SSI is a monthly cash payment from the federal government, not a loan or insurance benefit
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal program that sends you money each month if you are aged, blind, or disabled and have very little income or savings. The Social Security Administration (SSA) runs it. You do not pay into SSI through payroll taxes the way you do with Social Security retirement — instead, SSI is funded by general tax revenue and is meant to bring your total monthly income up to a minimum level set by the federal government.
The payment arrives as a direct deposit to your bank account, usually on the first of the month. In 2024, the federal SSI payment amount is $943 per month for an individual and $1,415 for a couple, though many states add extra money on top of the federal amount. The exact payment you receive depends on your state, your living situation, and how much other income you have.
SSI is different from Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). SSDI is based on work history and payroll taxes you paid. SSI is based on financial need. You can receive both at the same time, but they are separate programs with different rules.
Key Takeaways
- SSI sends you a monthly payment if you are aged 65 or older, blind, or disabled, and your income and savings fall below the program's limits.
- The federal payment is $943 per month for individuals in 2024, but many states add additional funds, and your actual payment depends on other income you receive.
- You must report changes in income, living situation, or household members within ten days, or you may lose your benefits or owe money back.
- SSI counts most types of income — wages, unemployment, gifts, and help with rent — but excludes some things like the first $65 of monthly earnings and certain in-kind support.
- If you work, SSI has rules that let you keep some earnings without losing all your benefits, but you must report your job to SSA within ten days of starting.
Income and resource limits that determine your payment
To receive SSI, your countable income must stay below a monthly limit. For 2024, that limit is $943 for an individual and $1,415 for a couple. Your countable income includes wages from work, unemployment benefits, pensions, gifts, and help others give you with rent or food. However, SSA does not count the first $65 of your monthly earnings from work, plus half of anything you earn above that. This is called the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) exclusion when you use it strategically, though the basic $65 exclusion applies to everyone.
SSA also looks at your resources — money in the bank, property you own, and items of value. For SSI, your countable resources cannot exceed $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple. Your home and one vehicle do not count toward this limit. Most household goods and personal items do not count either. If you receive a lump sum — an inheritance, a tax refund, or a settlement — it counts as a resource and may make you ineligible until you spend it down below the limit.
Your living situation also affects your payment. If you live with someone else and they help pay for food or shelter, SSA counts part of that help as income to you. If you live in someone else's household and they pay for your food or shelter, your SSI payment is reduced by one-third. If you live in your own place and pay your own way, you receive the full federal amount (plus any state supplement).
How SSA counts income when you work
If you have a job, SSA wants to know about it. You must report that you started work within ten days. SSA will not take away all your SSI payment just because you earn money — instead, it uses a formula to let you keep some of what you earn.
Here is how the math works: SSA excludes the first $65 of your monthly gross earnings. Then it counts half of everything above that $65. So if you earn $200 per month, SSA counts $67.50 as income to you ($200 minus $65 equals $135; half of $135 is $67.50). Your SSI payment is then reduced by that $67.50. This means you can work and still receive some SSI, but as your earnings go up, your SSI payment goes down.
There is also a Student Earned Income Exclusion if you are under 22 and a full-time student. SSA excludes the first $8,230 of your annual earnings (as of 2024) if you meet this definition. This amount changes each year. If you are a student and earn $500 per month, none of it counts as income to SSI — you keep the full SSI payment plus your wages.
What happens when your income or situation changes
SSI depends on your circumstances staying the same. If something changes — you get a job, you move in with someone, you receive a gift, a household member moves out, or your income goes up or down — you must report it to SSA within ten days. If you do not report a change, SSA may overpay you, and you will owe the money back later. Overpayments can be recovered from your future SSI payments, your tax refunds, or through other collection methods.
Common changes that must be reported include starting or stopping work, a change in your wages, moving to a different address, a change in who lives with you, receiving money from any source (gifts, loans, inheritance), and changes in your medical condition if it affects your disability status. You can report changes by calling SSA, visiting your local Social Security office, or using your online account at ssa.gov.
If you report a change and your payment needs to adjust, SSA will usually make the change the following month. If the change means you no longer meet SSI rules, your benefits will stop. If you become ineligible and then become may be able to access again later, you may have to reapply.
Medical review and continuing disability
SSA periodically reviews whether you still meet the medical definition of disability. The frequency depends on your condition — some people are reviewed every three years, others every five to seven years, and some only if SSA suspects a change. You will receive a notice in the mail telling you when your review is scheduled.
During a review, you will be asked to provide medical evidence — records from your doctor, hospital visits, test results, or mental health treatment. You can submit these records yourself, ask your doctor to send them, or ask SSA to request them on your behalf. If you do not respond to a review notice, SSA may stop your benefits. If you disagree with SSA's decision after a review, you can request reconsideration or appeal.
If your medical condition improves and you no longer meet the disability definition, your benefits will end. SSA must give you written notice and a chance to appeal before stopping your benefits. If you return to work and earn above a certain amount (called Substantial Gainful Activity, or SGA), SSA may also determine that you are no longer disabled.
Work incentives and programs that protect your benefits
SSA has programs designed to help people on SSI work without immediately losing all their benefits. The Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) lets you set aside income and resources for a specific work goal — like training for a job or starting a business — without those amounts counting against your SSI limits. You must have a written PASS plan approved by SSA before the money is set aside.
The Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) program lets you deduct certain costs related to your disability from your earnings before SSA counts your income. For example, if you need a personal assistant to help you get to work, or special equipment, those costs can be deducted. You must document these expenses and have them approved by SSA.
There is also a Student Earned Income Exclusion mentioned earlier, and a Blind Work Expenses (BWE) exclusion for people who are blind. These programs exist to encourage work without creating a cliff where earning any money causes you to lose all your benefits at once.
How SSI interacts with housing and other benefits
If you receive SSI, you may also be may be able to access for other programs like SNAP (food assistance), Medicaid, or public housing. These programs have their own income and resource limits, which are sometimes different from SSI limits. Reporting a change to SSA does not automatically report it to other programs — you may need to notify them separately.
If you live in subsidized housing or receive rental assistance, your rent is usually based on your income. If your SSI payment changes, your rent calculation may change too. Some housing programs count SSI as income; others have special rules for SSI recipients. Check with your housing provider about how SSI affects your rent.
Medicaid is tied to SSI in most states — if you receive SSI, you automatically receive Medicaid. In a few states, the income limits are different, so you may receive SSI but not Medicaid, or vice versa. Your local SSA office can tell you how Medicaid works in your state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I receive SSI and Social Security at the same time?
Yes. If you have worked and paid into Social Security, you can receive both SSDI (or retirement benefits) and SSI. However, SSA counts your SSDI payment as income when calculating your SSI payment, so your SSI amount will be reduced. Many people receive a small SSI payment to bring their total income up to the SSI federal minimum.
What happens to my SSI if I inherit money?
An inheritance counts as a resource. If the amount pushes your total resources above $2,000, you become ineligible for SSI until you spend the money down below the limit. You should report the inheritance to SSA within ten days. Some people use this time to pay bills or make necessary purchases before the resource limit applies.
Do I lose SSI if I get married?
Your SSI payment changes when you marry because SSA counts your spouse's income and resources. The resource limit for a couple is $3,000 instead of $2,000, and the income limit is $1,415 instead of $943. You must report the marriage to SSA within ten days. Your new payment will be calculated based on both your incomes and resources combined.
What if I disagree with SSA's decision about my income or payment?
You can request reconsideration within 60 days of receiving the notice. SSA will review the decision and may ask for more information. If you still disagree, you can request a hearing before an administrative law judge. You have the right to bring evidence, witnesses, or a representative to the hearing.
Can I work part-time and still receive SSI?
Yes. SSA excludes the first $65 of your monthly earnings, then counts half of the rest. If you earn $200 per month, only $67.50 counts as income, so your SSI payment is reduced by $67.50 but you keep the rest. Many people work part-time and receive both SSI and wages. You must report the job within ten days of starting.