The federal SSI payment starts with a base amount, then gets reduced by your income and resources

The federal SSI payment for 2024 is $943 per month for an individual and $1,415 for a couple, though these amounts change each January based on cost-of-living adjustments. The Social Security Administration (SSA) starts with this base rate, then subtracts any income you receive and counts your savings and assets against a resource limit. What you actually receive depends on how much money comes in from other sources and how much you own.

The calculation happens in a specific order: SSA counts your "countable income" first, reduces the federal rate by that amount, then adds any state supplement your state offers. Most people do not receive the full federal rate because they have some income or resources that reduce it.

Key Takeaways

  • The federal SSI base rate changes yearly in January; your actual payment is this base rate minus your countable income plus any state supplement.
  • Not all income counts the same way—wages are reduced by $65 plus half of what remains, while unearned income like gifts or interest reduces your payment dollar-for-dollar.
  • You can own up to $2,000 in resources as an individual or $3,000 as a couple without losing SSI, but your home and one car do not count toward this limit.
  • Each state sets its own supplement amount, so two people with identical income and resources may receive different total payments depending on where they live.

How countable income reduces your payment

SSA divides income into two categories: earned income (wages from work) and unearned income (everything else—Social Security benefits, pensions, gifts, interest, rental income). Each type reduces your SSI payment differently.

For earned income, SSA uses the "Plan to Achieve Self-Support" (PASS) calculation. They subtract $65 per month, then count half of what remains. If you earn $500 per month, SSA counts $217.50 of it: ($500 − $65) ÷ 2 = $217.50. Your SSI payment drops by $217.50. This rule exists to encourage work without immediately cutting off your entire benefit.

Unearned income reduces your payment dollar-for-dollar after a $20 monthly exclusion. If you receive a $200 gift, SSA counts $180 of it ($200 − $20 = $180), and your SSI payment drops by $180. Some unearned income does not count at all—in-kind support (food or shelter given to you directly), certain tax refunds, and some assistance from nonprofits are excluded.

Resource limits and what counts toward them

SSA limits how much you can own and still receive SSI. The resource limit is $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple. If your countable resources exceed these amounts, you lose SSI entirely until your resources drop back below the limit.

Not everything you own counts. Your primary residence never counts, no matter its value. One vehicle does not count if it is used for transportation. Household goods, personal effects, and items you use for self-support (tools for a trade, for example) are excluded. Life insurance with a face value under $1,500 does not count. Certain retirement accounts and work incentive accounts set up under PASS also do not count.

Cash, bank accounts, stocks, bonds, and second properties do count. A second vehicle counts. If someone gives you money and you deposit it, it counts as a resource until you spend it. This is why some people on SSI keep their savings low and spend down resources before they accumulate.

State supplements and regional payment differences

About half of U.S. states add their own money to the federal SSI rate. These state supplements vary widely. California, for example, adds $70 per month for an individual; New York adds $87. Some states add nothing. A few states—like Arizona and Mississippi—have very small supplements or none at all.

The state supplement is calculated the same way as the federal payment: it starts at a set amount, then gets reduced by your countable income. If your state adds $70 and you have $100 in countable income, your state supplement drops to zero (because $70 − $100 = negative). The federal payment would also be reduced, so your total SSI could be zero if your income is high enough.

This means two people with identical income and resources can receive different total payments depending on their state. Someone in California might receive $1,013 per month while someone in a state with no supplement receives $943. Your state's supplement amount is part of your SSI notice, which SSA mails to you each year.

How SSA counts living arrangements and in-kind support

In-kind support and maintenance (ISM) is food or shelter someone gives you for free. If you live with family and they pay for your food and housing, SSA may count this as income. The reduction is not dollar-for-dollar; instead, SSA assumes you received one-third of the federal rate as ISM. For 2024, that would be about $314 per month subtracted from your SSI payment.

The ISM rule is complicated because it depends on whether you pay for part of the household expenses, whether the person supporting you is your parent or someone else, and whether you live in an institution. If you pay rent to a family member or contribute to household bills, SSA may not count ISM at all. If you live in your own apartment and buy your own food, ISM does not apply. The rule is designed to prevent people from receiving SSI while someone else fully supports them, but the actual calculation varies by situation.

Cost-of-living adjustments and annual changes

The federal SSI rate increases each January if there has been inflation during the previous year. SSA bases this increase on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). If inflation was 3.2%, the federal rate increases by 3.2%. If there was no inflation or deflation occurred, the rate stays the same (it does not decrease).

State supplements may or may not increase with the federal rate. Some states automatically increase their supplement by the same percentage; others set their supplement amount by law and change it only when the legislature votes. A few states tie their supplement to the federal increase. This means your total SSI payment may increase by less than the federal increase, or in some cases not at all, depending on your state's rules.

SSA sends you a notice each December showing your new payment amount for January. If the amount changes, the notice explains why. If you disagree with the calculation, you can request a detailed breakdown from your local SSA office.

Work incentives that reduce income counting

SSA has programs designed to let you work without losing SSI immediately. The most common is the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS), which lets you set aside income and resources for a specific work goal without them counting against your SSI. If you want to start a business or get training, you can exclude money you are saving for that purpose from your countable income.

Another program, Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE), excludes costs you pay to work because of your disability. If you need a personal assistant, special transportation, or medical equipment to work, those costs do not count as income. A third program, Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS), lets you set aside resources and income for vocational goals.

These programs require planning and documentation. You work with SSA to set up a written plan, and SSA reviews it to make sure it is realistic. If you are thinking about working while on SSI, ask your local SSA office about these programs before you start earning money, because the rules are strict about timing and documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my Social Security retirement or disability benefit count as income for SSI?

Yes. If you receive Social Security benefits (SSDI, retirement, or survivor benefits), SSA counts the full amount as unearned income and reduces your SSI payment dollar-for-dollar after the $20 monthly exclusion. Many people receive both SSDI and SSI because their SSDI payment is low, but the SSI amount is reduced by the SSDI amount.

If I get a tax refund, does it count as income?

Most tax refunds do not count as income for SSI purposes. However, if the refund is for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), it counts as unearned income in the month you receive it. Other refunds are usually excluded. Keep documentation of any refund you receive in case SSA asks about it.

What happens to my SSI if I inherit money?

Inherited money counts as a resource, not income. If the inheritance pushes your total resources above $2,000 (or $3,000 for a couple), you lose SSI until your resources drop back below the limit. You can spend down the inheritance or set up certain types of trusts to protect your SSI may be able to access; ask your local SSA office about options before you accept an inheritance.

Can I have a savings account and still get SSI?

Yes, as long as your total resources stay under $2,000. Money in a savings account counts as a resource. If you have $1,800 in savings and receive a $300 gift, your resources become $2,100 and you lose SSI. You would need to spend the money down to $2,000 to regain may be able to access.

How often does SSA recalculate my payment?

SSA recalculates your payment each month based on your current income and resources. If your income changes, report it to SSA; they will adjust your payment for the following month. You must report changes in living arrangements, resources, and household composition within 10 days of the change.