Do you get monthly Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments? If so, then be sure to report any changes in your living arrangements to your local Social Security office. It could mean an increase, or decrease, in your payment amount.

Here's why.

Your SSI payment is based on your income, not on your expenses. However, the cost of living expenses such as food or shelter that someone else provides may be considered income to you and could reduce your SSI payment. Items you receive that cannot be used for food or shelter are not considered income and will not affect your SSI payment. For example, we wouldn't count things like kitchen appliances or a personal computer that someone might give you as a gift.

Your monthly SSI benefit may vary depending on where you live and whether someone else pays for your living expenses. Generally, you can get up to the maximum SSI payment if you live in your own place or you live in someone else's residence, but you pay the full cost of your food and shelter.

However, your SSI benefit may be reduced if:

• You live somewhere else and you pay only a part of your share of food or housing costs; or
• You live in a house, apartment or trailer but someone else pays for your food, rent or mortgage expenses, and other things like electricity and garbage removal; or
• You're in a nursing home or hospital for the whole month and Medicaid pays for over one-half of your bills.

The important thing to remember is to let us know if anything changes in your living arrangements—where you live, who you live with, or how the bills are paid.

Visit Social Security online at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssi for more information about living arrangements and how they may affect your SSI eligibility or monthly payment amount. Or call Social Security at 1.800.772.1213 (TTY 1.800.325.0778).

Ginny Jordan is a Public Affairs Specialist for the Social Security Administration. Her weekly column on all things Social Security appears in the Sunday Edition of the Sun-Sentinel.

Ginny has agreed to let us reprint her articles here for your convenience.

Thank you Ginny!