California provides additional payments in supplementation to the basic Federal SSI
payment. An SSI recipient in California may receive either a mandatory or an optional
supplement depending on individual circumstances. By agreement, SSA administers both
mandatory and optional State supplementation payments for California
The provision for mandatory supplementation requires that states provide a supplement
to maintain individuals/couples converted from State to Federal assistance in 1974
at their December 1973 income levels. This was mandated to assure that no one would
be reduced in income as a result of the federalization of state welfare programs in
1974. (SI 01401.001B.4, SI 01403.001B.9, and SI 02005.082)
The Mandatory State Supplement (MSS) is designated as the Minimum Income Level (MIL)
and is retained until the converted recipient dies or is no longer blind or disabled.
Most recipients in California receive payments based on Optional State Supplement
(OSS) payment levels instead of MILs because OSS payment levels are generally higher
and the population converted from State to Federal assistance has decreased.
California provides supplementation for eight living arrangement variations:
-
-
-
3.
OSS F - Nonmedical Out-of-Home Care Living in the Household of Another (SI SF01415.130)
-
4.
OSS C - Independent Living without cooking facilities (SI SF01415.140)
-
-
-
7.
OSS G - Disabled Child Under Age 18 Living in the Household of Another (SI SF01415.160)
-
8.
OSS J - Residing in a Medical Facility when Title XIX (Medicaid) pays more than 50 per cent
of the cost of care (SI SF01415.170)
NOTE: OSS K is not applicable for SSI cases. It applies only to Title VIII Special Veterans
Benefits (SVB). Refer to VB 01305.003 for eligibility requirements.
The payment rates for each state supplementation living arrangement are available
via the Region IX Center for Programs Support SSI/SSP Payment Rates & Break-Even Deeming Charts website.
California permits an SSI recipient to receive the highest categorical supplement
for which the SSI recipient can qualify. Therefore, the lead questions (SI SF01415.190, Exhibit 1) regarding the need for care and supervision and access to adequate cooking
and food storage facilities must be asked and documented in all initial claims, FO-initiated
redeterminations (Data Operations Center (DOC) transfers as defined in SI 02305.043, are not FO-initiated), and posteligibility reports of living arrangement changes
since the last living arrangement determination. Redeterminations transferred from
the DOC do not require this documentation unless a change in living arrangement or
residence address is involved.
For Modernized Supplemental Security Income Claims System (MSSICS) cases, document
the answers to the lead questions on the LCAO screen. For non-MSSICS cases, document
on an SSA-795 and store it electronically.
NOTE: For deferred development cases (SI 00603.003), ask the lead questions at the initial interview. Complete the Application for California
Restaurant Meals Allowance at the initial interview if the applicant alleges inadequate
cooking/food storage facilities (SI SF01415.190, Exhibit 3). For potential OSS B and F cases, defer completion of the SSP-22 until
the "update." (SI SF01415.120 and SI SF01415.130).