What counts as income for SSI?

Andy Markowitz

Tim Wendel

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En español

Published August 18, 2021

/ Updated September 30, 2024

Income is a key factor in determining eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a monthly benefit for people in financial straits who are 65 and older, blind or have a disability. The Social Security Administration (SSA), which operates the program, strictly regulates the type and amount of income someone can receive and still qualify for SSI.

There are also income limits that affect eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), the other disability benefit administered by the SSA. But for SSDI, only earnings from work count.

For SSI, Social Security defines income much more broadly. It can include not just earnings from work but also money received from other sources, such as other government benefits or “in-kind support” from friends or family members to help cover your housing costs. (In-kind support formerly included help paying for food as well, but under a new SSA rule that took effect Sept. 30. 2024, food aid no longer counts as income for SSI purposes.)

In 2024, the maximum federal SSI benefit is $943 a month for an individual and $1,415 a month for a married couple if both spouses are eligible. (The federal amounts are adjusted annually for inflation; most states add supplementary payments for some beneficiaries.) What the SSA calls “countable income” is deducted from those payments, and if your countable income exceeds the benefit cap, you cannot get SSI.

However, some income is not countable and doesn't affect SSI eligibility or payments. This includes the first $20 you receive per month from most sources and a larger portion of what you make from work, along with other exceptions noted below.

There are four categories of countable income: earned income, unearned income, in-kind income and deemed income.

Earned income

Earned income primarily means wages from jobs and net earnings from self-employment. It can also include royalties paid to the owner of copyrighted material or natural resources, and honoraria such as a stipend or gift for rendering a service (for example, giving a speech).

However, a sizable share of earned income is not counted. Social Security exempts the first $65 you make from work each month, and one-half of earnings above that. They also exempt $20 in income from any source. As a result, you can earn as much as $1,971 a month from work in 2024 and still potentially qualify for SSI.

Unearned income

This includes government benefits, such as Social Security payments, unemployment insurance and veterans benefits, as well as pensions, interest income, dividends, income from a rental property, workers’ compensation and cash from family and friends. It can also include alimony or child support.

Income from these sources — other than the first $20 a month in most cases — is deducted from your SSI benefit. If you have income only from such nonwork sources, you can receive up to $963 a month and still qualify for SSI.

Tax refunds do not count as unearned income, and there are exceptions for some forms of government and private financial aid, including:

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, formerly known as food stamps
Home energy assistance
Disaster assistance
Grants and scholarships for educational expenses

In-kind income

This is shelter you receive for free or for less than its fair market value. Think of in-kind income as funds that you would otherwise need to earn to pay for housing costs but that are instead being provided by a friend or family member.

For example, if someone other than a spouse you live with helps cover your rent or mortgage or pays your utility bills, that could count as in-kind support and result in a deduction from your SSI benefit.

Loans for this type of support that you must back do not count as in-kind income. Shelter provided by a nonprofit organization based on your need is also exempt.

Deemed income

This category comes into play if an SSI beneficiary lives with a spouse or parent, or is an immigrant who receives support from a sponsor as a condition of U.S. residency. In these situations, the SSA may conclude that some of the family member's or sponsor's income is being put toward your care and deduct it from your SSI benefit.

There are other, highly specific examples of what does and doesn't count as income for SSI purposes. You'll find a detailed list on Social Security's SSI website.

Keep in mind

Income is not the only financial factor in determining SSI eligibility. You also must have limited resources, meaning cash, savings, stocks, bonds and other assets totaling no more than $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple.
Unlike with SSDI, you don't need to have worked for a certain amount of time or paid Social Security taxes to qualify for SSI. The program, though administered by the SSA, is paid for by general U.S. Treasury funds, not Social Security taxes.