The income limit for SSI in 2024 is $943 per month for an individual and $1,415 for a couple, but the actual amount you can earn is often higher because of how SSI counts income

The federal income limit — the maximum monthly income SSI allows — is $943 for a single person and $1,415 for a married couple in 2024. These numbers change each year in January based on inflation. However, this limit does not mean you lose all benefits the moment you earn a dollar over it. SSI has rules that exclude certain income from the count, which means you can earn more than the limit and still receive some payment.

Income limits vary slightly by state because some states add their own SSI payments on top of the federal amount. If you live in California, New York, or one of the other states with a state supplement, your actual limit may be higher. You can find your state's specific limit by contacting your local Social Security office or checking the SSA website for your state.

Key Takeaways

  • The federal SSI income limit is $943 per month for individuals and $1,415 for couples in 2024, but this increases each January.
  • Not all income counts toward the limit — the first $65 of monthly earnings plus half of anything above that is excluded from the calculation.
  • Unearned income like Social Security, pensions, or gifts counts differently than wages, and some types of support (like SNAP or housing assistance) do not count as income at all.
  • If you earn over the limit, you lose $1 in SSI for every $1 over, so understanding what counts is the difference between keeping your full benefit and losing it entirely.
  • State supplements add to the federal limit in about half the states, so your actual income limit depends on where you live.

How SSI Counts Earned Income from Work

When you work and earn wages, SSI does not count every dollar. The program uses what is called the earned income exclusion: the first $65 you earn in a month is not counted at all, and then SSI counts only half of everything you earn above that $65.

Here is how it works in practice. If you earn $200 in a month, SSI subtracts the first $65, leaving $135. Then it counts only half of that $135, which is $67.50. So your countable income for that month is $67.50, not $200. This means you can earn considerably more than the $943 limit and still receive some SSI payment, as long as your countable income stays below the limit.

This exclusion applies only to wages from work — not to other types of income. If you are self-employed, the same $65 exclusion applies, but you also deduct legitimate business expenses before SSI counts the rest.

How SSI Counts Unearned Income

Unearned income — money that is not from work, such as Social Security benefits, pensions, gifts, or interest — counts differently. There is no $65 exclusion for unearned income. Every dollar of unearned income counts toward your limit, with one exception: the first $20 of unearned income per month is excluded.

If you receive $500 in Social Security and someone gives you a $100 gift in the same month, SSI counts $580 of that as income (subtracting only the $20 exclusion). If that $580 pushes your total countable income over the $943 limit, your SSI payment is reduced by the amount over the limit.

Some types of support do not count as income at all. SNAP (food stamps), housing assistance, Medicaid, and certain other government benefits are not counted. Likewise, money set aside in an ABLE account (a savings account for people with disabilities) does not count as income once it reaches certain limits.

What Happens When You Earn Over the Limit

If your countable income exceeds the monthly limit, you do not automatically lose all your SSI. Instead, your payment is reduced by $1 for every $1 you are over the limit. If the limit is $943 and your countable income is $1,000, you are $57 over, so your SSI payment that month is reduced by $57.

This reduction applies each month based on that month's income. A month when you earn more will result in a smaller check; a month when you earn less will result in a larger check. SSI recalculates your payment each month based on the income you report.

If your countable income stays at or below the limit, you receive your full SSI payment for that month. The goal of the earned income exclusion is to let you work without immediately losing all your benefits — the more you work (within reason), the more you can earn before your SSI payment shrinks.

How State Supplements Change Your Income Limit

About half of U.S. states provide a state supplement to SSI — additional money paid on top of the federal SSI amount. These states have higher income limits to match. For example, California's limit is higher than the federal limit, and New York's is higher still. If you live in a state with a supplement, your actual income limit is the federal limit plus your state's supplement amount.

The income exclusions (the $65 for earned income and the $20 for unearned income) work the same way in every state. What changes is the dollar amount of the limit itself. You can find your state's specific limit by calling your local Social Security office or visiting SSA.gov and selecting your state.

Resources for Checking Your Specific Limit

Because income limits change each January and vary by state, the best way to know your exact limit is to contact Social Security directly. You can call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and speak to a representative, or visit your local Social Security office in person. Have your state name ready, and ask for both the federal limit and your state's supplement amount if one exists.

You can also create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov, which shows your current benefit amount and lets you report changes in income. If you are working or expecting to work, reporting your earnings promptly helps SSI recalculate your payment accurately and prevents overpayments that you would have to repay later.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes, if you are married and both receive SSI, your incomes are combined and compared to the couple's limit of $1,415. If only one spouse receives SSI, the other spouse's income still counts toward the limit, but the couple's limit applies instead of the individual limit.

If I get a one-time payment or bonus at work, how does SSI count it?

A one-time payment counts as earned income in the month you receive it. The $65 exclusion and the half-counting rule still apply. If you receive a large bonus, it may push your countable income over the limit that month, reducing your SSI payment, but it does not affect future months unless you earn that much regularly.

Do I have to report my income to SSI every month?

Yes. You are required to report any changes in income, including new work, raises, or changes in unearned income. Failing to report can result in an overpayment, which SSI will ask you to repay. Many people report online through their my Social Security account or by calling the SSI reporting line.

What if I work part-time and my earnings vary month to month?

SSI recalculates your payment each month based on that month's actual earnings. A month with higher earnings results in a lower payment; a month with lower earnings results in a higher payment. This means your SSI check amount may change from month to month, so budget accordingly if your work hours are unpredictable.

Can I save money without losing my SSI?

SSI has a resource limit (the amount of money and assets you can own), not just an income limit. You can have up to $2,000 in resources as an individual or $3,000 as a couple. Savings count toward this limit, but certain accounts like ABLE accounts have higher limits and do not count against you.