What is the effect of Unemployment Insurance on SSI cash benefits?

Unemployment Insurance (UI) has a specific impact on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) cash benefits due to the way SSI eligibility is determined. SSI is designed to provide financial assistance to individuals who have limited income and resources. When an individual receives UI benefits, those payments are considered countable income under the SSI program.

As a result, an increase in countable income, such as that from UI benefits, can lead to a reduction in the amount of SSI cash benefits an individual receives. The purpose of SSI is to ensure that individuals have a certain minimum level of financial support, so if another income source—like unemployment benefits—is available, SSI will adjust accordingly to maintain its financial assistance goals. This adjustment effectively reduces the total SSI cash benefits when a person also qualifies for Unemployment Insurance, making it the correct option for this question.