Congress·In Committee·H.R. 7828

Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act of 2026

Rep. Grijalva Introduces Bill to Raise SSI Benefits to Poverty Level and End Marriage Penalty

21 days ago·View on Congress.gov·Read full text

The Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act of 2026 is currently in the early stages of the legislative process after being referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. No further actions are scheduled at this time, and the bill is considered to be in the beginning phase of its review.

Legislative Progress

House

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

The bill would raise SSI benefit levels to match the federal poverty guideline for individuals, and double that amount for married couples — effectively ending the so-called "marriage penalty" that currently reduces benefits when two SSI recipients marry.
From policy text
“for calendar years after 2026, at the rate equal to the annual poverty guideline for the calendar year preceding such calendar year”
View in full text
The asset limit for SSI eligibility would jump from $2,000 to $10,000 for individuals and from $3,000 to $20,000 for couples, and retirement accounts like 401(k)s would no longer count toward those limits at all.
From policy text
“$20,000 in calendar year 2026, and shall be increased as described in section 1617(d) for each subsequent calendar year”
View in full text
In-kind support — like a family member providing free meals or housing — would no longer reduce a person's SSI check, and the amount of earned income excluded before benefits are reduced would rise from $780 to $6,149 per year.
From policy text
“other than support or maintenance furnished in kind”
View in full text
All income and resource thresholds would be updated annually using the Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers (CPI-E), ensuring that the value of benefits keeps up with the rising costs older and disabled Americans actually face.
From policy text
“the average of the Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers (CPI-E, as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor) for the 12-month period ending with September of the preceding calendar year”
View in full text
For the first time, the full SSI program would extend to Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa, giving low-income seniors and people with disabilities in those territories the same federal safety net available on the mainland.
From policy text
“Such term when used in title XVI includes Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.”
View in full text
Tribal general welfare benefits would be excluded from both income and resource calculations for SSI eligibility, preventing federally recognized tribal programs from reducing a member's SSI benefits.
From policy text
“the value of any Indian general welfare benefit (as defined in section 139E of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) received by such individual (or such spouse).”
View in full text

Economy FinanceHealthcareCivil Rights

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Who is affectedScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

State Impacts

StateScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Mar 5, 2026House

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Mar 5, 2026

Introduced in House

Related News

2 articles

Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act introduced

KUAM News·13 days ago

Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act introduced

Congressman James Moylan joined a bipartisan group to introduce the SSI Restoration Act, which would extend eligibility to U.S. territories like Guam. The bill also updates income exclusions so recipients can work without immediately losing benefits and raises payments to the poverty line.

C+

Sierra Sun Times·18 days ago

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Colleagues Introduce Legislation To Update, Expand Lifeline Benefits For Seniors and Americans With Disabilities

Lawmakers introduced the SSI Restoration Act to modernize a program unchanged since the 1970s. The bill increases 'income disregard' amounts, updates asset limits to $10,000/$20,000, and repeals penalties for in-kind support and marriage, ensuring beneficiaries can live with dignity.

CL+