2021 SSA and SSI Benefit Increase - Cash and SNAP

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12/01/2020

Action Memo

Summary:

This Action Memo provides FCRC staff with information on the 2021 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) effective January 2021.

  • The COLA effective January 2021 is 1.3%.
    • The maximum SSI for a single person is increased from $783 to $794.
    • The maximum SSI for a couple is increased from $1,175 to $1,191.
  • A central COLA budget will occur by December 2020 cut off to affect January 2021 Cash and SNAP benefits.

January 2021 COLA Increase

The COLA effective January 2021 is 1.3%. The maximum SSI for a single person is increased from $783 to $794. The maximum SSI for a couple is increased from $1,175 to $1,191.

Central Budget of COLA

The 2021 SSA and SSI benefit amount will be centrally budgeted for January 2021 for the following programs with customers included in the central budgeting process:

  • AABD Cash;
  • SNAP;
  • TANF; and
  • RRA Cash.

Central budgeting takes place towards the end of every month. The SSA/SSI increase will be centrally budgeted for January 2021 Cash and SNAP benefits.

FCRC Action

Local office staff are responsible for budgeting the actual amount of the January 2021 SSA and/or SSI income for:

  • persons excluded from automated income updates to RSDI and/or SSI.

Please refer to IES Report "SSA-SSI 02 Exclusion Report (Report ID: IL-LB-112-DLY) See WAG 22-14-03-a for BENDEX and WAG 22-14-03-b for SDX.

Upon receipt of the list of individual incomes not centrally updated by BENDEX/SDX interfaces take the following action:

  • determine the reason for the exclusion;
  • correctly budget SSA and SSI for the person(s) excluded from automated RSDI/SSI income updates; and
  • correct the problem causing the exclusion, when possible.
  • Instructions for budgeting the increased SSA/SSI benefits for medical will be in a separate release.

If the FCRC cannot correct the problem causing the exclusion, complete and submit Discrepancy Referral Form IL444-1925 to the SSA Programs Control Unit. Attach the verification supporting the correct customer information or benefit amount.

[signed copy on file]

Grace B. Hou

Secretary, Illinois Department of Human Services

Form Referenced:

IL444-1925