be significantly raised. For individuals, the limit would increase from $2,019 to $10,000, and for couples, it would rise from $3,000 to $20,000. These new thresholds would be indexed to inflation and adjusted annually.

The bill would also raise the SSI benefit rate to 100% of the federal poverty level, eliminating the marriage penalty. Currently, married couples receive 25% less in benefits than they would if they were not married. The proposal would set the benefit rate for couples at twice the individual rate, ensuring fair treatment for all recipients.

Expanding Access and Eliminating Penalties

The SSI Restoration Act would also eliminate penalties for in-kind support, such as food or shelter provided by friends or family. This change aims to make it easier for recipients to accept help from loved ones without jeopardizing their benefits. The bill also proposes to extend SSI benefits to residents of U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam, addressing a long-standing gap in coverage.

According to the Roosevelt Institute, many SSI recipients live in deep poverty. ‘It’s not like these are people who are in some way abusing the system. They’re just living a bare bones, threadbare existence because basically people forgot about them,’ said Stephen Nuñez, the institute’s director.

Former Social Security Administration executives Andrew Biggs and Jason Fichtner have also endorsed the need for SSI reform. They described the proposal as ‘far more cost-effective than fighting poverty through Social Security.’ They believe that expanding SSI would lift Americans aged 65 and older out of poverty, paving the way for a ‘rational debate over retirement policy.’

Senator Elizabeth Warren, the bill’s sponsor, emphasized the urgency of the proposal. ‘SSI is a critical lifeline for millions of Americans — but the program is five decades out-of-date, leaving people behind and even punishing them for trying to save up,’ Warren said.

The proposed bill is expected to face challenges in Congress, with potential debates over funding and implementation. If passed, the changes would take effect in the coming years, with the first adjustments likely to be implemented in 2027. The bill also includes provisions to ensure that the new thresholds are regularly reviewed and adjusted to keep pace with inflation.