SSI looks at three things: your medical condition, your income, and your resources

To receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you must meet one of three conditions: be disabled, blind, or aged 65 or older. The Social Security Administration (SSA) also checks your income and assets to make sure you fall below their limits. If you are under 65 and not blind, you need medical evidence that a condition prevents you from working for at least 12 months or will result in death. Income and resource limits change yearly, so the threshold that applied last year may not apply this year.

SSI is different from Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). SSDI is based on your work history; SSI is based on financial need. You can receive both, but they are separate programs with separate rules.

Key Takeaways

  • You must be disabled, blind, or age 65 or older; disability requires medical proof that you cannot work for at least 12 months.
  • Your monthly income and total resources (cash, bank accounts, property) must stay below SSA limits, which change each year.
  • Some income does not count toward the limit—the first $65 of monthly earnings and $20 of other income are excluded.
  • You must be a U.S. citizen or certain categories of noncitizen, and you must live in one of the 50 states, D.C., or the Northern Mariana Islands.
  • The SSA will review your medical condition periodically; if your condition improves, your benefits may stop.

What counts as disabled under SSI rules

The SSA uses a strict definition of disability. You must have a medical condition (physical or mental) that prevents you from doing substantial work. "Substantial work" means earning more than a set monthly amount—in 2024, that threshold is $1,550 per month, though this changes yearly. The condition must be expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.

The SSA does not consider your age, education, or work experience when deciding if you are disabled. They look only at whether your medical condition stops you from working at the substantial level. You need medical records, test results, doctor's statements, or hospital records to prove this. If you do not have recent medical evidence, the SSA will ask you to see a doctor they choose, at no cost to you.

The SSA maintains a list called the Blue Book that describes conditions they recognize as disabling. If your condition matches one on the list and you have the required medical evidence, approval is faster. If your condition is not on the list, you can still be found disabled, but you will need to show that your condition is equally severe.

Income limits and what does not count

For 2024, the SSI income limit is $943 per month for an individual and $1,415 for a couple. These limits change yearly. Any income above these amounts reduces your SSI payment dollar-for-dollar, so earning $50 over the limit means your SSI check drops by $50.

Not all income counts. The SSA excludes the first $65 of your monthly earnings from work, plus half of anything you earn above that. They also exclude the first $20 of other income (such as gifts or interest). If you receive food or shelter from someone else, that may count as income in a different way. Unearned income like Social Security, pensions, or unemployment benefits counts fully toward the limit.

If you work, report your earnings to the SSA right away. They want to know your gross pay before taxes. Failing to report can result in an overpayment that you will have to repay.

Resource limits: what you can own

SSI also limits how much you can own. For 2024, the resource limit is $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple. Resources include cash, bank accounts, stocks, bonds, and real property other than your home. Your primary home and one vehicle do not count, no matter their value.

If your resources exceed the limit, you are not may be able to access for SSI until they drop below it. Some resources do not count: your home, one car, household goods, personal effects, and life insurance with a face value under $1,500. Burial plots and burial funds up to $1,500 per person also do not count.

If you receive a lump sum—an inheritance, a lawsuit settlement, or back pay—your benefits will stop once your resources cross the limit. You can spend down the excess, but you must do it carefully. The SSA has rules about how quickly you can spend money without it being treated as a gift to someone else.

Citizenship and residency requirements

You must be a U.S. citizen or a noncitizen in a category the SSA recognizes. Most permanent residents (green card holders) are may be able to access. Some refugees, asylees, and victims of trafficking are may be able to access. Undocumented immigrants are not may be able to access for SSI.

You must also live in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, or the Northern Mariana Islands. If you move outside the United States, your SSI stops. If you are outside the country for more than 30 days in a row, you may lose your benefits.

Age 65 and older: a simpler path

If you are 65 or older, you do not need to prove you are disabled. You only need to meet the income and resource limits. This makes SSI available to older adults who have little income and few assets, even if they are able to work.

Many people age 65 and older receive both SSI and Social Security retirement benefits. If your Social Security check is small, SSI can top it up to the federal minimum. Some states add extra money on top of the federal SSI payment.

Blindness: medical and functional standards

You are considered blind under SSI if your vision is 20/200 or worse in your better eye with correction, or if your field of vision is 20 degrees or less. You need an eye doctor's report to prove this. Unlike disability, blindness has a clear medical standard.

If you are blind, you do not have to prove you cannot work. However, you still must meet the income and resource limits. The SSA also allows blind individuals a higher earnings exclusion: the first $2,110 of monthly earnings (in 2024) do not count, compared to $65 for others.

How the SSA reviews your condition over time

Once you receive SSI, the SSA will review your case periodically to see if your condition has improved. How often depends on whether your condition is expected to improve. If improvement is possible, they may review you every one to three years. If improvement is unlikely, reviews may happen less often.

During a review, you will be asked to report any changes in your medical condition, income, resources, living situation, or work activity. If the SSA finds that your condition has improved and you can now do substantial work, your benefits will stop. You have the right to appeal any decision you disagree with.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get SSI if I have a job?

Yes. The SSA excludes the first $65 of your monthly earnings, plus half of anything above that. If you earn $200 a month, only $67.50 counts toward your income limit. You can work and receive SSI as long as your total income stays below the monthly limit.

What happens if I inherit money?

An inheritance counts as a resource. If it pushes your total resources above $2,000 (for an individual), you lose SSI until you spend it down. You can spend the money on anything—food, rent, medical care, or even give it away—but the SSA has rules about gifts to family members, so ask before you do.

Do I have to report my income every month?

You must report changes in your income, resources, living situation, or work activity. If your income stays the same, you do not need to report it monthly. But if you start working, get a raise, or receive a one-time payment, tell the SSA right away to avoid an overpayment.

Can I get SSI if I am not a U.S. citizen?

Some noncitizens are may be able to access: permanent residents, refugees, asylees, and certain other categories. Undocumented immigrants are not may be able to access. Contact the SSA or your local Social Security office to learn about your immigration status qualifies.

What if my condition gets better—will I lose my benefits?

If the SSA finds that your condition has improved enough that you can do substantial work, your benefits will stop. You can appeal the decision. The SSA also has a "trial work period" that lets you test your ability to work without losing benefits right away.