ODP Announcement 19-008 announces the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to Social Security Supplemental Security Income (SSI) that will impact the Room and Board payments for individuals living in settings that are waiver funded Residential Habilitation, Life Sharing and Family Living Services. SSI is a Federal program that provides benefits to adults and children who meet the Social Security Administration (SSA) requirements for disability, income, and resources. This income benefit is designed to help qualified individuals meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter.

Periodically, a COLA affects the maximum monthly allotment. Effective January 2019, the SSA increased the SSI allotment by 2.8 percent to reflect an increase in the cost of living. This raises the maximum monthly income to $771 for an eligible individual, $1,157 for an eligible individual with an eligible spouse, and $386 for an essential person. There is no anticipated increase in the State Supplementary Payment (SSP) for 2019.

To account for the new COLA, Room and Board contracts should be reviewed to determine appropriate adjustment. For more specific information regarding the Room and Board requirements for waiver funded Residential Habilitation, Life Sharing and Family Living services, please see 55 Pa. Code Sections 51. 121-51.128. Room and Board requirements will also be included in 55 Pa. Code Chapter 6100 and will be effective 120 days after the regulations are published. The Room and Board contract is form DP 1051.

This announcement obsoletes Announcement 002-18, effective January 1, 2019, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Increase for Calendar Year 2018. For more specific information regarding SSI and the COLA, please review the US Social Security Administration website.