If you are a SSI recipient who receives free room and board from someone else, Social Security may reduce your monthly benefit according to their “In Kind Support and Maintenance” (or ISM) rules.
However, some SSI recipients are living in their own home, but can’t afford to make their mortgage payments. Many are in the process of foreclosure, but are still residing in their home. A failure to make your mortgage payments does not qualify as ISM, so Social Security should not reduce your monthly benefit. Social Security released an Administrative Message clarifying that people living in their own home, but who are not making mortgage payments, should not have their monthly benefit amount reduced because of their living situation.