Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, is a separate program from Social Security, although the Social Security Administration runs both. Social Security retirement benefits are based on your work history. SSI is based on need. It provides a monthly payment to people who are 65 or older, blind or disabled and who have very little income and savings.
Some people receive both: a small Social Security benefit plus SSI to bring their total income up to a basic level.
Who can qualify
To receive SSI, you generally must:
- Be 65 or older, blind, or have a disability that meets Social Security's rules.
- Have limited income.
- Have limited resources, meaning money and things you own.
- Live in the United States and be a US citizen or a noncitizen who meets certain conditions.
How much SSI pays
The federal SSI payment is the same across the country, and many states add a supplement on top.
| 2026 | 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | $994 a month | $1,029 a month |
| Couple | $1,491 a month | $1,544 a month |
These are maximum amounts. Your payment is reduced by your countable income, so most people receive less than the maximum.
How income affects your payment
Social Security does not count all of your income. For example:
- The first $20 a month of most income is not counted.
- The first $65 a month of earnings from work, plus half of the rest, is not counted.
- Some help, such as SNAP food benefits and most home energy assistance, does not count at all.
Help with food or housing from family members can reduce your payment, so tell Social Security if someone is paying your rent or providing meals.
The resource limit
Countable resources must generally be $2,000 or less for an individual and $3,000 or less for a couple. Resources include cash, bank accounts, stocks and property other than your home.
Many things do not count, including:
- The home you live in and the land it sits on.
- One vehicle used for transportation.
- Household goods and personal belongings.
- Burial plots and, up to a limit, money set aside for burial.
What else SSI can unlock
- Medicaid: In most states, SSI recipients qualify for Medicaid automatically or with a simple application. Read Medicaid for older adults.
- Medicare help: You may qualify for the Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help with prescription costs.
- SNAP: Many SSI recipients also qualify for SNAP food benefits.
How to apply
You can start an SSI application by calling 1-800-772-1213 or visiting a local Social Security office. Social Security will ask about your income, bank accounts, living situation and, for disability claims, your medical history. If you are turned down, you have the right to appeal, usually within 60 days.
If you are not sure whether you qualify, it is still worth applying or asking. Our guide to finding benefits you may qualify for lists free screening tools.
