Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) pays a monthly benefit to people who are disabled, blind or 65 and older and who have very limited income and resources. Unlike SSDI, SSI does not require a work history. In 2026, the maximum federal SSI payment is $994 a month for an individual and $1,491 for a couple.

SSI uses the same medical definition of disability as SSDI. The difference is the financial test.

What SSI is

SSI is a needs-based program run by the Social Security Administration (SSA). It is paid from U.S. Treasury general funds, not from the Social Security trust funds. That is why you don’t need work credits to get it.

To qualify for SSI, SSA generally requires that you:

• Are 65 or older, blind, or disabled. For adults, disabled means a medical condition keeps you from substantial work and has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months or to result in death.
• Have limited income and limited resources.
• Are a U.S. citizen or national, or fall into certain groups of noncitizens.
• Live in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia or the Northern Mariana Islands.
• Apply for any other benefits you may be eligible for, such as Social Security or a pension.

Children can receive SSI too, under SSA’s disability rules for children. The federal payment amount is the same nationwide, but many states add their own supplement on top of it.

Income and resource limits

Resources. Your countable resources must be $2,000 or less, or $3,000 for a couple. Resources are things you own that could be turned into cash, like bank accounts, cash and some property. Several important things don’t count:

• The home you live in and the land it sits on.
• One vehicle, regardless of value, if you or someone in your household uses it for transportation.

Income. SSA counts most income, but not all of it. In general:

• Unearned income, such as Social Security benefits, pensions, unemployment and money from family, counts after the first $20 a month.
• Earned income from a job counts less. SSA ignores the first $65 of monthly earnings and half of what you earn above that.
• Help with shelter you get for free or below market value can reduce your SSI. Since September 30, 2024, SSA no longer counts food in that calculation.
• A spouse’s or parent’s income can be “deemed” to you, meaning SSA counts part of it as yours.

There is no single income cutoff. Your countable income is subtracted from the federal payment, so the more countable income you have, the smaller the check, until it reaches zero. Because state supplements differ, the exact income limit depends on where you live.

How SSI differs from SSDI

Both programs use the same medical rules and the same five-step evaluation. After that, they work very differently.

• Who it’s for. SSDI: workers with enough work credits, and some family members. SSI: people who are disabled, blind or 65+ with limited income and resources.
• Paid from. SSDI: Social Security trust funds. SSI: U.S. Treasury general funds.
• Income and savings. SSDI: they don’t reduce benefits. SSI: they must be under SSA’s limits.
• Amount. SSDI: based on your lifetime earnings. SSI: up to $994 a month in 2026 for an individual, plus any state supplement.
• Waiting period. SSDI: five full months from onset. SSI: none.
• Back pay before you applied. SSDI: up to 12 months. SSI: none.
• Health coverage. SSDI: Medicare after two years of entitlement. SSI: Medicaid in most states.

That back pay difference matters. SSI can’t be paid for any month before the first month after you apply, so applying early protects your benefits. For SSDI details, see our SSDI benefits page.

Applying for SSI and SSDI at the same time

Many people should apply for both. SSA calls these concurrent claims. If your SSDI amount would be small, or your work credits are borderline, SSI may fill the gap. If your SSDI is low enough and your resources are within the limit, you can receive both. SSI will then be reduced by your countable SSDI income.

When you apply for disability, SSA can screen you for SSI at the same time. You can start online at ssa.gov, or contact SSA by phone to make an appointment. If you call SSA first, SSA may use the date of your call as your filing date, as long as you file within its time limit. Our guide on how to apply walks through the steps.

In some cases, SSA can pay SSI for up to six months while it decides the disability question. This applies to certain severe conditions, and SSA decides when it does.

Medicaid and SSI

SSA says that in most states, if you get SSI, you may be automatically eligible for Medicaid, and your SSI application also counts as a Medicaid application. In other states, you have to apply for Medicaid separately with another agency, and SSA will point you to that office.

This matters. With SSDI alone, Medicare generally starts after two years. SSI can bring health coverage sooner.

How we help with an SSI claim

SSI claims are decided on the same medical evidence as SSDI, and they can be denied for the same reasons: thin medical records, no clear statement of your limitations, or a missed deadline. If you have gaps in treatment because care was hard to afford, we help explain that to SSA.

Social Security Disability Advisors handles SSI and SSDI claims at every level, from the first application to the hearing and the Appeals Council.

On an SSI claim, we:

• Check whether you might also qualify for SSDI, so no benefit is left on the table.
• Gather your medical records and ask your providers for clear opinions about what you can and can’t do.
• Help you answer SSA’s income and resource questions accurately.
• Represent you at your hearing, by online video or phone, in any state.

If you have already been denied, you have 60 days to appeal. Read about disability appeals and who qualifies.

There is no fee unless you win. SSA approves the fee and pays it from past-due benefits. Under SSA’s fee agreement process, the fee is the lesser of 25% of past-due benefits or $9,200, for favorable decisions issued on or after November 30, 2024.

Common questions

Is SSI funded by Social Security taxes?

No. SSI is paid from U.S. Treasury general funds. SSDI is the program paid from Social Security trust funds.

Does my spouse’s income affect SSI?

It can. SSA may count part of a spouse’s income as yours. The same is true of a parent’s income for a child.

Can I get SSI if I have never worked?

Yes. SSI does not require work credits. It depends on your medical condition, income and resources.