Does SSI or Disability Help Pay Rent, Utilities, or Heating Costs?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) operates two programs that provide income for disabled people. Both programs—Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security disability insurance (SSDI)—will pay you monthly cash benefits if you're disabled and you meet certain other eligibility criteria.

Because of the SSI and SSDI income caps (more on this below), it can be tough to get by on disability benefits without help. Here's what you need to know about getting rent or utility assistance if you receive SSDI or SSI disability benefits.

Getting Help With Rent or Housing If You're Disabled

The SSI and SSDI programs aren't set up to help directly pay for expenses like rent or utilities. But you don't have to use your monthly disability payments only for expenses related to your disability (like doctor's visits or prescription medication). You can use the money you get from Social Security to pay for whatever you need—including paying for your utilities and rent. SSI doesn't have limits on how much you can spend for rent.

The only exception to this rule, about how you can spend SSI benefits, is for lump-sum SSI payments to children with disabilities. When a child's parent or representative payee receives a lump sum of back pay, it must be used to pay for the child's education, medical expenses, or other specific costs of care. (Learn more about the special rules for children's lump-sum SSI payments.)

Where SSI and SSDI Recipients Can Go for Rent and Housing Assistance

Although Social Security doesn't directly offer rent or housing assistance for SSI or SSDI recipients, other help is available. If you need housing assistance, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds programs that can help eligible Social Security disability recipients.

In addition to public housing, if your income is very low, you might qualify for HUD Housing Choice (Section 8) vouchers. Another federal program is the Section 811 Project-Based Rental Assistance (PRA) program, which is for households where one adult member of the household has a disability.

Additional financial assistance is available for homeowners and renters through federal, state, and local programs. You can find a program near you on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau website and learn more about the following programs:

• Emergency Rental Assistance Program
• Multifamily Housing Rental Assistance (for rural rental housing or farm labor housing)
• Housing Assistance for Native Americans.

You can also call 211 (or go to 211.org's website) if you need help paying your rent or utility bills so you can stay in your home.

You can learn more about federal resources for housing, including housing vouchers, by reading our article for SSI and SSDI recipients who need housing or rent assistance.

Getting help from one of these programs won't affect your SSI eligibility or reduce your monthly benefit amount, as some other financial assistance can (we discuss this next). But to be clear, using public housing, housing vouchers, or emergency rental assistance won't jeopardize your disability benefits.

Can Getting Help With Rent Affect Your Disability Benefits?

Few SSI recipients live in their own house or apartment and pay full rent. Many people on SSI live with a friend or family member, or have a family member paying some or all of their rent. But if you receive SSI disability and you're getting help with your housing expenses, or gifts of cash, it could affect your monthly benefits.

If you receive cash, Social Security will treat most of it as unearned income and subtract the amount from your monthly benefit. Here's what happens if someone pays your rent for you or doesn't charge you rent.

How Free Rent Affects Your SSI Benefit

If you're receiving free room and board, say by living with a friend or relative, Social Security will consider it "in-kind support and maintenance" (ISM). When you receive ISM, Social Security can reduce the amount of your monthly SSI benefit by about one-third. (Receiving ISM doesn't affect SSDI benefits.)

But not all help with housing expenses is considered ISM. Social Security won't reduce your monthly benefit if any of the following apply to you:

• You live with others but pay your share of the food and housing expenses.
• You live with your spouse and minor children (and no one else), and no one outside the household pays for your food and shelter.
• You live in a house with someone (other than you) who is receiving public assistance such as SNAP, TANF, SSI, or VA pension.
• You're receiving free rent right now, but only as a loan that you need to pay back.

How Discounted Rent Affects Your SSI Benefit

If someone other than a government program, such as a parent, a relative, or a friend, lets you live in an apartment or room for reduced rent, the discount might count as in-kind income. But, if you're paying at least $334.33 a month in rent (in 2024), Social Security won't count the rent reduction you receive as in-kind support, no matter how much of a discount you're getting.

If you're paying less than $334.33 per month in rent, and the rental space is worth more, Social Security will treat the discount as income. The agency will take the market value of your rental (but only up to $334.33) and subtract what you're paying in rent to calculate the discount you're getting. That discount will then be treated as in-kind income and be subtracted from your SSI payment. (20 C.F.R. § 416.1130.)

Learn more about in-kind income and when discounted rent will affect your SSI benefits.

Utility Assistance for Disabled Persons

For help with utility bills, the federal Administration for Children and Families (ACF) provides the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The program is funded by the Federal Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and administered through local offices.

LIHEAP helps pay for gas and electric utilities (heating and cooling costs) through bill payment assistance and energy crisis aid to families in need. LIHEAP can also help with heating system repairs (or replacement) and offers free weatherization services to make your home more energy efficient, including

• attic insulation
• weather stripping around doors and windows
• minor housing repairs, and
• related energy conservation measures.

To apply for LIHEAP, go to LIHEAP.org to find the assistance program in your state and/or search for the LIHEAP program in your county.

In addition, many companies, such as utility companies and water companies, will work with people who have limited income to lower their monthly costs or set up payment plans. Some also offer utility assistance programs with disability discounts. You can contact your utility companies directly and explain your situation to see if your payments can be reduced.

SSI and SSDI Income Limits

If you're not familiar with the two disability programs run by Social Security, here's a quick overview. To get SSI, you must have limited income and resources. To qualify for SSDI, you must have worked and paid Social Security tax (FICA) long enough (and you must be unable to earn above a certain amount now).

Both disability programs have limits on how much income you can earn. The SSI income limit is $943 per month for individuals and $1,415 for couples, though the SSA only counts about half the income you earn from work. If you're getting SSDI, you can't earn more than $1,550 per month from work (the "SGA" amount for 2024), but there's no limit to the amount of income your spouse can earn.

Because of these limits, it's important to find rental assistance (that doesn't count as income, which would lower your benefits). The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers a helpful database of rental assistance programs in your area.

How to Get Help With Other Expenses or Difficult Situations

Social Security can take many months to approve your SSDI or SSI benefits. That can create financial hardship for many applicants who have to buy food for their families and pay medical bills. Fortunately, there are some resources available if you're waiting for Social Security to approve your disability benefits.

Since SSI eligibility is based partly on having limited income and resources, you'll probably meet the limited income requirements for other federal, state, or local assistance programs. You may be eligible for programs like Medicaid, TANF (Temporary Assistance for Families), and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP—formerly called food stamps). You should contact the agencies responsible for administering these programs in your area and see if you're eligible.

Many local religious organizations and nonprofit groups also provide rent and food assistance to disabled people. You can find nonprofit organizations in your area at GreatNonprofits.org.

To lessen the research you have to do, talk to a social services worker at your local Department of Social Services to find out about the above programs. Social services workers are very familiar with the resources in your area and can also provide counseling in crisis situations, if you're about to lose your housing, are not feeling safe at home, or are suffering a mental health emergency.

Learn more about the financial help you might be able to receive while you're on SSI or waiting for a decision from Social Security about your benefits.