SSI is a monthly federal payment for people who are blind, disabled, or over 65 with little income or savings

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal program run by the Social Security Administration that sends monthly cash payments to people who meet three conditions: you are blind, disabled, or at least 65 years old; your income is below a set limit; and your savings and other resources are below a set limit. The payment is not based on work history — it is a needs-based program, meaning the government looks at whether you have money to live on, not whether you paid into Social Security.

SSI is different from Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), which is based on your own work record or your parent's work record. You can receive both SSI and SSDI at the same time, but SSI is the program for people with no work history or a very limited one.

The federal payment amount changes each year. In 2024, the maximum federal SSI payment is $943 per month for an individual and $1,415 for a couple, but many states add their own supplementary payment on top of the federal amount. Your actual payment depends on your other income — if you have a job or receive other benefits, your SSI payment is reduced.

Key Takeaways

  • SSI is a monthly cash payment for people who are blind, disabled, or over 65 and have little income or savings, not a loan or one-time grant.
  • The federal payment amount is set each year and varies by state because many states add their own supplementary payment on top.
  • Your SSI payment is reduced dollar-for-dollar if you have other income, so earning money from work lowers what you receive.
  • You must report changes in income, living situation, or resources within 10 days or you may be overpaid and owe the money back.

How much SSI pays and when the money arrives

The federal SSI payment is the same across the country, but 29 states and Washington D.C. add a state supplementary payment that increases the total. The federal amount for 2024 is $943 per month for an individual and $1,415 for a couple living together. If you live in a state with a supplementary payment, you receive both the federal amount and the state amount in one deposit each month.

SSI payments are sent on the first, third, or fourth Wednesday of each month, depending on your birth date. The Social Security Administration assigns you a payment date when you are first approved. Most people receive the payment by direct deposit to a bank account, but you can also receive it on a prepaid debit card if you do not have a bank account.

Your payment is reduced if you have other income. If you work, the first $65 per month you earn is not counted, and then half of what you earn above that is subtracted from your SSI. If you receive other benefits like unemployment or a pension, those are counted dollar-for-dollar against your SSI payment.

Who can receive SSI payments

To receive SSI, you must be a U.S. citizen or a may have access to immigrant, and you must meet the income and resource limits. Your countable income must be below $1,943 per month for an individual in 2024 (this amount changes each year). Your countable resources — savings, stocks, property you do not live in — must be below $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple.

If you are blind, you do not need to prove you cannot work at all. The Social Security Administration has a specific definition of blindness: your vision is 20/200 or worse in your best eye even with glasses, or your visual field is 20 degrees or less. If you are disabled, you must show that your condition prevents you from working and is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.

If you are 65 or older, you do not need to be blind or disabled. You only need to meet the income and resource limits. Many older adults receive SSI because they did not work long enough to may have access to for Social Security retirement benefits, or their retirement benefit is very small.

How SSI differs from other Social Security programs

SSI and SSDI are both run by Social Security, but they work differently. SSDI is based on your own work record — you must have worked and paid Social Security taxes for a certain number of years. SSI is based on need, not work history. You can receive both programs at the same time if you meet the rules for both.

SSI is also different from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Medicaid, though you may be able to receive those programs at the same time. SNAP helps you buy food, and Medicaid covers medical care. SSI is cash that you can spend on anything — rent, food, medicine, transportation.

Some people confuse SSI with the Supplemental Security Income program for children, but the rules are the same. A child can receive SSI if they are blind or disabled and the family's income and resources are below the limits.

What happens after you start receiving SSI

Once you are approved for SSI, you must report certain changes to Social Security within 10 days. If you start working, move to a different address, get married or divorced, have a change in your living situation, or receive money from another source, you must report it. If you do not report changes, Social Security may overpay you, and you will owe the money back.

Social Security will review your case periodically to make sure you still meet the rules. How often depends on whether your condition is expected to improve. If your condition is not expected to improve, you may be reviewed every three to seven years. If it might improve, you may be reviewed more often.

You can work while receiving SSI, but your payment will be reduced. The first $65 per month you earn is not counted, and then half of your earnings above that reduces your SSI. There is also a Student Earned Income Exclusion if you are under 22 and a student, which allows you to exclude more of your earnings.

How to track your SSI payment status

You can check your SSI payment date and amount by creating an account on ssa.gov and using the "my Social Security" portal. You will need your Social Security number and an email address. Once you log in, you can see your payment history, your next payment date, and your current benefit amount.

If you do not have internet access, you can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and speak to a representative. You can also visit your local Social Security office in person. To find the office nearest you, go to ssa.gov and use the office locator.

If your payment is late or missing, check the "my Social Security" portal first to confirm your payment date. If the payment date has passed and you have not received the money, call Social Security. If you receive payments by direct deposit, the money may take one or two business days to appear in your account after Social Security sends it.

What to do if your SSI payment stops or changes

If your SSI payment stops or decreases, Social Security will send you a notice in the mail explaining why. Read the notice carefully — it will tell you the reason and whether you can appeal. Common reasons for a payment to stop include: your income increased above the limit, your resources increased above the limit, you no longer meet the disability or blindness rules, or you moved out of the country.

If you disagree with the decision, you have the right to appeal. You must request an appeal within 65 days of the date on the notice. You can appeal online at ssa.gov, by mail, or in person at your local Social Security office. During the appeal process, you may be able to continue receiving your payment while the case is reviewed.

If you believe you were overpaid — meaning Social Security sent you more money than you were supposed to receive — you can ask for a waiver of the overpayment. Social Security will not waive the overpayment if you caused it on purpose, but they may waive it if it was their mistake or if paying it back would cause you hardship.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work and still receive SSI?

Yes. The first $65 per month you earn is not counted, and then half of your earnings above that reduces your SSI payment. If you earn $200 per month, your SSI payment is reduced by $67.50 (half of $135). You must report your work income to Social Security.

What counts as income for SSI?

Wages from work, self-employment income, unemployment benefits, pensions, and gifts of money all count as income. Food and shelter provided by someone else also count as income in some cases. The first $20 per month of any income is not counted, and the first $65 per month of work income is not counted.

Can I receive SSI if I own a house?

Yes. The house you live in does not count toward your resource limit. Other property you own, like a second home or rental property, does count. Your car also does not count if you use it for transportation, but a second vehicle does count.

How long does it take to receive my first SSI payment after I am approved?

Social Security will tell you your payment date when they approve your case. Your first payment usually arrives within one or two months of approval, but it can take longer if Social Security needs more information from you. Once you receive your first payment, you will receive a payment on the same date each month.

What happens to my SSI if I go to jail or prison?

Your SSI payment stops if you are in jail or prison for more than 30 days. It resumes the month after you are released. You must report your arrest or incarceration to Social Security within 10 days. If you were overpaid while in custody, you may owe the money back.