If someone helps you with food or shelter, SSA may count it as "in-kind support and maintenance" (ISM) and reduce your SSI. Here's how this complex rule works.
In this article, we'll cover:
- What ISM is
- How it's calculated
- Living arrangements that trigger ISM
- How to minimize ISM impact
1. What ISM Is
Definition: In-Kind Support and Maintenance is food or shelter you receive without paying for it (or paying less than fair value).
What counts as ISM:
- Free rent or reduced rent
- Living with someone who pays all housing costs
- Someone paying your utilities
- Free food or groceries
What doesn't count:
- Cash gifts (counted differently)
- Non-food/shelter items
- Help with non-essential expenses
- Medical care, clothing, etc.
Why it matters:
- ISM counts as income for SSI
- Reduces your SSI payment
- Can be significant reduction
- Complex rules apply
2. How It's Calculated
Two methods:
1. Presumed Maximum Value (PMV) Rule:
- Maximum reduction: 1/3 of federal benefit rate + $20
- About $342/month (2026)
- Even if value is higher
- Simplest calculation
2. Actual Value Rule:
- Counts actual value of support
- If less than PMV, lower reduction
- Must prove the value
- More documentation required
PMV example:
- You live rent-free with family
- Fair market rent would be $800
- But PMV caps reduction at ~$342
- SSI reduced by $342, not $800
Actual value example:
- Someone gives you $100/month in groceries
- Actual value: $100
- Less than PMV
- SSI reduced by $100
Important: The PMV rule often limits how much ISM can reduce your SSI, even for expensive housing.
3. Living Arrangements That Trigger ISM
Living rent-free:
- With family who pays everything
- In a home you don't own or rent
- Where someone else covers all costs
- Maximum PMV reduction applies
Living with others, paying less:
- If you pay less than fair share
- Difference may count as ISM
- Calculate your fair share
- Pay that amount to avoid ISM
Someone paying your bills:
- Utilities paid by another
- Counts as ISM
- Actual value usually used
- Document what's paid
Living in your own household:
- Paying all your own expenses
- No ISM applies
- Keep receipts as proof
- Protect your full benefit
How to calculate "fair share":
- Total household expenses (rent, utilities, food)
- Divide by number of people
- Your fair share = your portion
- Pay this to avoid ISM
4. How to Minimize ISM Impact
Pay your fair share:
- Calculate household expenses
- Pay your portion
- Get receipts
- Document everything
Keep records:
- Proof of payments made
- Household expense breakdown
- Rental agreements
- Utility bills
Consider living alone:
- Renting your own place
- Using Section 8 voucher
- Paying own expenses
- No ISM applies
Understand the PMV cap:
- Maximum reduction is limited
- May be worth receiving support
- Even with reduction, might come out ahead
- Do the math for your situation
Example comparison:
- Living alone: Rent $700, Full SSI $967 = $267 after rent
- Living with family rent-free: Reduced SSI ($967 - $342) = $625
- Living with family may leave more money
Reporting ISM
What to report:
- Living arrangement changes
- Who pays for what
- Changes in who provides support
- Address changes
How to report:
- Contact SSA
- Explain your living situation
- Provide documentation
- Update when things change
If you don't report:
- Overpayments can result
- Have to pay back
- Better to report accurately
- Protect yourself
Complex Situations
Multiple sources of support:
- Food from one person
- Shelter from another
- Each evaluated separately
- But PMV still applies overall
Partial support:
- Someone pays part of rent
- You pay part
- Only the help counts as ISM
- Document your contributions
In-and-out living:
- Living with family some months
- On your own other months
- Report each month's situation
- Benefits adjust accordingly
How Purple Helps
- Document what you pay
- Keep records of contributions
- Clear transaction history
- Evidence of paying fair share
- Organized financial records