The federal payment amount for 2024 is $943 per month for an individual, but your actual check may be higher or lower

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment you receive depends on three things: the federal base amount, whether your state adds extra money, and how much other income you have. The federal government sets a minimum amount each year — for 2024, that is $943 monthly for a single person and $1,415 for a couple. Many states add their own money on top of this, which means someone in California or New York may receive more than someone in a state that does not supplement the federal amount.

Your actual payment is reduced dollar-for-dollar by other income you earn or receive. If you work, SSI counts your wages after subtracting $65 per month and half of what remains. If you receive other benefits — unemployment, workers' compensation, a pension — SSI reduces your check by the full amount. If you have no other income, you receive the full federal amount plus any state supplement.

The federal amount increases each year in January based on cost-of-living adjustments (COLA). The 2024 increase was 3.2 percent from 2023. You will receive notice of the new amount in December of the prior year.

Key Takeaways

  • The federal SSI payment for 2024 is $943 per month for an individual, but this amount changes yearly and varies by state.
  • Your state may add money to the federal amount; some states add nothing, while others add $50 to $200 or more per month.
  • SSI counts most other income and reduces your payment by the amount you earn or receive, with limited exceptions for wages and unearned income.
  • The payment amount you see on your check reflects the federal base, any state supplement, minus any income reductions that apply to you.

How state supplements change your monthly amount

Thirty-one states and the District of Columbia add their own money to the federal SSI payment. The amount varies widely. Some states add $10 to $30 per month; others add $100 to $200 or more. A few states — including California, New York, and Massachusetts — have substantially higher supplements that can nearly double the federal amount.

If you move to a different state, your payment will change on the first day of the following month. The new state's amount takes effect, not the old one. This matters if you are considering relocation: your SSI check in one state may be significantly different from another, even though you receive the same federal base.

You can find your state's current supplement amount by contacting your local Social Security office or by checking the Social Security Administration's state supplement page. The amount is set by state law and does not change during the year unless the state legislature votes to change it.

How work income reduces your SSI payment

If you work, SSI uses a specific formula to calculate how much of your wages count toward your payment. The first $65 of monthly earnings does not count at all. After that, SSI counts half of your remaining earnings. For example, if you earn $200 per month, the first $65 does not count, leaving $135. Half of $135 is $67.50, which is what SSI counts. Your payment is reduced by $67.50.

This formula is called the earned income exclusion, and it is designed to encourage work. The $65 monthly exclusion and the 50 percent calculation do not change year to year — they are set in federal law. However, some people may may have access to for a work incentive called a Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS), which allows you to set aside income and resources for a specific work goal without affecting your SSI payment. A PASS requires a written plan and approval from Social Security.

If you receive wages from self-employment, SSI counts your net profit (income minus business expenses), not your gross income. You will need to report your business expenses to Social Security to get the correct calculation.

How other income affects your check

SSI counts most types of income beyond wages. Unemployment benefits, workers' compensation, pensions, annuities, and rental income all reduce your SSI payment dollar-for-dollar. If you receive $500 in unemployment benefits in a month, your SSI payment is reduced by $500. There is no exclusion or partial counting — the full amount counts.

Some types of income do not count. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, housing assistance, and certain in-kind support (food or shelter provided by someone else) have different rules. In-kind support from family or friends can reduce your payment, but the reduction is capped at one-third of the federal benefit rate, which is about $314 per month in 2024. If you live with family who provide food and shelter at no cost, SSI may reduce your payment by up to that amount.

Gifts and loans are generally not counted as income, but the Social Security Administration looks at the circumstances. A one-time gift from a relative is not income. A regular monthly transfer from someone else may be treated as income depending on whether it is truly a gift or a form of support.

How resources and savings affect your payment

SSI has a resource limit of $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple. Resources include cash, bank accounts, stocks, bonds, and property you own. If your resources exceed the limit, you lose SSI entirely — there is no partial payment. The resource limit does not change year to year; it is set in federal law.

Some resources do not count toward the limit. Your primary home and the land it sits on do not count. One vehicle does not count. Household goods and personal effects do not count. Burial funds up to $1,500 per person do not count. Life insurance with a face value under $1,500 does not count. These exclusions help you keep basic assets while still receiving SSI.

If you receive a lump sum — an inheritance, a settlement, a tax refund — it counts as a resource immediately. If the lump sum pushes you over the resource limit, you will lose SSI for that month and any following month until your resources fall back below $2,000. This is why some people with SSI use a Special Needs Trust or ABLE account to hold money without it counting as a resource. These are legal structures that allow you to save without losing benefits.

When your payment changes during the year

Your SSI payment can change if your income changes, if you move to a different state, or if you turn 18 (when SSI rules change). Changes to your work income take effect the month after you report them. If you earn more money in June, your reduced payment appears in July. If you earn less, your increased payment appears the following month.

If you receive a one-time payment — a tax refund, a bonus, a settlement — it may affect your SSI for one or two months depending on when it arrives and how Social Security processes it. Report all income changes to Social Security within 10 days. Failing to report can result in an overpayment, which Social Security will ask you to repay.

The annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) takes effect in January each year. You will receive a notice in December showing your new payment amount. In years when there is no COLA (which has happened twice in recent decades), your payment stays the same.

Payment amounts for couples and children

If you are married and both spouses receive SSI, the federal payment for a couple in 2024 is $1,415 per month combined. This is not $943 times two — it is a lower combined rate. Each spouse's portion is calculated based on their own income and resources, but the total household payment cannot exceed $1,415 before state supplements.

Children under 18 who receive SSI as disabled or blind beneficiaries receive the same federal base amount as adults — $943 in 2024 — but their payment is reduced based on their parents' income and resources. This is called deemed income. A portion of the parents' income and resources is counted as if it belonged to the child, which usually results in a lower payment than an adult would receive. At age 18, the deeming rule stops, and the child's payment is recalculated based only on their own income and resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does SSI payment increase automatically each year?

Yes, the federal amount increases in January if there is a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). You will receive notice in December of the new amount. COLA is based on inflation and is not may provide — in some years there is no increase. State supplements may also change if the state legislature votes to adjust them, but this is less common.

What happens if I inherit money while receiving SSI?

An inheritance counts as a resource immediately. If it pushes your total resources above $2,000, you lose SSI until your resources fall back below the limit. You can spend the inheritance or place it in a Special Needs Trust or ABLE account, which do not count as resources. Contact Social Security before accepting an inheritance to understand your options.

Can I receive SSI and Social Security retirement or disability at the same time?

Yes, but SSI will be reduced by the amount you receive from Social Security. If you receive $500 in Social Security and the SSI federal rate is $943, your SSI payment will be $443. Some people receive both because Social Security alone does not meet their needs, or because they became disabled before age 22 and may have access to for both programs.

If I move to a different state, when does my payment change?

Your payment changes on the first day of the month after you move. If you move on June 15, your June payment is based on your old state's rate, and your July payment is based on your new state's rate. Notify Social Security of your move as soon as possible so the change is processed correctly.

What if I think my SSI payment is wrong?

Contact your local Social Security office with your recent payment stubs and a list of all income you receive. Social Security will review your case and explain how your payment was calculated. If you disagree, you can request a reconsideration, which is a free review by a different Social Security employee. You have 60 days from the date of the notice to request reconsideration.