180º turn in the US SSA: this about SSI changes everything

In recent months, the Social Security Administration (SSA) of the United States has experienced a true U-turnaround. Above all, this has occurred in relation to the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program.

This change is truly astonishing because after a sharp drop in beneficiaries, the number has now stabilized. Many people are wondering why the number of beneficiaries dropped and what the main reasons for that decrease were.

Spectacular Drop in SSI Beneficiaries: SSA Explains the Reasons

Between May 2023 and May 2024, the number of people receiving SSI decreased by more than 100,000, dropping from around 7.38 million to about 7.28 million. This decline was alarming and caused concern both in the media and in official agencies.

There are several important reasons that explain why so many people left the program. SSA tightened controls, reviewed income, savings, and family situation. Any small change, such as exceeding the resource limit or receiving extra income, can lead to SSI suspension.

In 2020, the consideration of not speaking English as an educational factor in procedures was eliminated. SSA estimated that this would reduce approximately 4,000 SSI awards per year between 2019 and 2028. After budget cuts and a hiring freeze, many records weren't reviewed on time, or case closures were accelerated, worsening the drop in beneficiaries.

How Has It Stabilized?

Since the beginning of 2025, the numbers have stopped falling so sharply and show a more stable trend. In May 2025, approximately 7.41 million beneficiaries were recorded, which suggests that the rate of exits has been contained.

SSA has implemented changes in management, balancing control mechanisms without eliminating cases in bulk. In addition, automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLA)—for example, a 2.5% increase for 2025—have provided some security to the remaining beneficiaries.

Reactions from the Government and SSA of the US

The government highlights that these adjustments reflect a progressive shift toward more efficient oversight of the SSI program. SSA assures that the priority is to protect public resources, but also to ensure that vulnerable people aren't unfairly excluded. They have publicly acknowledged that the drastic drop in beneficiaries was a warning sign, and they've indicated that the rate of reductions has normalized.

Additionally, SSA has announced that they will continue refining their internal processes. They intend to increase the number of examiners and improve communication channels with beneficiaries to prevent suspensions due to administrative errors.

If you were in the SSI program and stopped receiving payments, it's likely that it was due to a minor change in your income, savings, or family situation. SSA invites you to contact them to review your situation.