
To be eligible for SSI, an individual must:
- Be 65 or older OR blind OR disabled
- Hold U.S. citizenship or legal residency
- Meet income and resource limits
- Apply for any other available cash benefits, including Social Security
What is the maximum income to qualify for SSI?
income set aside under a Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS). See the SSI Spotlight on Plan to Achieve Self–Support; earnings up to $1,930 per month to a maximum of $7,770 per year (effective January 2021) for a student under age 22. See the SSI Spotlight on Student Earned Income Exclusion;
How much money can you make and still get SSI?
- You were eligible for SSI monthly payments for at least one month.
- You are disabled.
- You meet all non-disability eligibility guidelines for SSI.
- You must have Medicaid coverage to continue working.
- Your gross earnings are insufficient to replace SSI, Medicaid, and publicly-funded care services.
Which states offer supplemental benefits to federal SSI?
- California (individuals: $954.72/month; couples: $1,598.14/month)
- Delaware (individuals: $794/month; couples: $1,191/month)
- Hawaii (individuals: $794/month; couples: $1,191/month)
- Iowa (individuals: $794/month; couples: $1,191/month)
- Michigan (individuals: $794/month; couples: $1,191/month)
- Montana (individuals: $794/month; couples: $1,191/month)
Why is SSDI better than SSI?
Neither?
- STEP ONE: CHECK MEDICAL CRITERIA. SSI and SSDI have the exact same medical criteria. ...
- STEP TWO: CHECK SSDI. You can qualify for SSDI if you worked and paid taxes, but it depends how much you worked and how recently you worked.
- STEP THREE: DON’T GIVE UP TOO EASILY. ...
- STEP FOUR: CHECK SSI. ...
- STEP FIVE: OTHER OPTIONS. ...

What is the minimum you can get from SSI?
The first full special minimum PIA in 1973 was $170 per month. Beginning in 1979, its value has increased with price growth and is $886 per month in 2020. The number of beneficiaries receiving the special minimum PIA has declined from about 200,000 in the early 1990s to about 32,100 in 2019.
What is the difference between Social Security and SSI?
Social Security benefits may be paid to you and certain members of your family if you are “insured” meaning you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes. Unlike Social Security benefits, SSI benefits are not based on your prior work or a family member's prior work.
What is the average SSI monthly payment?
The average federal SSI payment in 2022 (for adults) is $604 per month. (This is without any state supplemental payments.) Children on SSI receive an average of $683 per month (before state supplemental payments).
What are the 3 types of Social Security?
Social Security Benefits: Retirement, Disability, Dependents, and Survivors (OASDI)
How old do you have to be to file for Social Security?
under age 62 and caring for a child (under age 16 or disabled prior to age 22) who is entitled to benefits on your work record. If you are age 62 or over and have enough work credits to receive Social Security benefits, but have not filed a claim, your divorced spouse may qualify for benefits, if he or she was married to you for at least 10 years ...
How many credits do you need to get disability?
The number of work credits you need for disability benefits depends on your age when you became disabled. You generally need 20 work credits earned in the last 10 years ending with the year you become disabled. However, younger workers may qualify with fewer credits. The rules are as follows:
What age can you file for unemployment if you are divorced?
divorced from you, under age 60 and caring for his or her child (under age 16 or disabled prior to age 22) who is entitled to benefits on your record. A dependent parent (s), age 62 or older, of a deceased worker may qualify for benefits based on the worker’s record.
How old do you have to be to be a full time student?
Unmarried children of disabled, retired or deceased workers may qualify if they are: under age 18; or. 18-19 years old and a full-time student (no higher than grade 12); or. 18 or older and have a disability that started before age 22.
Is SSI an application for Social Security?
In fact, the application for SSI benefits is also an application for Social Security benefits. We often need to obtain additional information from the person before we can award Social Security benefits. The following sections provide information on who may be entitled to Social Security benefits.
Can I get Social Security if I am disabled?
You can receive Social Security benefits based on your earnings record if you are age 62 or older, or disabled or blind and have enough work credits. Family members who qualify for benefits on your work record do not need work credits.
What age do you have to be to qualify for SSI?
To qualify for SSI benefits, you must have little or no income and meet any of the following three criteria: Age 65 or older. Blind. Disabled (according to SSA’s definition of “disabled”).
How does SSI differ from SSDI?
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) differs from Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) in that SSI payments are made from the general funds of the United States Treasury whereas SSDI benefits are paid from the Social Security Trust Fund. Accordingly, no previous work history is required. To qualify for SSI benefits, you must have little ...
Can you have a high amount of assets to qualify for SSI?
Additionally, you cannot have a high amount of assets to qualify for SSI. Assets will include cash, stocks, bonds, and even life insurance. They will also include a second home or a second car. Assets will not include a primary home or car, or personal items, such as a wedding ring.
What is SSI in the US?
Supplemental Security Income or SSI is a federally funded benefit program managed by the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA). The program provides financial help to disabled adults and children who have limited income and assets.
How is SSI funded?
SSI is funded by general tax revenues , not Social Security taxes. While you may qualify for Social Security based on years of work and paying Social Security taxes, SSI is not based on prior work experience.
What age do you have to be to get SSI?
The SSI program provides monthly payments to people who: Are at least age 65 or blind or disabled. Have limited income (wages, pensions, etc.). Have limited resources (the things you own). Are U.S. citizens, nationals of the U.S., or some noncitizens.
Can I get less SSI?
You may get less if you have other income such as wages, pensions, or Social Security benefits. You may also get less if someone pays your household expenses or if you live with a spouse and he or she has income. You may be able to get SSI if your resources are worth $2,000 or less.
How much income can I get with SSI in 2021?
The SSI standard for limited income, in 2021, is income of up to $794 a month for an individual or $1,191 a month for a couple. (These are also the maximum monthly payments from federal funds for SSI recipients;
What is the maximum income for SSI in 2021?
The SSI standard for limited income, in 2021, is income of up to $794 a month for an individual or $1,191 a month for a couple. (These are also the maximum monthly payments from federal funds for SSI recipients; most states offer supplemental payments.)
Does Puerto Rico have SSI?
States that provide additional payments may have their own rules regarding income and eligibility. SSI is not available to residents of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa and Guam. Residents of the Northern Mariana Islands can receive SSI, but the territory does not supplement federal payments.
How old do you have to be to get SSI?
A child may be eligible for SSI disability benefits until attainment of age 18 (see definition of disability for children ).
When can a child get SSI?
A child may be eligible for SSI disability benefits until attainment of age 18 (see definition of disability for children ). When the child attains age 18, we evaluate impairments based on the definition of disability for adults (see definition of disability for adults ). A child with a visual impairment may be eligible for SSI benefits based on ...
What is a compassionate allowance?
Compassionate Allowances (CAL) are a way to quickly identify diseases and other medical conditions that, by definition, meet Social Security’s standards for disability benefits. These conditions primarily include certain cancers, adult brain disorders, and a number of rare disorders that affect children. The CAL initiative helps reduce waiting time ...
What age can a child not receive SSI?
If a child is under age 18 , not married, and lives at home with parent (s) who do not receive SSI benefits, we may consider a portion of the parents' income and resources as if they were available to the child.
How long do you have to pay child support benefits?
When an eligible child under age 18, who has a representative payee, is eligible for certain large past–due payments covering more than 6 months of benefits, these payments must be paid directly into a separate account in a financial institution.
Can a child get medicaid if they are on SSI?
In most States, a child who gets SSI benefits can get Medicaid to help pay medical bills. In some cases, a child may be eligible for Medicaid while in an institution, but not be eligible when living at home either because of the parents' income and resources or because of other income. At the State's option, children under age 18 who need ...
Can a child with a visual impairment get SSI?
A child with a visual impairment may be eligible for SSI benefits based on blindness if the impairment meets the definition of blindness (see blindness requirements ).
How do I apply for SSI?
You can apply for SSI benefits by: Visiting our Apply Online for Disability Benefits website to start the disability application process online. You may be eligible to apply for SSI through the online disability application. Calling us at 1-800-772-1213 (or TTY 1-800-325-0778 if you are deaf or hard of hearing) and making an appointment ...
When does SSI end for disabled youth?
If you are a disabled youth in foster care, eligibility for foster care payments in most States ends when you attain age 18. You may need the income support and health services that result from SSI eligibility to ease the transition to independent living.
Can I file for unemployment benefits earlier than 60 days?
We cannot pay benefits for time periods earlier than the effective date of your application. If you call us to make an appointment to apply and you file an application within 60 days, we may use the date of your call as your application filing date. If you do not keep this appointment and you do not contact us to reschedule the appointment, ...
Who Is Eligible for SSI?
People who receive SSI benefits are generally older or have a disability that prevents them from working. Beneficiaries receive funds from the government to help them pay for their basic living expenses, such as food, clothing, and shelter.
Income and Asset Limits for SSI Benefits
There is both an income and asset limit that beneficiaries cannot breach in order to get or retain their SSI benefits. For 2022, an individual beneficiary cannot earn more than $1,767 per month in wages or have more than $2,000 in assets. 1 2
Further SSI Income and Asset Limit Considerations
Individuals can receive a maximum monthly federal SSI payment of $841 as of 2022, or $1,261 for a couple. And again, the income limit for an individual is $1,767, or $2,607 for a couple—if that income comes from wages. 1 Those numbers change annually too.
What Happens If I'm Over the Limit?
The SSA will calculate a beneficiary’s countable income when determining eligibility for, or potential changes to, SSI benefits. As for what happens when you’re over the limit? There are a lot of factors to consider, such as whether your income was earned or not, and if your SSI benefits are being supplemented by your state.
How to Use ABLE Accounts as a Workaround
Both Haddad and Ehlert point to ABLE accounts as a potential way for beneficiaries to work around the income and asset limits for SSI benefits.
Can I Get SSI Benefits for My Disabled Child?
If you want to get benefits for a disabled child, the same eligibility rules (income and asset limits) apply to the child’s parents, up until the child turns 18. 7 “At 18, if the child has a disability, they become eligible on their own,” says Haddad.
Will My State Supplement My SSI Benefits?
Most states supplement federal SSI payments. The only states that do not are Arizona, Mississippi, North Dakota, and West Virginia, along with the Northern Mariana Islands. 8 Some states pay and administer their own supplement payments as well.
