Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act of 2015

To amend title XVI of the Social Security Act to update eligibility for the supplemental security income program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act of 2015 2. Update in eligibility for the supplemental security income program (a) Update in general income exclusion Section 1612(b)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1382a(b)(2)(A) $240 $1,344 (increased as described in section 1617(d) for each calendar year after 2016) (b) Update in earned income exclusion Section 1612(b)(4) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1382a(b)(4) $780 $4,368 (increased as described in section 1617(d) for each calendar year after 2016) (c) Update in resource limit for individuals and couples Section 1611(a)(3) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1382(a)(3) (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking $2,250 $15,000 in calendar year 2016, and shall be increased as described in section 1617(d) for each subsequent calendar year. (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking $1,500 $10,000 in calendar year 2016, and shall be increased as described in section 1617(d) for each subsequent calendar year. (d) Inflation adjustment Section 1617 of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1382f (1) in the section heading, by inserting ; inflation adjustment benefits (2) by adding at the end the following: (d) In the case of any calendar year after 2016, each of the amounts specified in sections 1611(a)(3), 1612(b)(2)(A), and 1612(b)(4) shall be increased by multiplying each such amount by the quotient (not less than 1) obtained by dividing— (1) the average of the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI–W, as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor) for the 12-month period ending with September of the preceding calendar year, by (2) such average for the 12-month period ending with September 2015. . 3. Support and maintenance furnished in kind not included as income (a) In general Section 1612(a)(2) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1382a(a)(2) (1) by inserting (other than support or maintenance furnished in kind) all other income (2) in subparagraph (A)— (A) by striking or kind (B) by striking clause (i) and redesignating clauses (ii) and (iii) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively; and (C) in clause (ii) (as so redesignated), by striking and the provisions of clause (i) shall not be applicable (b) Conforming amendments (1) Section 1611(c) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1382(c) (2) Section 1612(a)(2) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1382a(a)(2) (A) in subparagraph (F), by inserting and (B) in subparagraph (G), by striking ; and (C) by moving subparagraph (G) 2 ems to the right; and (D) by striking subparagraph (H). (3) Section 1621(c) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1382j(c) (c) In determining the amount of income of an alien during the period of 5 years after such alien's entry into the United States, support or maintenance furnished in cash to the alien by such alien's sponsor (to the extent that it reflects income or resources which were taken into account in determining the amount of income and resources to be deemed to the alien under subsection (a) or (b) of this section) shall not be considered to be income of such alien under section 1612(a)(2)(A). . 4. Repeal of penalty for disposal of resources for less than fair market value Section 1613(c) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1382b(c) (c) Notification of Medicaid Policy Restricting Eligibility of Institutionalized Individuals for Benefits Based on Disposal of Resources for Less Than Fair Market Value (1) At the time an individual (and the individual's eligible spouse, if any) applies for benefits under this title, and at the time the eligibility of an individual (and such spouse, if any) for such benefits is redetermined, the Commissioner of Social Security shall— (A) inform such individual of the provisions of section 1917(c) providing for a period of ineligibility for benefits under title XIX for individuals who make certain dispositions of resources for less than fair market value, and inform such individual that information obtained pursuant to subparagraph (B) will be made available to the State agency administering a State plan under title XIX (as provided in paragraph (2)); and (B) obtain from such individual information which may be used by the State agency in determining whether or not a period of ineligibility for such benefits would be required by reason of section 1917(c). (2) The Commissioner of Social Security shall make the information obtained under paragraph (1)(B) available, on request, to any State agency administering a State plan approved under title XIX. . 5. Effective date The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date that is 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Summary: Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act of 2015 Amends title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to increase from $240 to $1,344 (increased for inflation each calendar year after 2016) the first amount of general income per year excluded in determining SSI program eligibility. Increases from $780 to $4,368 (similarly increased) the first amount of earned income similarly excluded (including for a blind or disabled individual or spouse under age 65). Sets at: (1) $15,000 in calendar year 2016 (increased for inflation) the resource limit for couples, and (2) $10,000 in calendar year 2016 (similarly increased) the resource limit for individuals without a spouse. Prescribes an inflation adjustment in benefits in any calendar year after 2016. Removes support and maintenance furnished in kind from determination of unearned income. Repeals the administrative penalty which renders individuals (and spouses) ineligible for SSI for a certain period of time if after the look-back date (usually 36 months preceding their application for SSI) they dispose of their resources for less than market value.