SSI goes to people who are aged, blind, or disabled and have very little income or resources

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal cash program run by the Social Security Administration. It pays monthly to people who meet three conditions at the same time: you must be 65 or older, blind, or disabled; your monthly income must fall below a set limit; and your countable resources must total less than $2,000 (or $3,000 if you are married and both spouses receive SSI).

The income and resource limits do not change based on where you live, but some states add their own money on top of the federal SSI payment. The definition of disability for SSI is strict — you must have a medical condition that prevents you from working and is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. Being unemployed, having a low income, or struggling to find work does not meet that definition.

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 the rules for who qualifies are separate.

Key Takeaways

  • You must be 65 or older, blind, or disabled to receive SSI, and your condition must prevent substantial work for at least 12 months.
  • Your countable monthly income must be below the federal limit, and your resources (cash, bank accounts, property) must total less than $2,000 if you are single.
  • The Social Security Administration counts some income and ignores other income — for example, the first $65 of monthly earnings is not counted, and some in-kind support does not count.
  • You must be a U.S. citizen or certain categories of noncitizen, and you must live in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, or the Northern Mariana Islands.
  • Children can receive SSI if they are disabled and their family's income and resources are low enough, using different income limits than adults.

Age, blindness, or disability — what SSI actually requires

If you are 65 or older, you meet the age requirement. You do not have to be retired or unable to work — age alone qualifies you, as long as your income and resources are low enough.

Blindness means your vision is 20/200 or worse in your better eye with correction, or your visual field is 20 degrees or less. You need medical documentation from an eye doctor or ophthalmologist.

Disability for SSI means you have a medical condition that prevents you from doing any substantial work. The Social Security Administration uses a five-step test: they check whether you are working and earning more than $1,550 per month (as of 2024, though this amount changes yearly); whether your condition is severe enough to interfere with basic work activities; whether your condition matches or equals a condition on the Social Security Administration's list of disabling conditions; whether you can do the work you did before; and whether you can do any other work that exists in the economy. If you fail any step, the decision moves to the next one. The process is long and many people are denied the first time.

Income limits and what counts as income

The federal SSI payment for 2024 is $943 per month for an individual and $1,415 for a couple (both receiving SSI). Your countable income must be below these amounts. However, not all income counts the same way.

The first $65 of your monthly earnings from work, plus half of anything above that, does not count. So if you earn $200 a month, only $67.50 counts toward the SSI limit ($200 minus $65, divided by two, equals $67.50). This rule is called the earned income exclusion and is meant to encourage work. Unearned income — such as Social Security benefits, pensions, or money from family members — counts dollar for dollar after the first $20 per month is excluded.

In-kind support, such as food or shelter provided by someone else, counts as income in a specific way. If someone gives you food or pays your rent, the Social Security Administration counts a portion of that as income, but the rules are complex and vary by situation. If you live in someone else's household and they pay for your food or shelter, the countable value is usually one-third of the federal SSI payment rate, though there are exceptions.

Some income does not count at all: the first $20 per month of any unearned income, food stamps (now called SNAP), certain tax refunds, and certain grants or scholarships used for education or training.

Resource limits and what counts as a resource

Your countable resources must stay below $2,000 if you are single or $3,000 if you are married and both receive SSI. Resources are things you own that can be turned into cash: bank accounts, savings, stocks, bonds, and vehicles (though one vehicle used for transportation is usually not counted). Your home and the land it sits on do not count, no matter the value. Household goods and personal effects do not count.

Some resources are excluded entirely. These include one vehicle used for transportation, a home you live in, household goods and personal items, life insurance policies with a face value under $1,500, and certain burial funds set aside in advance. If you receive a lump sum — such as an inheritance, a legal settlement, or back pay from a job — it counts as a resource immediately. If your resources go over the limit, you become ineligible for SSI until they drop back below it.

Citizenship and residency requirements

You must be a U.S. citizen or a noncitizen in one of several protected categories. Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) can receive SSI. Refugees and asylees can receive SSI for seven years from the date they were granted that status. Some other noncitizen categories are also may be able to access, but undocumented immigrants cannot receive SSI.

You must live in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, or the Northern Mariana Islands. If you leave the United States for more than 30 days, your SSI stops. If you are outside the country for a full calendar month, you lose your payment for that month and the next month, even if you return before the second month ends.

SSI for children and young adults

A child under 18 can receive SSI if they are disabled and their family's income and resources are low enough. The Social Security Administration uses the child's own income and resources first, then counts the parents' income and resources using different rules. Parents' income is counted less heavily than the child's own income — only a portion of parental income is considered.

When a child turns 18, the rules change. The Social Security Administration stops counting parental income and resources and looks only at the young adult's own situation. This is called the "age 18 redetermination." Many young people who received SSI as children lose it at 18 because their own income or resources are too high, even though their parents' situation was poor enough to may have access to them before.

A young adult aged 18 to 19 who is still in high school can continue to receive SSI under different rules. Once they leave school or turn 20, the regular adult rules apply.

How the Social Security Administration verifies your situation

When you apply for SSI, the Social Security Administration asks for documents to prove your age, citizenship or immigration status, income, and resources. For age, bring a birth certificate or passport. For citizenship, bring a birth certificate, passport, or naturalization papers. For noncitizens, bring immigration documents such as a green card, refugee travel document, or asylum approval letter.

For income, bring recent pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, and letters from anyone who gives you money. For resources, bring bank statements, investment statements, and proof of property ownership. The Social Security Administration also contacts your employer and banks directly to verify what you report.

If you receive SSI, you must report changes within 10 days: a change in income, a change in living situation, a new job, money received as a gift or inheritance, or a trip outside the United States. Failing to report can result in an overpayment that you must repay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive SSI if I own a car?

Yes. One vehicle used for transportation does not count as a resource, no matter its value. If you own more than one vehicle, only one is excluded. The second vehicle counts toward your $2,000 resource limit.

What happens to my SSI if I get a job?

Your SSI does not stop immediately. The first $65 of your monthly earnings plus half of anything above that does not count. You can work and still receive SSI as long as your countable income stays below the federal limit. Many people use SSI as a bridge while building work capacity.

Does my spouse's income count if only I receive SSI?

Yes. If you are married and your spouse does not receive SSI, their income counts toward your limit. If both of you receive SSI, each person's income is counted separately against their own limit, and your combined resources cannot exceed $3,000.

Can I receive SSI while I am waiting for a Social Security Disability Insurance decision?

Yes. SSI and SSDI are separate programs with different rules. You can receive SSI based on financial need while your SSDI claim is being decided. If you are approved for SSDI later, your SSI may stop or reduce, depending on how much SSDI you receive.

What if I receive a gift or inheritance while on SSI?

Money received as a gift or inheritance counts as a resource immediately. If it pushes your total resources over $2,000, you become ineligible for SSI that month. You must report it to the Social Security Administration within 10 days. Some people set aside money in a special needs trust to avoid losing SSI, but this requires legal help to set up correctly.