H.R. 8298 — SSI Savings and Efficiency Act of 2026

This section excludes support and maintenance furnished in kind from countable income under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program by amending the general income definition in Section 1612(a)(2) of the Social Security Act and striking prior valuation rules. (As background, SSI provides monthly cash benefits to low-income aged, blind, and disabled individuals; previously, such in-kind support was generally counted at a presumed maximum value of one-third the federal benefit rate plus $20, absent evidence of a lower value.) It makes conforming amendments to eliminate related provisions, including for sponsored aliens under sponsor deeming rules.