Independent Living Status vs Living in the household of someone else

[ESRD]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California

Hello. I am currently receiving SSI as I am disabled with kidney and heart failure (on dialysis). I am currently renting a room from my mother whom I had to rent a room from when I lost my home due to my kidney failure (prior to SSI). Anyway, I just found out, even though I am paying rent for the room every month, that Social Security apparently has me as "In the household of someone else" instead of "Independent living status". As I understand it I am eligible for ILS as I have to buy and prepare my own food as being on dialysis I have strict dietary needs that none of the others in the house abide by. I asked someone semi familiar with SSI and they said because my mothers household expenses are so high that even though Im paying $500 a month, it isn't 1/4 of the expenses and therefor that automatically puts me in "The household of someone else" status. How could someone elses choices affect my needs? I know of two others in the exact same situation (renting a room from their family member) that are receiving the $854 a month, instead of the $622 that I receive.

Any thoughts on this situation? Being as I cannot work (four days of dialysis a week) the $854 could really help me each month. I was also told that I shouldve been eligible from the time I started dialysis, but that SSI denied that.

Thank you for any and all help.

 

[Onderzoek]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California

Hello. I am currently receiving SSI as I am disabled with kidney and heart failure (on dialysis). I am currently renting a room from my mother whom I had to rent a room from when I lost my home due to my kidney failure (prior to SSI). Anyway, I just found out, even though I am paying rent for the room every month, that Social Security apparently has me as "In the household of someone else" instead of "Independent living status". As I understand it I am eligible for ILS as I have to buy and prepare my own food as being on dialysis I have strict dietary needs that none of the others in the house abide by. I asked someone semi familiar with SSI and they said because my mothers household expenses are so high that even though Im paying $500 a month, it isn't 1/4 of the expenses and therefor that automatically puts me in "The household of someone else" status. How could someone elses choices affect my needs? I know of two others in the exact same situation (renting a room from their family member) that are receiving the $854 a month, instead of the $622 that I receive.

Any thoughts on this situation? Being as I cannot work (four days of dialysis a week) the $854 could really help me each month. I was also told that I shouldve been eligible from the time I started dialysis, but that SSI denied that.

Thank you for any and all help.

No one is in the exact same situation as you even if they are similar. The others may live in a home that is not as upscale as your mother's home; they may pay more for their room; they may be splitting expenses with more than three people. SSI is concerned with whether or not you are paying the market value or the pro-rata share of the expenses.

Here are references that may help you understand the policies.

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0500835120

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0500835380

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0500835465

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0500835480

 

[ESRD]

No one is in the exact same situation as you even if they are similar. The others may live in a home that is not as upscale as your mother's home; they may pay more for their room; they may be splitting expenses with more than three people. SSI is concerned with whether or not you are paying the market value or the pro-rata share of the expenses.

Here are references that may help you understand the policies.

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0500835120

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0500835380

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0500835465

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0500835480

Thank you for responding. No, no one is exactly the same. Upscale isnt how I would put it, just expensive here in So cal. There are 5 people in the home. Well, one is one with two kids. She rents one room, I rent another. After reading through the links I still dont understand how California housing prices for someone with a mortgage, determines a difference in living situation for me? All things are still the same on my end. Just because they pay more shouldnt really affect me should it? I mean im not gaining equity in a home and $500 is the going rate for a room rental in the city.

 

[Onderzoek]

Thank you for responding. No, no one is exactly the same. Upscale isnt how I would put it, just expensive here in So cal. There are 5 people in the home. Well, one is one with two kids. She rents one room, I rent another. After reading through the links I still dont understand how California housing prices for someone with a mortgage, determines a difference in living situation for me? All things are still the same on my end. Just because they pay more shouldnt really affect me should it? I mean im not gaining equity in a home and $500 is the going rate for a room rental in the city.

The concepts of in-kind support and maintenance are not always easy to understand. SSI is designed to provide you with money for modest food and shelter and if you get help from others who provide you with food and shelter, SSI puts a dollar value on it and counts it as income. It is a very basic federal SSI concept. Read the whole chapter if you want to know all the nuances. Might be a way to put you to sleep some night.

What documents have you provided? What documents/statements has your mother provided? Starting dialysis does not entitle you to getting more money from SSI. Paying either your pro-rata share of household expenses or the fair market value of room rental would be a change that needs to be reported and SSI could increase two months later. Helps to have a cancelled check for this money you give your mother or proof that $500 is withdrawn from your bank account. If you use your debit card for everything, there should be something in your bank records showing this $500 rent, if it is really being paid. That has more value than a rent receipt.

I would also wonder if your mother reports all this room rental income that she gets to the IRS, but that is not an SSI matter.