The Retirement Case for Updating SSI’s Asset Limits

January 10th, 2024

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program provides critical monthly cash benefits to elderly Americans and Americans with disabilities who have very low or no incomes. But the program also imposes asset limits on its recipients. These asset limits were set nearly forty years ago and are so low that they effectively lock many SSI recipients into poverty. They also prevent most SSI recipients from saving for retirement.

Bipartisan legislation that would update these outdated asset limits is currently making its way through both chambers of Congress. This webinar featured speakers representing a cross-section of business and advocacy groups that are supporting this proposal. The speakers discussed why updating SSI’s asset limits is so important to millions of Americans and why a diverse coalition of stakeholders has come together in support of this issue.

Webinar speakers include: Tyler Bond, Research Director, National Institute on Retirement Security; Rebecca Vallas, Distinguished Fellow, National Academy of Social Insurance; Kathleen Romig, Director of Social Security and Disability Policy, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities; Nan Gibson, Executive Director, JPMorgan Chase PolicyCenter; Chantel Sheaks, Vice President, Retirement Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce; and Emerson Sprick, Associate Director of Economic Policy, Bipartisan Policy Center.