Hi everyone,

I'm 34 years old, and I've been on an SSI disability for mental illness since I was 16. I'm trying find a job. In the meantime, I'm still living with my mother.

Because I live with my mother, and because I told the SSA that I am not paying rent or paying for my own food, I receive about $230 less than I would if I were living independently.

My check is not big enough to pay my full share of household expenses, but I do use most of it to help out as much as possible.

I have been considering notifying the SSA that I am now paying rent to my mother and buying my own food. A few hundred dollars more per month would be very helpful. And I would be telling the truth, because I really would begin writing my mother a monthly check.

However, I'm afraid that the SSA might see this change as suspicious, and review my case. I feel nervous every time I get a letter from them.

So my question is, if I tell the SSA that I am now paying rent to my mother after all these years of living rent-free, how are they likely to respond?

Have you called the local office and asked them ?

I don't know about those issues.....hopefully, someone will come along who can answer that.

If you feel like you are now able to work, get a job, and find that you can sustain SGA......that would really negate the whole pay rent/try to get increased SSI issue.

Even if the paying rent/getting more SSI issue were to go your way, I doubt that would be decided quickly (as in.....you start paying rent this month, get the increased SSI next month or soon thereafter). Does your Mom understand that se would have to declare that rental income as income on her taxes ? I would focus on the working issue for now.

It is not unusual for someone to start paying rent even when they haven't done so before. SSA would look at your evidence and make a decision about whether or not you were paying your pro-rata share of household expenses or whether it is a business arrangement between you and your mother and that she charges you the market value for room rental. If either of those apply, two months later SSI increases. If neither applies, nothing happens.

You could have an income, resource and living arrangement review even if you don't have a medical review. It is supposed to be done every year or so.

In addition have you considered applying for food stamps?

" If either of those apply, two months later SSI increases"

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I had no idea they would move that fast. That's good to know.....Thanks Janke !

Mz Migraine: That's a good idea, but unfortunately I live in a state (California) where people on SSI aren't eligible for food stamps.

Thanks for your ideas, everyone. I have had a couple of job opportunities come my way, so I am feeling more confident that I will get something...which would likely make this issue irrelevant, since with a part-time job, my SSI check would be cut pretty significantly, or maybe altogether. I would rather be working, as long as I can do okay and manage my stress level.

If I decide to go ahead with the rent idea, I will post back here and let you know how it goes.

If you are going to go to work, as an SSI recipient you should learn about section 1619a and 1619b SSI eligibility which could keep you on Medi-Cal as long as you meet all other SSI requirements except going to work. Also makes for an easy reinstatement to SSI cash benefits if you can't keep working for any reason.


http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ssi/sp...t-medicaid.htm