CA4SSI Priorities for 2025 Budget Year

  • Provide an ongoing Cost of Living Increase for SSI/SSP Recipients

  • Support SSI/SSP Recipients when Emergencies Arise

  • Lift SSI/SSP Grants to at least the Federal Poverty Line

 

CA4SSI Coalition’s Response to the 2025-26 May Revision:

CA4SSI is grateful to announce that the May Revision of the 2025-26 State Budget reiterates Governor Newsom’s commitment to preserving SSI/SSP grants. Since the individual grant for SSI/SSP recipients is only 92.5% of the federal poverty level, and the grants for couples is only slightly over the poverty line, we are pleased the Governor realizes the real consequences of reducing the grant, which would have resulted in an increase in housing insecurity and a greater need for emergency food and health care services. In addition, these grants support vulnerable communities such as seniors, people living with disabilities, women, and people of color. 

We are deeply concerned about the significant cuts proposed in Medi-Cal and IHSS, which can harm older adults and people with disabilities, including those on SSI. The proposal to reinstate asset test limits in Medi-Cal for older adults and persons with disabilities of $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple, effective January 1, 2026, is a giant step backward. It is important to note that only older adults and persons with disabilities were targeted for this regressive policy. This does not make sense for anyone, but is especially harmful for our oldest population and those with special health needs. We are also concerned about cuts to healthcare targeted toward immigrant communities. 

California must raise revenues. Californians are aging rapidly, and now is the time to ensure they can live in dignity without worrying about how they will pay for their shelter, food, or medicine.

We hope to work with the administration when opportunities allow to strengthen SSI/SSP grants to reinstate the annual cost-of-living increase and bring the individual grant to at least 100% of the poverty line. We would also like to see a revival of the emergency grant program to assist SSI recipients with unexpected expenses.

CA4SSI Coalition Urges Congress to Protect and Strengthen SNAP and Medicaid

Budget Reconciliation Bill Would Increase Hunger and Sickness for Vulnerable Communities, Including Older Adults and People with Disabilities

The CA4SSI Coalition is very concerned that the House Agriculture Committee’s Farm Bill proposal includes significant cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Energy and Commerce Committee’s proposed legislation cuts to Medicaid. These cuts would increase hunger among our communities, as over 64% of Supplemental Security Income recipients receive SNAP in California, and all receive Medi-Cal.  Older adults and people with disabilities living on SSI are already struggling to survive, as grant levels for individuals continue to fall below the federal poverty line.  It will be impossible for  food banks and other social services to  make up the difference that cuts to SNAP and Medicaid will cause; people will jdevastatingly go hungry and get sick.

We urge our Representatives to oppose this legislation when it moves to the House floor. We call on Congress to protect and strengthen SNAP and Medicaid —not cut or weaken—these vital programs for older adults and people with disabilities.

Seniors and People with Disabilities Who Receive SSI Received One-Time $600 Golden State Grant in 2021

The Golden State Grant provided direct aid to those most impacted by the pandemic. It included a one-time $600 grant to SSI seniors and people with disabilities, to help meet the high costs that SSI recipients struggle to pay during COVID. Learn more here.

SSI/SSP Recipients Can Now Be Eligible for CalFresh

In the summer of 2019, the “cash out” policy that bans SSI recipients from receiving CalFresh (food stamps) ended. People who receive SSI are now able to also receive CalFresh at the same time.