You can receive both SSI and Social Security, but the rules are strict and the amount you get from each depends on the other

If you receive Social Security — whether as a retired worker, a disabled worker, or a survivor — you can also receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in the same month. The Social Security Administration (SSA) treats them as separate programs with separate rules. However, your Social Security payment reduces your SSI payment dollar-for-dollar, and there are income and resource limits that affect whether you remain SSI-may be able to access at all.

The most common scenario is someone who qualifies for Social Security based on their own work record or a family member's record, but the payment is too low to live on. SSI can fill the gap — but only if your total countable income and resources stay within SSI's limits. Understanding how the two programs interact is the difference between getting both and losing SSI entirely.

Key Takeaways

  • You can receive both SSI and Social Security in the same month, but your Social Security payment counts as income and reduces your SSI payment by the same amount.
  • SSI has strict income limits (currently $943 per month for an individual, though this changes yearly) and resource limits ($2,000 for an individual), and Social Security counts toward both.
  • If you receive Social Security as a child on a parent's record, the rules are different — your parent's earnings do not count as your income, but your own Social Security payment still reduces your SSI.
  • You must report any change in your Social Security amount to SSA within 10 days, or you may be overpaid and owe money back.
  • The SSA will not automatically enroll you in SSI when you start Social Security; you must contact your local SSA office or call 1-800-772-1213 to request it.

How Social Security income affects your SSI payment

When you receive both programs, the SSA counts your entire Social Security payment as unearned income. This means your SSI payment shrinks by exactly the amount of your Social Security check. If you receive $600 in Social Security and the SSI federal benefit rate is $943, your SSI payment would be $343 (assuming no other income or resources).

Some states add their own SSI supplement on top of the federal amount. If you live in California, New York, or another state with a supplement, your total SSI payment is higher — but your Social Security still reduces it the same way. The reduction happens automatically; you do not have to do anything, but you need to understand it when you are deciding whether to claim Social Security early or wait.

Income and resource limits when you have both programs

SSI has a monthly income limit and a resource limit. The income limit is the federal benefit rate, which changes each year — it was $943 per month for an individual in 2024. Any income you receive, including Social Security, counts toward this limit. If your Social Security payment alone exceeds the limit, you lose SSI entirely.

The resource limit is $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple. Resources include cash, bank accounts, stocks, and property you own (with some exceptions like your home and one car). If you have both Social Security and SSI, you must keep your total resources under the limit or you will lose SSI. Social Security payments themselves do not count as resources if you spend them in the same month you receive them, but money you save does.

Some resources are excluded entirely — your home, one vehicle, household goods, and personal items do not count. Certain retirement accounts and life insurance policies also do not count. If you are unsure whether something counts, contact your local SSA office before you accumulate it.

Reporting changes to Social Security and SSI

If your Social Security payment changes — because you reached full retirement age, because a cost-of-living adjustment happened, or because your benefit was recalculated — you must report it to SSA within 10 days. You can report by phone at 1-800-772-1213, online at ssa.gov, or in person at your local office. If you do not report and your SSI payment is calculated wrong, you may owe money back.

The same rule applies if your Social Security stops or decreases. If a family member's earnings record changes and your benefit is affected, report that too. SSA sometimes catches changes on its own, but you should not rely on that — reporting yourself protects you from overpayment.

How the rules differ if you are a child receiving Social Security

If you are under 18 (or 19 if in high school full-time) and receive Social Security based on a parent's or grandparent's work record, the rules are different in one important way: your parent's or grandparent's earnings do not count as your income for SSI purposes. Only your own Social Security payment counts.

However, your parent's or grandparent's income and resources do count toward your SSI may be able to access in a different way — through a process called "deeming." The SSA deems a portion of the parent's income to you, which can reduce or eliminate your SSI. If you are a child in this situation, ask your SSA office to explain your specific deeming amount, because it is calculated differently than regular income counting.

When claiming Social Security early affects your SSI

If you are considering claiming Social Security before your full retirement age, understand that a lower Social Security payment means a higher SSI payment (up to the SSI limit). Claiming at 62 instead of 67 gives you a smaller monthly check, so SSI fills more of the gap. However, you will receive less total money over your lifetime from Social Security itself.

The trade-off is personal and depends on your health, life expectancy, and how much you need to live on right now. If you are already receiving SSI, claiming Social Security early might not change your total monthly income much — because the SSI reduction will offset most of the Social Security gain. Talk to SSA before you claim to understand your specific numbers.

What happens if your Social Security payment exceeds the SSI limit

If your Social Security payment is higher than the SSI federal benefit rate (or your state's rate if it has a supplement), you will not receive any SSI. You will only get Social Security. This is called being "SSI-ineligible due to income."

You can still use SSA's work incentives if you are disabled and working — programs like Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) and Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) can exclude certain income and help you keep working without losing benefits. But these programs apply to both SSI and Social Security, and they require planning. If you think you might work or your income might change, ask your SSA office about these options before your benefit amount changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to choose between SSI and Social Security?

No. You can receive both at the same time. However, if your Social Security payment is high enough, you may not may have access to for SSI because of the income limit. SSA will tell you whether you may have access to for both when you apply.

What if I receive Social Security as a survivor but also may have access to for SSI?

The same rules apply. Your survivor benefit counts as income and reduces your SSI payment. If you are a child survivor, deeming rules may also apply. Contact your local SSA office to understand your specific situation.

Can I save money while receiving both SSI and Social Security?

You can save up to $2,000 (or $3,000 if you are married). Money you save above that limit will cause you to lose SSI. Social Security payments you spend in the same month do not count as savings, but any amount you keep counts toward the $2,000 limit.

What if my Social Security payment increases because of a cost-of-living adjustment?

You must report it to SSA. If your new payment pushes you over the SSI income limit, you will lose SSI. If it stays below the limit, your SSI payment will decrease by the same amount as your Social Security increase.

Can I receive both if I am working?

Yes, but your work income also counts toward the SSI income limit. SSA excludes the first $65 of monthly earnings and half of the rest, but you still need to report your work. If your total income (Social Security plus work earnings) exceeds the limit, you lose SSI.