What is SSI and Who Qualifies?

SSI is a federal program administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that provides financial assistance to people with disabilities, the elderly, and blind individuals who have little or no income and limited resources. Unlike Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), SSI is not based on your work history but rather your income and resources.

To qualify for SSI, you must meet the following criteria:

• Limited Income: Your income must be below a certain threshold.
• Limited Resources: Your assets (such as savings or property) must be below a specified limit.
• Disability or Age: You must be 65 or older, or have a qualifying disability or blindness.

What is Considered Income for SSI?

The SSA defines income as any money or material goods that you receive, and it can be either earned or unearned. This includes wages, gifts, and other forms of support.

Earned Income

Earned income refers to money you receive for work performed, including:

• Wages or Salary: Income from a job or self-employment.
• Bonuses: Any extra payments from your employer or business.
• Tips: Money received as a tip for services rendered.
• Net Earnings from Self-Employment: If you work for yourself, the net income (after expenses) you earn is considered earned income.

Unearned Income

Unearned income is money that you receive from sources other than work. This includes:

• Social Security Benefits: Payments from Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), retirement benefits, or SSI itself.
• Unemployment Benefits: Income from unemployment insurance programs.
• Pension or Retirement Payments: Payments from employer retirement plans or pensions.
• Interest and Dividends: Income from savings accounts, investments, or dividends from stocks.
• Child Support or Alimony: Payments you receive for child support or spousal maintenance.
• Gifts and Inheritances: Cash or property given to you by family, friends, or others, whether on a regular or occasional basis.
• Worker's Compensation: Benefits received if you are injured at work.
• Rent or Room and Board Payments: If you receive income from renting out a room or property.

What is Excluded from Income?

Not all forms of income will count against your SSI eligibility. The SSA has specific exclusions that allow certain types of income to be disregarded when calculating your benefits. Some common exclusions include:

• First $20 of Monthly Income: The first $20 of most types of income you receive each month is not counted.
• Work Income Exclusion: If you are working and have a disability, the SSA allows a portion of your earned income to be excluded through the Earned Income Exclusion. This means some of your wages or earnings may not count toward the income limit for SSI eligibility.
• First $65 of Earned Income: The first $65 of earned income you receive each month is excluded, and any earned income above this amount is subject to a reduction based on a formula.
• Impairment-Related Work Expenses: If you are disabled, the SSA may exclude some expenses you incur to work, such as special transportation or equipment needed to do your job.
• Unearned Income Below $20: A portion of unearned income, like gifts, may not be counted if it is under $20 per month.
• Food and Shelter: Certain types of food and shelter payments from others are not counted if you live with a relative or someone else and they provide assistance with living costs.

How Does Income Affect Your SSI Benefits?

The SSA applies a formula to determine how much of your income affects your SSI eligibility. Here’s how it works:

• General Income Limit: SSI benefits are reduced by $1 for every $2 in income that exceeds the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR), which is the maximum SSI benefit amount that you can receive. In 2025, the FBR for an individual is $914 per month and $1,371 for a couple.
• In-Kind Support and Maintenance: If someone gives you free food or shelter, the SSA may count this as in-kind support and reduce your SSI benefits accordingly.
• Income Reductions: If you are receiving unearned income, such as Social Security benefits or a pension, the amount of your SSI benefit will be reduced by the total amount of unearned income you receive.