What is SSI? Complete Guide to Supplemental Security Income

What is SSI (Supplemental Security Income)?

SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is a federal program administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that provides monthly cash payments to people with limited income and resources who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled. Unlike Social Security benefits, SSI is funded by general tax revenues, not Social Security taxes.

To determine your potential benefits, use our SSI payment calculator which calculates your estimated monthly payment based on the current 2024 federal benefit rates.

SSI Payment Amounts in 2024

The maximum federal SSI payment for 2024 is:

• $943 per month for an eligible individual
• $1,415 per month for an eligible couple

Many states add a supplement to the federal SSI payment. Our SSI payment calculator includes state supplements for all 50 states to give you an accurate estimate of your total benefit.

SSI Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for SSI payments, you must meet these basic requirements:

• Be age 65 or older, blind, or disabled
• Have limited income (earned and unearned)
• Have limited resources ($2,000 individual / $3,000 couple)
• Be a U.S. citizen or qualifying non-citizen
• Reside in the United States

How to Calculate Your SSI Payment

Your SSI payment is calculated by subtracting your "countable income" from the maximum federal benefit rate. The SSA uses specific rules to determine how much of your income counts:

• • General income exclusion: First $20 of most income is not counted
• • Earned income exclusion: First $65 of earnings, plus half of remaining earnings
• • Student exclusion: Up to $2,290/month for students under 22
• • Work expenses: IRWE and blind work expenses can be deducted

Our SSI payment calculator automatically applies all these rules to give you an accurate estimate of your monthly benefit.