The 2025 SSI federal benefit rate is $943 per month for an individual

The federal benefit rate — the base amount the Social Security Administration pays — increased to $943 per month for a single person in 2025. A couple receives $1,415 per month combined. These are the numbers SSA uses nationwide as a starting point, but your actual payment depends on your state, your living situation, and your other income.

SSI payments rise each year based on the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). In 2025, COLA was 2.5 percent, which is why the rate went up from $917 in 2024. The adjustment happens automatically in January. You do not have to do anything to receive it.

Your state may add money on top of the federal rate. Nineteen states and Washington D.C. provide what is called a state supplement. If you live in one of those states, your total monthly payment will be higher than $943. If you live in a state with no supplement, you receive only the federal amount.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2025 federal SSI payment is $943 per month for one person, $1,415 for a couple, and these amounts increase each January based on inflation.
  • Nineteen states add their own money on top of the federal rate, so your actual payment depends on where you live.
  • Your payment is reduced dollar-for-dollar if you have other income, and certain income does not count at all.
  • If you live with someone else and they pay for your food or shelter, your payment may be reduced by up to one-third of the federal rate.
  • You can contact your local SSA office or call 1-800-772-1213 to find out your exact 2025 payment amount.

How state supplements change your payment

If you receive SSI in California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, or Washington D.C., your state adds money to the federal rate. The amount varies widely by state. For example, California adds roughly $70 per month for an individual, while New York adds roughly $100. Some states add more for couples or for people living in their own home versus a group setting.

Other states do not provide a supplement at all. If you live in one of those states, you receive only the $943 federal amount. The state you live in when you start receiving SSI is the state that determines your supplement rate, and it usually stays the same even if you move — though you should report any move to SSA within ten days.

How your other income reduces your SSI payment

SSI is a needs-based program, which means the amount you receive depends on how much money you already have coming in. If you work, receive unemployment, get a pension, or have other income, your SSI payment goes down. The reduction is usually dollar-for-dollar: for every dollar of other income you have, your SSI payment drops by one dollar.

However, SSA does not count all income the same way. The first $65 per month of work income is not counted, plus half of any work income above that. For example, if you earn $200 per month from a job, SSA counts only $67.50 of it ($65 excluded, plus half of the remaining $135). Other types of income — like interest, rental income, or a pension — are counted in full after a $20 monthly exclusion.

In-kind support and maintenance, or food and shelter you receive for free, is treated differently. If someone else pays for your food or housing, SSA may reduce your payment by up to one-third of the federal rate. This is called the in-kind support and maintenance reduction, and it can lower your payment by as much as $314 per month in 2025.

Living arrangements that affect your payment

Where you live and who pays for your food and shelter matters to your SSI payment. If you live alone and pay all your own expenses, you receive the full federal rate (plus any state supplement). If you live with family or friends and they pay for some or all of your food or housing, your payment is reduced.

If you live in an institution — a nursing home, hospital, or group home — your payment may be reduced to $30 per month. The rules are different for each type of facility, and some people in group homes receive the full rate. If you live in a public institution, you may receive no SSI at all, though you can still get Medicaid.

If you are married and both spouses receive SSI, the couple rate applies: $1,415 per month combined in 2025. This is higher than two individual rates added together, so marriage can actually increase your total household SSI income.

How to find your exact 2025 payment amount

The $943 federal rate is a starting point. Your actual payment depends on your state, your income, your living situation, and whether you have a spouse. SSA will not tell you your 2025 amount until they process your case or update your existing case. If you already receive SSI, you should have received a notice in December 2024 or early January 2025 showing your new payment amount.

If you do not have a notice yet, or if you are new to SSI, contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213. You can also create an account at ssa.gov and view your payment information online. Have your Social Security number and date of birth ready. The SSA representative can tell you exactly what you will receive each month in 2025 and explain any deductions.

When your payment changes during the year

Your SSI payment can change if your income changes, your living situation changes, or you move to a different state. If you start working, report your earnings to SSA right away — do not wait for a letter. If you move in with someone else, or if someone moves in with you and starts paying for your food or shelter, report that change too.

SSA reviews cases regularly and may adjust your payment based on new information. If your payment goes down and you think it is wrong, you can request a reconsideration within 60 days. Keep records of your income, your living expenses, and who pays for what. These records help you explain your situation if there is a dispute.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my SSI payment go up again in 2026?

Yes. SSI payments increase each January based on the Cost of Living Adjustment. The 2026 increase depends on inflation over the next year and will be announced in October 2025. You do not have to do anything to receive the increase — it happens automatically.

What if I earn money from a job — how much can I make before my SSI stops?

There is no hard cutoff. Your SSI payment is reduced based on how much you earn, using the work incentive rules: the first $65 per month is excluded, plus half of anything above that. You can earn roughly $1,900 per month before your SSI payment reaches zero, but the exact amount depends on your state supplement and other factors. Contact SSA to find your break-even point.

Does my spouse's income count against my SSI payment?

If you are married and both receive SSI, you are treated as a couple and receive the couple rate ($1,415 in 2025). If only one spouse receives SSI, the other spouse's income counts against the SSI recipient's payment. The first $20 of the non-SSI spouse's income is excluded each month.

Can I get back pay if my 2025 payment should have been higher?

If SSA made an error and underpaid you, you can request a reconsideration or appeal. You have 60 days from the date of the notice to request reconsideration. If you win, SSA will pay you the difference going back to the month the error started. Keep all notices and payment records to support your claim.

What counts as income for SSI purposes?

Wages, self-employment income, pensions, annuities, interest, dividends, rental income, and unemployment all count as income. Some things do not: the first $65 of monthly work income, the first $20 of other income, food or shelter provided by a nonprofit, and certain gifts or loans. Ask SSA about any specific income source you are unsure about.