You cannot receive both SSI and Social Security retirement or disability benefits simultaneously — the Social Security Administration will reduce your SSI payment by the amount you receive from the other program.
If you are already receiving Social Security (either retirement benefits or Social Security Disability Insurance, known as SSDI), you cannot also collect SSI. The SSA treats the two programs as overlapping sources of income. When you receive Social Security, that money counts as income, and SSI is designed to supplement people whose income falls below a certain threshold. The SSA subtracts what you get from Social Security from what you would otherwise receive in SSI.
The exception is Supplemental Security Income for children. A child can receive both a parent's or grandparent's Social Security benefit (called a "child's benefit") and SSI at the same time, though the SSI amount will be reduced by the child's benefit amount.
Key Takeaways
- Adults cannot receive both SSI and Social Security retirement or disability benefits in the same month — the SSA counts Social Security as income and reduces SSI accordingly.
- A child may receive both a parent's Social Security child benefit and SSI, but the SSI payment will be reduced dollar-for-dollar by the child's benefit amount.
- If you are on SSI and later become may have access to to Social Security, the SSA will automatically convert you to Social Security and end your SSI once your Social Security benefit exceeds the SSI payment amount.
- The SSA counts in-kind support and maintenance (food, shelter, or utilities paid by someone else) as income for SSI purposes, which can further reduce your SSI payment.
How the SSA Counts Social Security as Income for SSI
When you receive a Social Security benefit, the SSA counts it as "unearned income" in the SSI calculation. For 2024, the federal SSI payment limit is $943 per month for an individual (amounts vary by state and change yearly). If you receive $400 per month in Social Security, your SSI payment would be reduced by $400, leaving you with $543 in SSI — for a total of $943.
The SSA does not count the first $20 of any unearned income in a month, so technically your SSI would be reduced by $380 in the example above, not $400. This small exclusion rarely changes the outcome for someone receiving Social Security, because the benefit is almost always more than $20.
If your Social Security benefit is higher than the SSI payment limit, you will receive only Social Security and no SSI. For example, if your Social Security benefit is $1,200 per month, you exceed the SSI limit and will not receive any SSI payment.
What Happens If You Are on SSI and Later may have access to for Social Security
If you are currently receiving SSI and you later become may have access to to Social Security benefits — whether through your own work record or as a spouse, ex-spouse, or child — the SSA will not automatically switch you over. Instead, you will receive both payments, but your SSI will be reduced by the Social Security amount.
You should report the Social Security benefit to your local SSA office as soon as you receive notice of approval. The SSA will recalculate your SSI payment to account for the new income. If your Social Security benefit is high enough, your SSI will end entirely, and you will receive only Social Security going forward.
Some people on SSI eventually transition to SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) if they accumulate enough work credits. SSDI is a different program with different rules, but the same income-counting principle applies: you cannot receive both SSDI and SSI simultaneously.
SSI and Social Security for Children
A child under age 19 (or up to age 22 if a full-time student) can receive a Social Security benefit based on a parent's or grandparent's work record. This is called a "child's benefit" or "child's Social Security." A child can receive this benefit and SSI at the same time, but the SSI payment will be reduced by the amount of the child's benefit.
For example, if a child receives $300 per month in Social Security based on a parent's record and is also receiving SSI, the SSI payment will be reduced by $300. The child's total income from both programs would not exceed the SSI limit for that month.
When the child turns 18 or leaves school (whichever comes first), the child's benefit typically ends, and the child may become may have access to to their own SSI or Social Security based on their own work record, depending on their circumstances.
How In-Kind Support and Maintenance Affects Your SSI Payment
Beyond Social Security income, the SSA also counts "in-kind support and maintenance" (ISM) as income for SSI purposes. ISM means food, shelter, or utilities that someone else pays for on your behalf. If you live with family members who pay your rent or provide your meals, the SSA may count a portion of that as income and reduce your SSI payment further.
The rules for ISM are complex and vary depending on whether you live in someone else's household, whether you contribute to household expenses, and whether the support is intentional or incidental. If you receive Social Security and also live in a situation where someone else pays for your housing or food, your SSI payment could be reduced on both counts.
Reporting Changes to the Social Security Administration
If you are receiving SSI and your Social Security benefit changes — whether it increases, decreases, or you become newly may have access to — you must report the change to your local SSA office within 10 days. Failure to report can result in an overpayment, which the SSA will ask you to repay.
You can report changes by calling the SSA at 1-800-772-1213, visiting your local SSA office in person, or logging into your my Social Security account online. Keep copies of any notices from the SSA about your Social Security benefit so you have the exact amount to report.
The SSA will recalculate your SSI payment once the change is reported and will send you a new payment notice showing the adjusted amount.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I am on SSI and start working, does my Social Security benefit count as income?
Yes, if you receive Social Security, it counts as unearned income and reduces your SSI payment. However, SSI has work incentives that allow you to exclude some of your earned income (from a job) when calculating your SSI payment. Social Security income does not receive this same exclusion.
Can I receive SSI and my spouse's Social Security benefit at the same time?
No. If you are married and your spouse receives Social Security, you cannot receive SSI. Your spouse's benefit would count as income in your household, and you would likely exceed the SSI income limit. You may be may have access to to spousal benefits on your spouse's Social Security record instead.
What if my Social Security benefit is very small — will I still get SSI?
Yes, as long as your total income (including the Social Security benefit) falls below the SSI limit for your state. The SSA will reduce your SSI payment by the amount of your Social Security benefit, but you will still receive SSI if the total is below the limit.
Does receiving SSI affect my Social Security benefit amount?
No. Your Social Security benefit is calculated based on your work record and is not affected by SSI. SSI is reduced based on your Social Security income, but the reverse does not happen.
What happens to my SSI if I inherit money or receive a lump-sum payment?
A one-time payment (such as an inheritance or back pay from Social Security) is counted as a resource, not income. If your total resources exceed the SSI resource limit (currently $2,000 for an individual), you will lose SSI may be able to access until your resources fall back below the limit. This is separate from the Social Security income-counting rules.