SSI and SSP COLA Increases Announced for 2021

The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) has issued a new informational letter outlining the new Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and State Supplement Program (SSP) levels effective January 2021. The federal cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Title II Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (RSDI) Social Security benefits and Title XVI SSI benefits has been set at 1.3 percent. The 2021 SSI and SSP Maximum Monthly Benefit Levels Chart with an effective date of Jan. 1, 2021 can be found here.

Congregate Care Level 3 recipients residing in adult care facility (ACF) and assisted living (AL) settings will receive a total monthly benefit of $1,488. The personal needs allowance will be $210.00. The Department of Health (DOH) will likely issue a Dear Administrator Letter (DAL) providing more information to ACF/AL providers, but we wanted to provide you with this information for your planning purposes, as you must provide assisted living residence (ALR) residents with 45 days notice of rate increases and ACF residents 30 days notice.

Members are reminded that the COLA is applied only to the federal portion of the SSI rate. As you know, LeadingAge NY has been advocating for years for an increase in the State Supplement of the SSI rate for ACF residents and is now pursuing legal action to remedy the issue.

Contact: Diane Darbyshire, ddarbyshire@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8828