What the highest SSI payment is right now

The maximum Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment for 2024 is $943 per month for an individual living independently, and $1,415 per month for a couple. These amounts are set by the federal government and adjust each year based on the cost of living. The actual payment you receive depends on your living situation, other income you have, and which state you live in — because many states add their own supplementary payments on top of the federal amount.

The federal maximum is the ceiling, not a may provide. If you have other income — from work, pensions, or family support — your SSI payment will be reduced. If you live with family members who help pay for food or shelter, your payment may be lower. And if you live in a state that runs its own supplementary program, you could receive more than the federal maximum.

These numbers change every January. The Social Security Administration announces the new maximum in October of the previous year, so you can plan ahead. The increase is tied to the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), which reflects inflation. In recent years, increases have ranged from zero to 8.7 percent, depending on how much prices rose.

Key Takeaways

  • The federal SSI maximum for 2024 is $943 monthly for one person and $1,415 for a couple, but your actual payment will likely be lower if you have other income or live with family.
  • Many states add supplementary payments on top of the federal amount, so your total could exceed the federal maximum depending on where you live.
  • The maximum amount increases each January based on cost-of-living changes announced in October.
  • Your payment is reduced dollar-for-dollar for most other income you receive, and reduced by one-third of your earnings if you work.

How your actual payment gets calculated

Receiving the full federal maximum is rare. Social Security starts with the maximum and subtracts money based on what you have and earn. If you have a job, the first $65 you earn each month is not counted, and then half of everything above that is subtracted from your SSI. If you receive other benefits — a pension, unemployment, workers' compensation — those are usually subtracted dollar-for-dollar.

Your living situation also affects the amount. If someone else pays for your food or shelter, Social Security counts part of that as income to you. The reduction is called in-kind support and maintenance (ISM), and it can lower your payment by up to one-third of the federal maximum. If you live alone and pay all your own expenses, you avoid this reduction.

Unearned income — money you did not work for — is treated differently than earned income. The first $20 of unearned income each month is not counted. After that, every dollar reduces your SSI payment by one dollar. So if you receive $100 in a pension, $80 of it counts against your SSI.

State supplementary payments that add to the federal amount

Twelve states run their own SSI supplementary programs that pay on top of the federal amount. These states are California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. The amounts vary widely — some states add $50 to $100 per month, while others add several hundred dollars.

California's supplementary program, for example, raises the maximum to $1,087 for an individual in 2024. New York's program brings the maximum to $1,051. Hawaii's is $1,149. These state programs have their own income and resource limits, which are usually the same as the federal SSI limits but sometimes differ. If you move to a different state, your supplementary payment will change or stop entirely.

To learn about your state has a supplementary program and what the maximum is, contact your local Social Security office or the state agency that handles SSI. The Social Security Administration website lists which states have programs, but the amounts change yearly, so you need current information from the state itself.

Resource limits and how they affect your payment

SSI has a resource limit — a cap on how much money and property you can own and still receive payments. For 2024, the limit is $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple. Resources include cash, bank accounts, stocks, and property you own. Your home and one vehicle do not count toward the limit.

If your resources exceed the limit, you become ineligible for SSI entirely — it is not a gradual reduction. This is different from income, which reduces your payment month by month. Many people keep their resources just under the limit by spending down savings or giving money away, though there are rules about gifts that can affect your case.

Some resources do not count at all. Your home, one car, household goods, personal effects, and life insurance policies under $1,500 are excluded. Burial funds up to $1,500 per person are also excluded. If you are unsure whether something counts as a resource, ask Social Security before you receive it or buy it.

How the annual cost-of-living adjustment works

Every January, the SSI maximum increases if inflation has occurred during the previous year. The percentage increase is the same as the Social Security COLA, which is calculated by comparing the Consumer Price Index from the third quarter of one year to the third quarter of the previous year. In 2024, the COLA was 3.2 percent. In 2023, it was 8.7 percent — the largest increase in four decades.

Social Security announces the new COLA in mid-October, so you know what your payment will be starting in January. If there is no inflation, there is no increase — this happened in 2010, 2011, and 2016. The increase applies to the federal maximum and to most state supplementary programs, though a few states have their own adjustment formulas.

The COLA affects not just the payment maximum but also the income and resource limits. When the maximum goes up, so do the thresholds for how much you can earn and still receive SSI. This means your payment may increase even if your income stays the same, because the income exclusions increase too.

What happens if you work while receiving SSI

You can work and receive SSI at the same time, but your payment will be reduced. The first $65 you earn each month is not counted. After that, Social Security counts half of your remaining earnings. So if you earn $200 per month, $65 is excluded, leaving $135. Half of $135 is $67.50, which is subtracted from your SSI payment.

There is also a Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) program that lets you set aside income and resources for a specific work goal without losing SSI. If you want to save money for job training, education, or starting a business, you can exclude that money from the SSI calculation. A PASS plan requires a written agreement with Social Security and must be reviewed annually.

Work incentives like the Student Earned Income Exclusion (for students under 22) and the Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) deduction can also reduce how much of your earnings count. These programs are designed to help you move toward self-support without losing your SSI immediately. Social Security has a work incentives planning service that can help you understand how work will affect your specific situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive the full federal maximum if I live in a state with no supplementary program?

Only if you have no other income, no one helps pay for your food or shelter, and your resources are below the limit. Most people have some other income or living situation that reduces the payment below the maximum. Even small amounts of unearned income reduce your SSI.

What counts as a resource that could make me ineligible?

Cash, bank accounts, stocks, bonds, and property you own (except your home and one vehicle) all count. If your total resources exceed $2,000 as an individual, you lose SSI may be able to access entirely. Some things like burial funds and life insurance do not count, so ask Social Security before assuming something counts.

If I move to a different state, does my SSI payment change?

The federal portion stays the same, but any state supplementary payment stops immediately. If your new state has its own program, you may be able to receive a supplementary payment there, but the amount will likely be different. Contact the new state's SSI office to find out what you will receive.

How much can I earn before I lose SSI?

There is no hard cutoff. Your payment reduces gradually as you earn more. The first $65 per month is excluded, then half of everything above that. If you earn enough that your reduction equals your entire SSI payment, you stop receiving SSI. This varies by state and by your individual circumstances.

When does the COLA increase take effect?

The new maximum and income limits take effect on January 1 each year. Social Security announces the percentage increase in October, so you have time to plan. Your first payment at the new rate arrives in January, and your payment history shows the increase retroactively to January 1.