The federal minimum SSI payment in 2024 is $943 per month

The federal base rate for Supplemental Security Income is set each year by the Social Security Administration. For 2024, that minimum is $943 monthly for an individual living independently. This is the floor — you cannot receive less than this amount from the federal portion of SSI, even if your countable income is very low.

The actual payment you receive may be higher or lower than $943 depending on three things: your countable income, your living arrangement, and whether your state adds a supplementary payment on top of the federal amount. A person with zero other income living alone gets the full $943. A person with $200 in monthly income gets $743. A person living in someone else's household and receiving food or shelter from them may get less.

The $943 figure changes every January when the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) takes effect. The 2025 rate will be different — Social Security announces the new rate in October of the prior year. If you need the current rate for your specific situation, the Social Security Administration website or your local Social Security office has the exact figure.

Key Takeaways

  • The federal SSI minimum for 2024 is $943 per month for an individual, but this amount increases each January based on the Cost of Living Adjustment.
  • Your actual payment is reduced dollar-for-dollar by countable income you receive from work, pensions, or other sources, so the lowest possible payment is not zero.
  • Living arrangements matter: if someone else pays for your food or shelter, your federal payment is reduced by one-third of the federal rate.
  • Many states pay a supplementary amount on top of the federal minimum, which raises the lowest payment in that state above $943.
  • SSI payments are separate from Social Security retirement or disability benefits and have their own income and resource limits.

How countable income reduces your payment

SSI uses a specific formula to calculate your monthly payment. The Social Security Administration starts with the federal rate ($943 in 2024) and subtracts your countable income. Countable income includes wages from work, pensions, unemployment benefits, and most other regular money coming in — but not all income counts.

The first $65 of monthly earnings from work does not count, and neither does half of any earnings above that. For example, if you earn $200 a month, only $67.50 counts toward SSI ($200 minus $65, then half of the remaining $135). Your SSI payment would be $875.50 ($943 minus $67.50). If you earn nothing, your payment is the full $943.

Unearned income — money you do not work for — counts dollar-for-dollar with no exclusion. The first $20 of unearned income per month is excluded, but after that it all reduces your payment. If you receive a $100 monthly pension, $80 of it counts, and your SSI payment drops by $80.

Living arrangements and the one-third reduction

Where you live changes the lowest payment you can receive. If you live in your own household and pay for your own food and shelter, you get the full federal rate minus your countable income. If someone else pays for your food or shelter, Social Security reduces your payment by one-third of the federal rate.

This is called the in-kind support and maintenance (ISM) reduction. In 2024, one-third of $943 is approximately $314. So if you live with family who provide your meals and housing, your lowest possible payment would be around $629 ($943 minus $314), assuming you have no other countable income. If you also have countable income, the payment drops further.

The reduction applies whether the help is intentional or not. If your adult child lets you live in their home rent-free and feeds you, the reduction happens. If you live in a group home or shelter where meals are provided, the reduction applies. The only exception is if you live in an institution like a hospital or nursing home — different rules apply there.

State supplementary payments raise the minimum in many states

Fourteen states and Washington, D.C. add their own money on top of the federal SSI payment. These state supplementary payments vary widely. Some states add $50 to $100 monthly; others add several hundred dollars. California, New York, and Massachusetts have among the highest supplements.

If you live in a state with a supplement, your lowest payment is higher than $943. For example, if your state adds $150 monthly and you have no countable income, your total payment is $1,093. If you have countable income, the state supplement is reduced along with the federal amount, so the lowest possible total is still higher than the federal minimum alone.

The states that do not offer supplementary payments are: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. In these states, the lowest SSI payment is the federal rate minus any countable income and any ISM reduction.

How the annual COLA affects the minimum payment

The federal SSI rate is not fixed. Every January, Social Security adjusts the payment based on the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), which reflects inflation. If inflation was high the prior year, the COLA percentage is higher, and the federal rate increases more. If inflation was low, the increase is smaller or sometimes zero.

The COLA is announced in October for the following January. For example, the 2024 COLA was 3.2 percent, which raised the 2024 federal rate to $943. The 2025 COLA was 2.5 percent, which raised the 2025 rate to $967. Your state supplement, if you receive one, may also increase with a COLA, though the amount varies by state.

This means the lowest SSI payment changes every year. If you are tracking your expected payment or planning your budget, check the Social Security website in October to see the new rate for January, or call your local Social Security office to confirm the exact amount you will receive.

Resource limits and how they affect payment may be able to access

SSI has a resource limit separate from the income limit. You can own no more than $2,000 in countable resources as an individual (or $3,000 if you are married and both receive SSI). Resources include cash, bank accounts, stocks, and property you own — but not your home, one car, or certain other items.

If your resources exceed the limit, you lose SSI entirely. There is no partial payment. This is different from income, which reduces your payment dollar-for-dollar. If you have $2,100 in a savings account, you are $100 over the limit and receive no SSI payment that month. Once you spend or transfer the money and get back under $2,000, you become may be able to access again.

The resource limit does not change with COLA. It has remained $2,000 for individuals since 1989. Some resources do not count — for example, a burial fund up to $1,500, a vehicle used for transportation, and household goods. Ask your Social Security office which of your specific assets count toward the limit.

What happens if you work while receiving SSI

Work incentives exist to encourage SSI recipients to earn money without losing benefits entirely. The most important is the earned income exclusion: the first $65 of monthly earnings plus half of the rest do not count as income. This means you can earn money and still receive most of your SSI payment.

If you earn $200 monthly, only $67.50 counts, so your payment is reduced by $67.50. You keep the other $132.50 of your earnings plus your reduced SSI payment. The combination is more than your SSI payment alone. Over time, as your earnings increase, your SSI payment decreases until it reaches zero, but you are earning more total money.

Social Security also offers a Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS), which lets you set aside income and resources for a specific work goal without it counting against your SSI limits. For example, you could save money for job training or a vehicle needed for work. A PASS requires a written plan and approval from Social Security, but it can help you build toward financial independence while keeping your SSI payment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my SSI payment go below zero?

No. If your countable income exceeds the federal rate, your SSI payment stops, but you do not owe money back. For example, if you earn $1,000 monthly, your SSI payment is zero, but you keep all $1,000 of your earnings. SSI never results in a debt.

Does my spouse's income count against my SSI payment?

Yes, if you are married and your spouse receives SSI, both of your incomes are counted together for payment purposes. If only you receive SSI and your spouse does not, their income does not affect your payment, but their resources do count toward the household resource limit.

What if I receive both SSI and Social Security retirement benefits?

Both count as unearned income and reduce your SSI payment dollar-for-dollar after the first $20 monthly exclusion. For example, if you receive $500 in Social Security and $100 in SSI, the $500 counts as $480 of countable income (after the $20 exclusion), reducing your SSI by $480. You would receive $463 in SSI plus your $500 Social Security for a total of $963.

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

Your federal SSI payment stays the same, but if you move to a state with a supplement or from one with a supplement to one without, your total payment changes. Some states have different supplements for different living arrangements. Contact your new state's Social Security office or the Social Security website to find out the exact payment in your new location.

How often should I report my income to Social Security?

You must report changes in income within 10 days. If you start working, get a raise, or lose a source of income, tell Social Security immediately. Failing to report can result in an overpayment that you may have to repay. You can report by phone, mail, or online through your Social Security account.