Social Security has different income limits depending on which program you receive

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) has a strict monthly income limit: $943 for an individual and $1,415 for a couple in 2024. These numbers change each year based on inflation. If your income exceeds these amounts, your SSI payment reduces dollar-for-dollar above the limit — meaning you lose $1 in benefits for every $1 you earn over the threshold.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and regular Social Security retirement benefits have no income limit at all. You can earn any amount and still receive your full benefit. However, if you are under full retirement age and still working, Social Security applies an earnings test that temporarily reduces your benefit — but this is different from an income limit and works only while you are under full retirement age.

The distinction matters because SSI is means-tested (based on how much money you have), while SSDI and retirement benefits are not. If you receive SSI, you need to report changes in income immediately, because even small increases can affect your payment.

Key Takeaways

  • SSI has a monthly income limit of $943 for individuals and $1,415 for couples in 2024, and these limits rise each January based on inflation.
  • SSDI and regular Social Security retirement have no income limit — you can earn any amount without losing benefits.
  • For SSI, income above the limit reduces your payment by the same amount, so a $100 increase in income means a $100 decrease in your benefit.
  • You must report income changes to Social Security within 10 days to avoid overpayments you may have to repay later.
  • Certain types of income do not count toward the SSI limit, including the first $65 of monthly earnings plus half of anything above that.

What counts as income for SSI purposes

Social Security counts almost any money you receive as income for SSI — wages from a job, self-employment earnings, rental income, interest, dividends, and money from other people. However, SSI has specific exclusions that do not count against your limit.

The first $65 of your monthly earnings from work, plus half of anything you earn above $65, does not count. This means if you earn $200 a month, only $132.50 counts toward your income limit ($200 minus $65, then half of the remaining $135). If you do not work, this exclusion does not apply.

Other income that does not count includes: the first $20 of any monthly income from any source, food and shelter you receive as a gift, food stamps (now called SNAP), most medical care, and certain in-kind support. Unearned income — like Social Security benefits you receive from a parent or spouse, pensions, or unemployment — counts fully after the $20 exclusion.

How the earnings test works for SSDI and retirement benefits

If you receive SSDI or Social Security retirement and are under full retirement age, Social Security reduces your benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn above $23,400 in 2024. This threshold changes yearly. The reduction applies only in years you are under full retirement age; once you reach it, there is no earnings test and you keep your full benefit regardless of income.

The earnings test counts only wages and self-employment income — not pensions, investments, rental income, or other unearned money. If you turn full retirement age during the year, the earnings test applies only to months before the month you reach that age, and the limit is higher for those months ($62,160 in 2024, with a $1 reduction for every $3 earned).

This is a temporary reduction, not a permanent loss. Once you reach full retirement age, Social Security recalculates your benefit to account for the months it was reduced, and you receive a higher payment going forward to make up the difference.

How SSI income limits affect your resources and living situation

SSI also has a resource limit separate from income: you can own no more than $2,000 in countable resources as an individual or $3,000 as a couple. Resources include cash, bank accounts, stocks, and property you own — but not your home, one vehicle, or certain personal items.

If you live with someone else and they help pay for food or shelter, SSI counts part of that support as "in-kind income" and reduces your benefit. The reduction is one-third of your federal benefit rate (about $314 in 2024) if you live in someone else's household and they pay for food or shelter. This rule can make it harder to live with family without losing benefits.

Some states add their own money to the federal SSI payment, and those state supplements may have different rules. Contact your local Social Security office to learn what applies in your state.

Reporting income changes to Social Security

You must report any change in income to Social Security within 10 days. This includes starting a job, getting a raise, losing a job, or receiving money from any source. If you do not report and Social Security discovers you were overpaid, you will have to repay the difference — sometimes from future benefits, sometimes through a payment plan.

Report changes by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, visiting your local Social Security office, or using your online account at ssa.gov. Have your Social Security number ready and be specific about the date the change happened and how much money is involved.

If you work, Social Security can verify your earnings through your employer's tax reports, so underreporting or delaying a report will likely be discovered. It is better to report immediately and let Social Security adjust your benefit correctly.

How income limits change each year

SSI income and resource limits increase each January based on the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). In 2024, the increase was 3.2 percent. Social Security announces the new limits in October or November of the previous year, and they take effect January 1.

SSDI and retirement benefit amounts also increase with COLA, but there is no income limit to worry about. The earnings test threshold for those under full retirement age also increases yearly.

You do not need to do anything to receive the increase — it happens automatically. However, if you are close to the income limit, the annual increase may give you a little more room before your SSI payment is affected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work and still get SSI?

Yes. The first $65 of your monthly earnings plus half of anything above that does not count toward your income limit. If you earn $200 monthly, only $132.50 counts, so you stay under the $943 limit. However, you must report your earnings to Social Security.

What happens if I go over the income limit one month?

Your SSI payment for that month reduces by the amount you went over. If you earn $1,000 and the limit is $943, your benefit reduces by $57. The overage does not carry forward to the next month — each month is calculated separately.

Does my spouse's income count toward my SSI limit?

Yes, if you are married and both receive SSI, your incomes are combined. If one spouse works and the other does not, part of the working spouse's income is "deemed" to the non-working spouse, which can reduce both payments. The couple's limit is $1,415.

Can I receive SSDI and still work without losing benefits?

Yes, SSDI has no income limit. However, if you are under full retirement age, the earnings test reduces your benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn above $23,400 yearly. Once you reach full retirement age, you keep your full benefit no matter how much you earn.

What if I receive a one-time payment like a tax refund or inheritance?

A one-time lump sum counts as income in the month you receive it and may reduce or eliminate your SSI payment that month. However, if you do not spend it immediately, it becomes a resource, and if it pushes you over the $2,000 resource limit, you lose SSI until you spend it down below the limit.