Roommates

• Although nothing can prevent you from having a roommate and SSI at the same time, it can affect your benefits. If your roommate is paying the entire rent as well as providing food for you, this is considered a form of income by the Social Security Administration, or SSA, which can reduce your benefits by a third in such cases.
  
  

Others

• If you are living in someone else's household, however, such as that of a friend or a relative, the rules work a little differently. You may not be paying rent, but as long as you purchase your own food, you are not subject to a decrease in benefits.
  
  

Warning

• Attempting to disguise the fact that you are receiving benefits in the form of food or rental assistance can put your SSI aid in jeopardy. Always report any changes in your living circumstances as soon as possible to the SSA to avoid penalization.