EMPSA Act

Summary#

This bill (the EMPSA Act) changes Title XVI of the Social Security Act. It says adults age 18 or older who are diagnosed with an intellectual or developmental disability can get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) without their benefit being reduced because they are married. The bill adds rules that: the person must meet the usual SSI income and resource limits based on their own income and resources (after the normal exclusions); the SSI payment is paid at the individual rate and reduced only by the individual’s counted income; and when a covered married person’s eligibility or benefit is decided, the spouse’s income and resources are not counted (not "deemed").

What it means for you#

  • If you are 18 or older and have an intellectual or developmental disability and you qualify for SSI based on your own income and resources, marrying someone will not cause your SSI to be reduced because of your spouse’s income or resources.
  • Your SSI payment under this change would be set using the individual SSI rate and your own counted income.
  • The bill addresses only SSI rules. It does not change other programs or benefits in text provided.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on costs or budget effects is included in the bill text or metadata provided.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.