Special Needs Answers
My Sister's on SSI. Can I give her POA Over My Bank Account?
I would like to give my sister Power of Attorney (POA) over my personal bank account. My sister is on SSI. I am the truste...
Read moreIf I'm on SSI, Can I Live on Family Land and Not Pay Rent?
- May 1st, 2024
Q
In looking at SSI, if I live in a camper on family land and there is no rent, how will that affect my benefits?
A
Is it your camper or is it owned by someone else? If you don’t own the camper, by allowing you to live there rent-free the family is making an in-kind gift to you that will result in a one-third reduction in your SSI benefit. If you own the camper, it’s more of a gray area. The family is still making an in-kind contribution to you, but it’s not clear whether that’s for housing and thus causing the reduction in benefits. Only in-kind gifts of housing cause the reduction in benefits.
Harry S. Margolis practices elder law, estate, and special needs planning in Boston and Wellesley, Massachusetts. He is the founder of ElderLawAnswers.com and answers consumer questions about estate planning issues here and at AskHarry.info.