Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a lifeline for millions of low-income seniors, helping cover essentials like food, housing, and healthcare. But one little-known rule can quietly shrink those benefits—simply because you live with family. Under Social Security’s “in-kind support and maintenance” policy, financial help from relatives or shared living arrangements can reduce monthly payments. As more retirees move in with adult children to save money, this rule could become a major threat to income stability. Here’s how SSI cuts for living with family work—and why they may be the next big retirement risk.
