SSI is a federal cash payment for people with disabilities, blindness, or age 65 and older with very low income

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a monthly cash benefit paid by the Social Security Administration to people who meet three conditions: they have a disability, blindness, or are age 65 or older; their income is below a certain limit; and their assets are below a certain limit. The payment goes directly to the person receiving it, not to a family member or caregiver. The amount varies by state because some states add money on top of the federal payment.

SSI is separate from Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), though both are run by the Social Security Administration. The key difference is that SSI is based on financial need, while SSDI is based on work history. You can receive both at the same time, but they are different programs with different rules.

The federal SSI payment in 2024 is $943 per month for an individual and $1,415 for a couple, though these amounts change each year. If you live in a state that supplements SSI — such as California, New York, or Massachusetts — you may receive more. Some states pay nothing extra.

Key Takeaways

  • SSI provides monthly cash to people with disabilities, blindness, or age 65 and older who have very low income and few assets.
  • Your monthly income must be below the federal limit (usually around $1,000 for individuals), and you can own only limited assets like a home or one vehicle.
  • SSI is need-based, unlike SSDI, which is based on your own or a family member's work history.
  • Some states add extra money to the federal SSI payment, so the total amount you receive depends partly on where you live.
  • You must report changes in income, living situation, or resources within 10 days, or you may lose your benefits.

Income and asset limits that determine who receives SSI

To receive SSI, your countable income must stay below a monthly limit. For 2024, the federal limit is roughly $1,000 per month for an individual and $1,500 for a couple, though these figures change yearly. Not all income counts toward this limit — for example, the first $65 of earned income each month is not counted, and certain types of support like food or shelter provided by others may not count either.

Your assets (what you own) also matter. You can own a home and one vehicle without it affecting SSI, but you cannot have more than $2,000 in cash, bank accounts, or other liquid resources if you are single, or $3,000 if you are married. Money in a dedicated account for a disabled person's needs, called an ABLE account, does not count toward this limit up to $100,000.

If your income or assets go over the limit, you lose SSI that month. This is why reporting changes quickly matters — if you receive a bonus at work or inherit money, you must tell Social Security within 10 days or face overpayment that you will have to repay.

How SSI differs from SSDI and other Social Security programs

SSDI and SSI are often confused because both come from Social Security, but they work differently. SSDI is for people who have worked and paid into Social Security through payroll taxes, or for family members of workers who are disabled, retired, or deceased. You do not have to be poor to receive SSDI. SSI, by contrast, is only for people with very low income and assets, regardless of work history.

You can receive both programs at the same time. For example, if you worked for five years, became disabled, and now have very little income, you might receive a small SSDI payment plus SSI to bring your total to the SSI federal benefit rate. Social Security will coordinate the two payments so you do not receive more than you are may have access to to.

Retirement benefits from Social Security are different again — those are based on your own work record and age, not on disability or financial need. If you are age 65 or older and have low income, you may receive SSI even if you also receive a small retirement benefit.

What counts as a disability for SSI purposes

SSI covers physical disabilities, mental health conditions, developmental disabilities, and blindness. Social Security has a specific list of conditions that automatically may have access to, but you do not have to have one of those conditions to receive SSI — you must show that your condition prevents you from working and will last at least 12 months or result in death.

For children under 18, the rules are different. A child can receive SSI based on a disability that substantially limits their ability to function, even if they could not work yet. Parents' income and assets are counted toward the child's limit, not just the child's own resources.

Social Security will ask for medical evidence — doctor's reports, test results, hospital records — to support your claim. If you do not have recent medical treatment, you may be asked to see a doctor that Social Security arranges and pays for. The process of proving disability can take several months.

How to report changes and keep your SSI active

Once you receive SSI, you must report certain changes within 10 days. These include a change in income (a new job, a raise, a bonus, unemployment ending), a change in living situation (moving in with someone, moving out, getting married), a change in resources (receiving an inheritance, selling property, opening a bank account), or a change in your medical condition. Failing to report can result in an overpayment that Social Security will ask you to repay.

You can report changes by phone, mail, or in person at your local Social Security office. Many people find it easiest to call the SSI hotline or visit a field office in person, because you get confirmation that the change was recorded. Keep a record of when you reported and who you spoke with.

Social Security also conducts periodic reviews to confirm you still meet the rules. For adults, these reviews happen every one to three years depending on how likely your condition is to improve. For children, reviews happen more often. If you are asked to attend a review and do not show up, your benefits may be stopped.

Work incentives and how earning money affects SSI

You can work and receive SSI, but your earnings will reduce your payment. The first $65 of earned income per month does not count. After that, Social Security counts half of your remaining earnings toward your income limit. For example, if you earn $200 per month, only $67.50 counts ($200 minus $65, divided by two). This means you can earn some money without losing all your SSI.

Social Security also offers work incentives designed to help people transition off SSI. The Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) lets you set aside income and resources for a work goal without it counting toward your SSI limit. An Impairment Related Work Expense (IRWE) lets you deduct costs related to working — such as medical equipment, transportation, or attendant care — from your earnings before Social Security counts them.

If you are considering work, contact your local Social Security office or a work incentive planning counselor before you start. They can explain how your specific earnings will affect your SSI and help you plan so you do not lose benefits unexpectedly.

State supplements and how they change your SSI amount

The federal SSI payment is the same nationwide, but 10 states and Washington, D.C. add their own money on top. California, Delaware, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, D.C. all have state supplements. The amount varies — California's supplement is much larger than Delaware's, for example.

If you move to a different state, your SSI payment may change. Some states have higher supplements, and some have none. You will still receive the federal amount, but the state portion will change based on your new state's rules. If you are planning to move, contact Social Security beforehand to understand how it will affect your payment.

State supplements have their own rules and limits. Some states count income differently than the federal program does, or have different asset limits. If you receive a state supplement, Social Security will send you information about your state's specific rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive SSI if I own a home?

Yes. Your primary home does not count toward the $2,000 asset limit for individuals, no matter how much it is worth. One vehicle also does not count. Everything else — bank accounts, investments, a second property — does count toward your limit.

What happens to my SSI if I get married?

Your income and asset limits change. As a couple, you can have up to $3,000 in countable resources instead of $2,000, and your combined income limit is higher. Your spouse's income counts toward your limit. You should report the marriage to Social Security within 10 days so they can recalculate your payment.

Can I receive SSI while I am in school?

Yes, if you are under age 22 and a full-time student, certain student income does not count toward your SSI limit. This includes scholarships, grants, and work-study earnings up to a monthly limit. You must still meet the disability requirement and the asset limit. Report your student status to Social Security.

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

One-time payments count as resources and can push you over the $2,000 limit, which would stop your SSI that month. However, if you spend the money within the same month you receive it, it may not count. Report any large one-time payment to Social Security right away so they can advise you on how it affects your benefits.

Can I work with a representative payee if I receive SSI?

Yes. If Social Security believes you cannot manage your benefits, they can appoint a representative payee — usually a family member or social worker — to receive your SSI payment and manage it on your behalf. You can request a payee, or Social Security can assign one. You have the right to ask for a change if the arrangement is not working.