SSI Technical Amendments Act of 1989
SSI Technical Amendments Act of 1989 - Title I: Changes in the Treatment of Income and Resources - Amends title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) of the Social Security Act to treat unemployment compensation and worker's compensation as earned income for purposes of the SSI program.
Treats income received on a weekly or biweekly basis as being received on a regular monthly basis at the same annual rate if such treatment would render the payee eligible for SSI benefits.
Excludes the value of domestic commercial transportation tickets received as gifts and not converted to cash from income for SSI purposes.
Reduces the amount of time during which a separated couple must be apart for their income and resources to be considered separately if such separation induces a financial emergency.
Excludes specified amounts of interest and dividend income from an individual's income for SSI purposes.
Increases the cash value of life insurance and burial fund accounts which is excluded from a beneficiary's resources for SSI purposes.
Title II: Special Provision Related to SSI for the Mentally Ill - Excludes the time during which an individual was ineligible for SSI benefits by reason of being in a public mental institution from the one-year period of ineligibility after which a former SSI beneficiary must reapply for SSI benefits.
Title III: SSI Status for Certain Individuals -Preserves the Medicaid (title XIX of the Act) eligibility of individuals who lose their SSI blindness or disability benefits upon entitlement to old-age or spouse's insurance benefits under the Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program (title II of the Act).
Amends the Employment Opportunities for Disabled Americans Act to preserve the Medicaid eligibility of individuals who became ineligible for SSI benefits upon entitlement to or an increase in OASDI child's insurance benefits before July 1, 1987.
Amends the SSI program to require that individuals who are considered to be receiving SSI benefits for Medicaid eligibility purposes continue to satisfy other Medicaid eligibility criteria. Presumes that such individuals have applied for Medicaid eligibility.
Title IV: Effective Date - Sets October 1, 1989, as this Act's effective date, except where otherwise specified.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and the Environment.