Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act of 2026

Key Points

• The bill would raise SSI monthly payments to match the federal poverty level for individuals, and married couples would receive twice that amount — effectively ending the longstanding "marriage penalty" that discouraged SSI recipients from marrying.
• Asset limits would jump dramatically — from $2,000 to $10,000 for individuals and from $3,000 to $20,000 for couples — and would be adjusted for inflation each year using a price index that tracks costs for older Americans.
• Retirement accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs would no longer count toward SSI's asset limit, so recipients could save for retirement without being kicked off the program.
• In-kind support — like a family member paying for groceries or letting someone live rent-free — would no longer reduce a person's SSI check, removing a rule that punished recipients for accepting help from loved ones.
• For the first time, full SSI benefits would be extended to residents of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa, treating them the same as people in the 50 states and D.C.
• The general income exclusion would rise from $240 to $1,892 per year, and the earned income exclusion would jump from $780 to $6,149 per year, both indexed to inflation — allowing recipients to earn significantly more without losing benefits.