Many Federal statutes in addition to the Social Security Act provide assistance or benefits for individuals and specify that the assistance or benefit will not be considered in deciding eligibility for SSI. We have listed these statutes in this appendix and have placed them in categories according to the kind of income or assistance they provide. The list gives the name of the Federal statute (where possible), the public law number, and the citation. Each item briefly describes what the statute provides that will not reduce or eliminate an SSI payment. More detailed information is available from a social security office or by reference to the statutes.
We update this list periodically. However, when new Federal statutes of this kind are enacted, or existing statutes are changed, we apply the law currently in effect, even before this appendix is updated.
I. Food
(a) Value of food coupons under the Food Stamp Act of 1977, section 1301 of Pub. L. 95-113 (91 Stat. 968, 7 U.S.C. 2017(b)).
(b) Value of federally donated foods distributed under section 32 of Pub. L. 74-320 (49 Stat. 774) or section 416 of the Agriculture Act of 1949 (63 Stat. 1058, 7 CFR 250.6(e)(9)).
(c) Value of free or reduced price food for women and children under the—
(1) Child Nutrition Act of 1966, section 11(b) of Pub. L. 89-642 (80 Stat. 889, 42 U.S.C. 1780(b)) and section 17 of that Act as added by Pub. L. 92-433 (86 Stat. 729, 42 U.S.C. 1786); and
(2) National School Lunch Act, section 13(h)(3), as amended by section 3 of Pub. L. 90-302 (82 Stat. 119, 42 U.S.C. 1761(h)(3)).
(d) Services, except for wages paid to residents who assist in providing congregate services such as meals and personal care, provided a resident of an eligible housing project under a congregate services program under section 802 of the Cranston-Gonzales National Affordable Housing Act, Public Law 101-625 (104 Stat. 4313, 42 U.S.C. 8011).
II. Housing and Utilities
(a) Assistance to prevent fuel cut-offs and to promote energy efficiency under the Emergency Energy Conservation Services Program or the Energy Crisis Assistance Program as authorized by section 222(a)(5) of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, as amended by section 5(d)(1) of Pub. L. No. 93-644 and section 5(a)(2) of Pub. L. 95-568 (88 Stat. 2294 as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2809(a)(5)).
(b) Home energy assistance payments or allowances under title XXVI of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, Public Law 97-35, as amended (42 U.S.C. 8624(f)).
Note:
This exclusion applies to a sponsor's income only if the alien is living in the housing unit for which the sponsor receives the home energy assistance payments or allowances.
(c) Value of any assistance paid with respect to a dwelling unit under—
(1) The United States Housing Act of 1937;
(2) The National Housing Act;
(3) Section 101 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965; or
(4) Title V of the Housing Act of 1949.
Note:
This exclusion applies to a sponsor's income only if the alien is living in the housing unit for which the sponsor receives the housing assistance.
(d) Payments for relocating, made to persons displaced by Federal or federally assisted programs which acquire real property, under section 216 of Pub. L. 91-646, the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (84 Stat. 1902, 42 U.S.C. 4636).
III. Education and Employment
(a) Grants or loans to undergraduate students made or insured under programs administered by the Secretary of Education under section 507 of the Higher Education Amendments of 1968, Pub. L. 90-575 (82 Stat. 1063).
(b) Any wages, allowances, or reimbursement for transportation and attendant care costs, unless excepted on a case-by-case basis, when received by an eligible handicapped individual employed in a project under title VI of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as added by title II of Pub. L. 95-602 (92 Stat. 2992, 29 U.S.C. 795(b)(c)).
(c) Student financial assistance for attendance costs received from a program funded in whole or in part under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, or under Bureau of Indian Affairs student assistance programs if it is made available for tuition and fees normally assessed a student carrying the same academic workload, as determined by the institution, including costs for rental or purchase of any equipment, materials, or supplies required of all students in the same course of study and an allowance for books, supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses for a student attending the institution on at least a half-time basis, as determined by the institution, under section 14(27) of Public Law 100-50, the Higher Education Technical Amendments Act of 1987 (20 U.S.C. 1087uu).
IV. Native Americans
(a) Types of Payments Excluded Without Regard to Specific Tribes or Groups—
(1) Indian judgment funds that are held in trust by the Secretary of the Interior or distributed per capita pursuant to a plan prepared by the Secretary of the Interior and not disapproved by a joint resolution of the Congress under Public Law 93-134 as amended by section 4 of Public Law 97-458 (96 Stat. 2513, 25 U.S.C. 1408). Indian judgment funds include interest and investment income accrued while such funds are so held in trust. This exclusion extends to initial purchases made with Indian judgment funds. This exclusion does not apply to sales or conversions of initial purchases or to subsequent purchases.
Note:
This exclusion applies to the income of sponsors of aliens only if the alien lives in the sponsor's household.
(2) All funds held in trust by the Secretary of the Interior for an Indian tribe and distributed per capita to a member of that tribe are excluded from income under Public Law 98-64 (97 Stat. 365, 25 U.S.C. 117b). Funds held by Alaska Native Regional and Village Corporations (ANRVC) are not held in trust by the Secretary of the Interior and therefore ANRVC dividend distributions are not excluded from countable income under this exclusion. For ANRVC dividend distributions, see paragraph IV.(a)(3) of this appendix.
Note:
This exclusion applies to the income of sponsors of aliens only if the alien lives in the sponsor's household.
(3) Distributions received by an individual Alaska Native or descendant of an Alaska Native from an Alaska Native Regional and Village Corporation pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, as follows: cash, including cash dividends on stock received from a Native Corporation, to the extent that it does not, in the aggregate, exceed $2,000 per individual each year; stock, including stock issued or distributed by a Native Corporation as a dividend or distribution on stock; a partnership interest; land or an interest in land, including land or an interest in land received from a Native Corporation as a dividend or distribution on stock; and an interest in a settlement trust. This exclusion is pursuant to section 15 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Amendments of 1987, Public Law 100-241 (101 Stat. 1812, 43 U.S.C. 1626(c)), effective February 3, 1988.
Note:
This exclusion does not apply in deeming income from sponsors to aliens.
(4) Up to $2,000 per year received by Indians that is derived from individual interests in trust or restricted lands under section 13736 of Public Law 103-66 (107 Stat. 663, 25 U.S.C. 1408,as.
(b) Payments to Members of Specific Indian Tribes and Groups—
(1) Per capita payments to members of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians from the proceeds of the sale of timber and lumber on the Red Lake Reservation under section 3 of Public Law 85-794 (72 Stat. 958).
(2) Per capita distribution payments by the Blackfeet and Gros Ventre tribal governments to members which resulted from judgment funds to the tribes under section 4 of Public Law 92-254 (86 Stat. 65) and under section 6 of Public Law 97-408 (96 Stat. 2036).
(3) Settlement fund payments and the availability of such funds to members of the Hopi and Navajo Tribes under section 22 of Public Law 93-531 (88 Stat. 1722) as amended by Public Law 96-305 (94 Stat. 929).
Note:
This exclusion applies to the income of sponsors of aliens only if the alien lives in the sponsor's household.
(4) Judgment funds distributed per capita to, or held in trust for, members of the Sac and Fox Indian Nation, and the availability of such funds under section 6 of Public Law 94-189 (89 Stat. 1094).
Note:
This exclusion applies to the income of sponsors of aliens only if the alien lives in the sponsor's household.
(5) Judgment funds distributed per capita to, or held in trust for, members of the Grand River Band of Ottawa Indians, and the availability of such funds under section 6 of Public Law 94-540 (90 Stat. 2504).
Note:
This exclusion applies to the income of sponsors of aliens only if the alien lives in the sponsor's household.
(6) Any judgment funds distributed per capita to members of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakima Indian Nation or the Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Reservation under section 2 of Public Law 95-433 (92 Stat. 1047, 25 U.S.C. 609c-1).
(7) Any judgment funds distributed per capita or made available for programs for members of the Delaware Tribe of Indians and the absentee Delaware Tribe of Western Oklahoma under section 8 of Public Law 96-318 (94 Stat. 971).
(8) All funds and distributions to members of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Penobscot Nation, and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians under the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act, and the availability of such funds under section 9 of Public Law 96-420 (94 Stat. 1795, 25 U.S.C. 1728(c)).
Note:
This exclusion applies to the income of sponsors of aliens only if the alien lives in the sponsor's household.
(9) Any distributions of judgment funds to members of the San Carlos Apache Indian Tribe of Arizona under section 7 of Public Law 93-134 (87 Stat. 468) and Public Law 97-95 (95 Stat. 1206).
Note:
This exclusion applies to the income of sponsors of aliens only if the alien lives in the sponsor's household.
(10) Any distribution of judgment funds to members of the Wyandot Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma under section 6 of Public Law 97-371 (96 Stat. 1814).
(11) Distributions of judgment funds to members of the Shawnee Tribe of Indians (Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma and the Cherokee Band of Shawnee descendants) under section 7 of Public Law 97-372 (96 Stat. 1816).
(12) Judgment funds distributed per capita or made available for programs for members of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and the Miami Indians of Indiana under section 7 of Public Law 97-376 (96 Stat. 1829).
(13) Distributions of judgment funds to members of the Clallam Tribe of Indians of the State of Washington (Port Gamble Indian Community, Lower Elwha Tribal Community and the Jamestown Band of Clallam Indians) under section 6 of Public Law 97-402 (96 Stat. 2021).
(14) Judgment funds distributed per capita or made available for programs for members of the Pembina Chippewa Indians (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy's Reservation, Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Little Shell Band of the Chippewa Indians of Montana, and the nonmember Pembina descendants) under section 9 of Public Law 97-403 (96 Stat. 2025).
(15) Per capita distributions of judgment funds to members of the Assiniboine Tribe of Fort Belknap Indian Community and the Papago Tribe of Arizona under sections 6 and 8(d) of Public Law 97-408 (96 Stat. 2036, 2038).
(16) Up to $2,000 of per capita distributions of judgment funds to members of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation under section 4 of Public Law 97-436 (96 Stat. 2284).
Note:
This exclusion applies to the income of sponsors of aliens only if the alien lives in the sponsor's household.
(17) Judgment funds distributed to the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians under section 3 of Public Law 98-123 (97 Stat. 816).
(18) Funds distributed per capita or family interest payments for members of the Assiniboine Tribe of Fort Belknap Indian Community of Montana and the Assiniboine Tribe of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation of Montana under section 5 of Public Law 98-124 (97 Stat. 818).
(19) Distributions of judgment funds and income derived therefrom to members of the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe under section 5 of Public Law 98-432 (98 Stat. 1672).
(20) All distributions to heirs of certain deceased Indians under section 8 of the Old Age Assistance Claims Settlement Act, Public Law 98-500 (98 Stat. 2319).
Note:
This exclusion applies to the income of sponsors of aliens only if the alien lives in the sponsor's household.
(21) Judgment funds distributed per capita or made available for any tribal program for members of the Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma and the Absentee Wyandottes under section 106 of Public Law 98-602 (98 Stat. 3151).
(22) Per capita and dividend payment distributions of judgment funds to members of the Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska, the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, the Prairie Island Sioux, Lower Sioux, and Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Communities of Minnesota under section 8 of Public Law 99-130 (99 Stat. 552) and section 7 of Public Law 93-134 (87 Stat. 468), as amended by Public Law 97-458 (96 Stat. 2513; 25 U.S.C. 1407).
(23) Funds distributed per capita or held in trust for members of the Chippewas of Lake Superior and the Chippewas of the Mississippi under section 6 of Public Law 99-146 (99 Stat. 782).
(24) Distributions of claims settlement funds to members of the White Earth Band of Chippewa Indians as allottees, or their heirs, under section 16 of Public Law 99-264 (100 Stat. 70).
(25) Payments or distributions of judgment funds, and the availability of any amount for such payments or distributions, to members of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan under section 6 of Public Law 99-346 (100 Stat. 677).
Note:
This exclusion applies to the income of sponsors of aliens only if the alien lives in the sponsor's household.
(26) Judgment funds distributed per capita or held in trust for members of the Chippewas of Lake Superior and the Chippewas of the Mississippi under section 4 of Public Law 99-377 (100 Stat. 805).
(27) Judgment funds distributed to members of the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians under section 4 of Public Law 100-139 (101 Stat. 822).
(28) Per capita payments of claims settlement funds to members of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana under section 2 of Public Law 100-411 (102 Stat. 1097) and section 7 of Public Law 93-134 (87 Stat. 468), as amended by Public Law 97-458 (96 Stat. 2513; 25 U.S.C. 1407).
Note:
This exclusion applies to the income of sponsors of aliens only if the alien lives in the sponsor's household.
(29) Funds distributed per capita for members of the Hoopa Valley Indian Tribe and the Yurok Indian Tribe under sections 4, 6 and 7 of Public Law 100-580 (102 Stat. 2929, 2930, 2931) and section 3 of Public Law 98-64 (97 Stat. 365; 25 U.S.C. 117b).
Note:
This exclusion applies to the income of sponsors of aliens only if the alien lives in the sponsor's household.
(30) Judgment funds held in trust by the United States, including interest and investment income accruing on such funds, and judgment funds made available for programs or distributed to members of the Wisconsin Band of Potawatomi (Hannahville Indian Community and Forest County Potawatomi) under section 503 of Public Law 100-581 (102 Stat. 2945).
Note:
This exclusion applies to the income of sponsors of aliens only if the alien lives in the sponsor's household.
(31) All funds, assets, and income from the trust fund transferred to the members of the Puyallup Tribe under section 10 of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians Settlement Act of 1989, Public Law 101-41 (103 Stat. 88, 25 U.S.C. 1773h(c)).
Note:
This exclusion does not apply in deeming income from sponsors to aliens.
(32) Judgment funds distributed per capita, or held in trust, or made available for programs, for members of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida and the independent Seminole Indians of Florida under section 8 of Public Law 101-277 (104 Stat. 145).
Note:
This exclusion applies to the income of sponsors of aliens only if the alien lives in the sponsor's household.
(33) Payments, funds, distributions, or income derived from them to members of the Seneca Nation of New York under section 8(b) of the Seneca Nation Settlement Act of 1990, Public Law 101-503 (104 Stat. 1297, 25 U.S.C. 1774f).
Note:
This exclusion does not apply in deeming income from sponsors to aliens.
(34) Per capita distributions of settlement funds under section 102 of the Fallon Paiute Shoshone Indian Tribes Water Rights Settlement Act of 1990, Public Law 101-618 (104 Stat. 3289) and section 7 of Public Law 93-134 (87 Stat. 468), as amended by Public Law 97-458 (96 Stat. 2513; 25 U.S.C. 1407).
(35) Settlement funds, assets, income, payments, or distributions from Trust Funds to members of the Catawba Indian Tribe of South Carolina under section 11(m) of Public Law 103-116 (107 Stat. 1133).
(36) Settlement funds held in trust (including interest and investment income accruing on such funds) for, and payments made to, members of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation under section 7(b) of Public Law 103-436 (108 Stat. 4579).
Note:
This exclusion applies to the income of sponsors of aliens only if the alien lives in the sponsor's household.
(37) Judgment funds distributed under section 111 of the Michigan Indian Land Claims Settlement Act, (Pub. L. 105-143, 111 Stat. 2665).
(38) Judgment funds distributed under section 4 of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe Distribution of Judgment Funds Act, (Pub. L. 108-222, 118 Stat. 624).
(c) Receipts from Lands Held in Trust for Certain Tribes or Groups—
(1) Receipts from land held in trust by the Federal government and distributed to members of certain Indian tribes under section 6 of Public Law 94-114 (89 Stat. 579, 25 U.S.C. 459e).
Note:
This exclusion applies to the income of sponsors of aliens only if the alien lives in the sponsor's household.
(2) Receipts derived from trust lands awarded to the Pueblo of Santa Ana and distributed to members of that tribe under section 6 of Public Law 95-498 (92 Stat. 1677).
(3) Receipts derived from trust lands awarded to the Pueblo of Zia of New Mexico and distributed to members of that tribe under section 6 of Public Law 95-499 (92 Stat. 1680).
V. Other
(a) Compensation provided to volunteers by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), unless determined by the CNCS to constitute the minimum wage in effect under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.), or applicable State law, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 5044(f)(1).
Note:
This exclusion does not apply to the income of sponsors of aliens.
(b) Any assistance to an individual (other than wages or salaries) under the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended by section 102(h)(1) of Pub. L. 95-478 (92 Stat. 1515, 42 U.S.C. 3020a).
(c) Amounts paid as restitution to certain individuals of Japanese ancestry and Aleuts for losses suffered as a result of evacuation, relocation, and internment during World War II, under the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 and the Aleutian and Pribilof Islands Restitution Act, sections 105(f) and 206(d) of Public Law 100-383 (50 U.S.C. App. 1989 b and c).
(d) Payments made on or after January 1, 1989, from the Agent Orange Settlement Fund or any other fund established pursuant to the settlement in the In Re Agent Orange product liability litigation, M.D.L. No. 381 (E.D.N.Y.) under Public Law 101-201 (103 Stat. 1795) and section 10405 of Public Law 101-239 (103 Stat. 2489).
(e) Payments made under section 6 of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, Public Law 101-426 (104 Stat. 925, 42 U.S.C. 2210).
(f) The value of any child care provided or arranged (or any payment for such care or reimbursement for costs incurred for such care) under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act, as amended by section 8(b) of Public Law 102-586 (106 Stat. 5035).
(g) Payments made to individuals because of their status as victims of Nazi persecution excluded pursuant to section 1(a) of the Victims of Nazi Persecution Act of 1994, Public Law 103-286 (108 Stat. 1450).
(h) Any matching funds from a demonstration project authorized by the Community Opportunities, Accountability, and Training and Educational Services Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-285) and any interest earned on these matching funds in an Individual Development Account, pursuant to section 415 of Pub. L. 105-285 (112 Stat. 2771).
(i) Any earnings, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families matching funds, and interest in an Individual Development Account, pursuant to section 103 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-193, 42 U.S.C. 604(h)(4)).
(j) Payments made to individuals who were captured and interned by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam as a result of participation in certain military operations, pursuant to section 606 of the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 105-78).
(k) Payments made to certain Vietnam veterans' children with spina bifida, pursuant to section 421 of the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 104-204, 38 U.S.C. 1805(a)).
(l) Payments made to the children of women Vietnam veterans who suffer from certain birth defects, pursuant to section 401 of the Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-419 (38 U.S.C. 1833(c)).
(m) Payments of the refundable child tax credit made under section 24 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, pursuant to section 203 of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, Public Law 107-16 (115 Stat. 49, 26 U.S.C. 24 note).
(n) Assistance provided for flood mitigation activities as provided under section 1324 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, pursuant to section 1 of Public Law 109-64 (119 Stat. 1997, 42 U.S.C. 4031).
(o) Payments made to individuals under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000, pursuant to section 1 [Div. C, Title XXXVI section 3646] of Public Law 106-398 (114 Stat. 1654A-510, 42 U.S.C. 7385e).
[45 FR 65547, Oct. 3, 1980, as amended at 52 FR 8888, Mar. 20, 1987; 57 FR 53851, Nov. 13, 1992; 57 FR 55088, Nov. 24, 1992; 59 FR 8538, Feb. 23, 1994; 62 FR 30982, June 6, 1997; 70 FR 41137, July 18, 2005; 75 FR 1273, Jan. 11, 2010]