Goodbye to SSI Benefits – List of Retirees No Longer Receiving Social Security Payments

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently announced that millions of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients will no longer receive their benefits. This change has affected over 100,000 people across the nation, with the total number of beneficiaries dropping from 7,380,737 in May 2023 to 7,261,342 in May 2024—a decrease of 119,395 recipients. If you currently receive SSI benefits or plan to apply, it’s important to know why these numbers are declining.

Major Drop

SSI benefits primarily support blind adults and children with little or no income who are disabled. This group makes up approximately 6.1 million of the 7.2 million SSI beneficiaries, while the remaining 1.1 million are aged 65 and over. In the past year, there has been a significant decrease of 140,034 disabled or blind claimants, from 6,281,068 in May 2023 to 6,141,034 in May 2024. Conversely, the 65+ group saw an increase of 20,639 beneficiaries, from 1,099,669 to 1,120,308.

State-by-State Breakdown

The reasons behind the decrease in blind or disabled users aren’t clear. Newsweek’s investigation revealed that more than 10,000 people in various states were removed from the SSI rolls. In California, SSI applications decreased by 16,573, even though the state had the highest number of applications. Additionally, over 17,000 people classified as blind or disabled became ineligible, reducing the number of beneficiaries from 708,695 to 690,351.

Texas saw a reduction of 14,587 recipients, dropping from 591,710 in May 2023 to 577,123 in May 2024. New York also reported a decline from 568,777 to 559,222. In contrast, North Dakota’s numbers remained almost unchanged, decreasing by only 17 people. Rhode Island reported minor fluctuations, with beneficiary numbers dropping from 30,317 to 30,015.

SSA’s New Rules

The SSA has introduced changes to streamline the disability determination process, impacting both the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program and SSI benefits. These changes, effective June 22, 2024, aim to simplify the application process and reduce decision wait times.

One significant update is the simplification of the fourth step in evaluating whether an applicant can perform relevant work. Previously, applicants had to provide employment information spanning 15 years, leading to challenges in accurate reporting. The new rule shortens this period to five years, focusing on recent relevant job activity. Jobs lasting less than 30 days will no longer be considered.

According to the SSA, “The new regulation makes it easier for people to apply for benefits since they may focus on their most recent relevant job activity while still providing enough information to make accurate evaluations.”

Impact of Changes

These changes aim to reduce administrative burdens and improve accuracy in disability evaluations. By focusing on recent job activities, the SSA hopes to make the application process more manageable for applicants and ensure quicker, more accurate decisions.

While the reduction in SSI beneficiaries may cause concern, these updates to the application process are designed to benefit those who genuinely qualify for assistance. It’s crucial for current and prospective SSI recipients to stay informed about these changes to navigate the application process effectively.

If you’re affected by these changes or plan to apply for SSI benefits, ensure you know the new rules and requirements. Staying informed will help you manage your benefits and avoid any potential issues.

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