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SSA

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has issued ODPANN 24-124 to provide notice that the Federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment will be increasing.

Effective January 2025, the Social Security Administration (SSA) increased the SSI allotment by 2.5 percent to reflect an increase in the cost of living. This raises the maximum monthly income to $967 for an eligible individual, $1,450 for an eligible individual with an eligible spouse, and $484 for an essential person.

There is no anticipated increase in the State Supplementary Payment (SSP) for 2025.

Please see the announcement for further information. If you have any questions, please reach out to your Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) Regional Office.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 23-103: Social Security Administration (SSA) Announces 2024 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). This announcement discusses the upcoming COLA increase to the Federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment, beginning in January 2024. Please view the announcement for further information and details.

The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) issued information and clarification on the recent increase to the Personal Care Home (PCH) Supplement for PCH residents currently receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or currently meeting SSI disability and income criteria while applying for SSI.

In August of 2022, the Pennsylvania legislature approved an increase to the PCH Supplement, retroactive to July 1, 2022. The supplement was increased from $439.30 to $639.30 for individuals and from $957.40 to $1357.40 for married couples. The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers both the federal SSI benefit and the PCH supplement. In January 2023, SSA applied the increase and began issuing retroactive payments in lump sums.

As indicated in the Personal Care Home regulations, 55. PA Code Chapter 2600, “If a home agrees to admit a resident eligible for SSI benefits, the home’s charge for actual rent and other services may not exceed the SSI resident’s actual current monthly income reduced by the current personal needs allowance.”

For the purpose of applying the regulations to the PCH Supplement increase, a resident’s actual monthly income should be calculated by including the increased PCH supplement beginning July 1, 2022, and applied as follows:

  • Residents and/or Representative Payees are expected to provide these retroactive payments to the PCH.
  • If a resident was admitted to a PCH between July 1, 2022, and the issuance of the retroactive benefit, the PCH is only entitled to the monthly increase for the months that the resident resided in the PCH.
  • If the resident lived in another PCH prior to admission to their current PCH, the resident and/or representative payee should ensure that the appropriate monthly portions of the retroactive benefit are paid to both the discharging and admitting facilities.
  • Resident-Home Contracts are not required to be updated for the retroactive benefit; however, contracts are required to reflect the actual charges for room, board, and services no later than March 31, 2023.

Questions about the status of individual retroactive and/or monthly SSI and PCH Supplement payments can be addressed by calling SSA at 800-772-1216. Additional questions about the application of the retroactive PCH Supplement increase can be directed via email. For information about applying for SSI and or the PCH Supplement, please contact your local agency.

ODP Announcement 22-127 reports that, effective January 2023, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will increase the SSI allotment by 8.7 percent to reflect an increase in the cost of living. This raises the maximum monthly income to $914 for an eligible individual, $1,371 for an eligible individual with an eligible spouse, and $458 for an essential person. To account for the new Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), Room and Board contracts should be reviewed to determine appropriate adjustment. The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has finalized a new Room and Board Residency Agreement § 6100.687 (DP 1077), which can be accessed here.

If a provider has already begun the process of adjusting the room and board payment for 2023 using the DP 1051, this form will continue to be accepted as current until the annual due date or until a change requires that a new form is completed. The provider must use the DP 1077 at the next annual due date or when there is a change

If you have any questions, please reach out to your ODP Regional Office.