How does the HEART Act make AmeriCorps more accessible to people with disabilities?
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a Federal program that provides a monthly cash benefit to low-income individuals who are aged, blind, or who have a disability. In the past, receiving an AmeriCorps living allowance could disqualify an individual from eligibility. The new law directs the Social Security Administration to ignore an individual’s receipt ofAmeriCorps benefits for purposes of SSI eligibility. Why did Congress make this change? This brings all AmeriCorps members under one treatment of benefits rule for SSI. In the past, only AmeriCorps VISTA benefits were excluded by law from countable income for SSI purposes. Which AmeriCorps benefits are excluded from countable income? The Heart Act excludes any benefit (whether cash or in-kind) and so covers the living allowance, health insurance, child care, and the education award (and related interest payments). What other items are excluded from countable income under the SSI program? The SSI program rules exclude specific amount
