Increase in Resource Limit and Means Testing for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to Increase

WHEREAS, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a United States government program which makes monthly, basic payments to individuals who have low income and few resources and are age 65 or older, blind or disabled; and

WHEREAS, this benefit is subject to means testing, including both income and asset limits, the recipient may possess no more than $2,000 in assets, including cash, money in a checking or savings account, cash value in life insurance policies (over $1,500), stocks and bonds, household goods and personal effects (over $2,000), motor vehicles (except for one), and real estate (other than the home in which a claimant resides); and

WHEREAS, this amount has not been increased since 1989, and the average monthly SSI payment in 2013 was $507 with a maximum payment of $721 for an individual; and

WHEREAS, the maximum monthly benefit payment is grossly inadequate in providing much needed assistance to this disadvantaged group of citizens and sorely in need of an increase to be commensurate with today's economy.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the NAACP demands that SSI means testing asset limits and resource limits be raised and indexed to inflation in order that the original mandate of the program, making monthly, basic payments to individuals who have low income and few resources and are age 65 or older, blind or disabled; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, the NAACP supports the "Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act of 2014", which updates and indexes to inflation the amount of "earned income" a person can make to $357 per month (earned income is money received through work); updates and indexes to inflation the amount of "general income" a person can make to $110 per month (general income is money received through means other than work); updates and indexes to inflation the amount of "resources" a person or an eligible couple can have to $10,000 and $15,000, respectively (resources is cash or anything considered a liquid asset); repeals the provision-and its subsequent penalty-disallowing financial, food, and housing support from friends and family; and helps the Social Security Administration (SSA) administer SSI in order to streamline the claims process and eliminate mistakes.