SSI payment amounts are set by federal law and change once a year

The amount you receive from Supplemental Security Income (SSI) depends on your living situation, your income, and resources you own. The federal government sets a maximum payment amount each year, but most people receive less than that because of other money coming in. For 2024, the federal maximum is $943 per month for an individual living independently, but your actual payment will be lower if you have a job, get Social Security, have a spouse, or own assets above the resource limit.

SSI is a needs-based program, which means the amount you get shrinks as your other income rises. If you earn money from work, SSI counts most of it against your payment. If you receive Social Security retirement or disability benefits, those reduce your SSI check dollar-for-dollar. The program is designed so that your total monthly income — SSI plus everything else — reaches a target amount, not to give you money on top of other income.

Key Takeaways

  • The federal maximum SSI payment for 2024 is $943 per month for a single person, but your actual amount depends on your other income and where you live.
  • Every dollar you earn from work reduces your SSI payment by roughly 50 cents after the first $65 per month, so working does not eliminate your benefit.
  • Social Security benefits, pensions, and other unearned income reduce your SSI dollar-for-dollar, with no earnings exemption.
  • Some states add money to the federal SSI amount, so your maximum payment may be higher than $943 if you live in California, New York, or another state that supplements SSI.
  • Your SSI amount can change if your living situation changes, if you start or stop working, or if you move to a different state.

How your other income reduces your SSI payment

SSI uses a formula to subtract your other income from the federal maximum. The program treats earned income (wages from a job) differently from unearned income (Social Security, pensions, gifts, rental income). For earned income, SSI ignores the first $65 you make in a month, then counts half of everything above that. So if you earn $200 per month, SSI counts $67.50 against your payment ($200 minus $65, divided by 2). If you earn $500 per month, SSI counts $217.50.

Unearned income has no exemption. If you receive $100 per month in Social Security, your SSI payment drops by $100. If someone gives you $50 as a gift, SSI counts $50 of it. The only unearned income that does not count is the first $20 per month you receive from any source combined — so a $20 gift or $20 in interest does not reduce your payment, but $21 reduces it by $1.

This means if you work part-time and also receive Social Security, both reduce your SSI. A person earning $300 per month and receiving $400 in Social Security would have $217.50 (from work) plus $400 (from Social Security) subtracted from the federal maximum, leaving roughly $325 in SSI.

State supplements add to the federal amount in some places

Fourteen states and Washington, D.C. add their own money to the federal SSI payment. California, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, D.C. all provide state supplements. The amount varies widely — California's supplement can add $70 to $150 per month depending on your living situation, while other states add $10 to $50.

If you live in a state with a supplement and move to a state without one, your payment will drop. If you move from a non-supplement state to one that has a supplement, your payment will rise. Some states only supplement if you live alone; others supplement people in group homes or living with family. Check with your local Social Security office or your state's human services department to find out what supplement applies to your situation.

How living arrangements affect your payment

SSI pays more if you live independently than if you live with others or in a facility. The federal maximum for 2024 is $943 for someone living alone or paying their full share of household expenses. If you live in someone else's household and do not pay your full share of food and shelter costs, your payment is reduced by one-third of the federal maximum — roughly $314 — bringing your payment down to about $629. This reduction is called the "in-kind support and maintenance" rule.

If you live in a medical facility like a nursing home or hospital, your SSI payment drops to $30 per month, regardless of other income. If you live in a group home or intermediate care facility, the reduction depends on your state's rules and the facility's arrangement with SSI. Some group homes receive SSI payments on behalf of residents; others do not, and the resident keeps their full payment.

If you are married and both spouses receive SSI, the federal maximum for a couple is $1,415 per month combined for 2024. Each person's share depends on their own income, but the total cannot exceed that couple's limit.

Resource limits determine whether you can receive SSI at all

SSI has a resource limit — a cap on how much money and property you can own and still receive the benefit. For 2024, the limit is $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple. Resources include cash, bank accounts, stocks, bonds, and property you own. A car does not count if you use it for transportation. Your home does not count. Household goods and personal items do not count.

If your resources exceed the limit, you become ineligible for SSI entirely — it is not that your payment is reduced, but that you receive nothing. This is why some people with SSI are careful about saving money or receiving large gifts. If you receive an inheritance or a lump-sum payment, you may need to spend it down to stay under the limit, or you will lose your SSI until your resources fall back below $2,000.

Your payment changes when circumstances change

SSI recalculates your payment whenever your income, living situation, or resources change. If you start a job, your payment will drop based on your earnings. If you stop working, your payment will rise. If you move in with family, your payment will be reduced. If you move out, it will increase. If you receive a bonus, tax refund, or inheritance, your resources may temporarily exceed the limit, making you ineligible until you spend the money down.

You must report changes to Social Security within 10 days. If you do not report a change and your payment is higher than it should be, Social Security will ask you to repay the overpayment. If you report a change late, your payment adjustment may be delayed. Keep Social Security informed of your work income, living situation, and any money you receive so your payment stays accurate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my SSI if I get a job?

No. SSI counts half of your earnings above $65 per month, so working reduces but does not eliminate your payment. If you earn $300 per month, your SSI drops by about $117.50, but you keep the rest of your benefit. You may actually have more total income than before because you are earning wages plus receiving SSI.

What counts as a resource for SSI?

Cash, bank accounts, stocks, bonds, and real estate you own all count. Your home and one car do not count. Household goods, personal items, and life insurance do not count. If you own property jointly with someone else, only your share counts toward the $2,000 limit.

Can I receive SSI if I am married?

Yes, but your spouse's income and resources count toward your limit. If your spouse works or receives benefits, that income reduces your SSI payment. The couple's resource limit is $3,000, not $2,000 per person. If your spouse does not receive SSI, their income still counts against yours.

Does SSI change every year?

Yes. The federal maximum payment increases each January based on the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The resource limits and income exemptions also increase. Social Security sends you a notice in December showing your new payment amount for the following year. State supplements may also change annually.

What happens to my SSI if I move to a different state?

Your federal SSI payment stays the same, but your total payment may change if you move to or from a state with a supplement. Some states have higher supplements than others. Your living situation may also change — if you move from living alone to living with family, your payment will be reduced. Contact your new state's Social Security office to update your address and confirm your new payment amount.