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What is SSI? Supplemental Security Income: who qualifies, how much it pays and when it arrives

FEDERALFederal program run by the Social Security Administration (SSA), the same in every state. Many states add a supplement of their own on top of the federal amount.Checked by the Justice legal team against official sources · Last reviewed 3 free tools on this page

Short answer

SSI is a federal payment for people who are 65 or older, blind or disabled and have little income and few resources. It pays up to $994 a month for one person and $1,491 for a couple in 2026, rising to $1,029 and $1,544 from January 2027. Countable resources must stay at or under $2,000, or $3,000 for a couple.

Calculator

Is your monthly income under the SSI limit?

1. Which year?

2. Who is applying, and what kind of income?

Pick the year and your situation, then type your monthly income.

Rehearse the SSI interviewHow SSA counts income

Uses only the numbers on this page, each from its official source. Nothing you type leaves your device. Not legal advice.

Key points

The amount
Up to $994 a month for one person and $1,491 for a couple in 2026; $1,029 and $1,544 from January 2027, after a 3.6 percent cost-of-living increase. The January 2027 payment arrives on December 31, 2026.
Income
SSA subtracts your countable income from that amount. It ignores the first $20 of most income, then $65 of wages and one-half of the rest of your wages.
Resources
Countable resources at or under $2,000 for one person or $3,000 for a couple. Your home and one car used for transportation do not count.
Payment day
SSI is paid on the 1st of the month, or on the business day before when the 1st is a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a monthly federal payment for people with very little income and few resources who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled, including children. You do not need a work history to get it. The Social Security Administration (SSA) runs it under title XVI of the Social Security Act, and the federal amount is the same everywhere; many states add a supplement on top.

Below: the 2026 and 2027 amounts, who qualifies, how SSA counts your income (with SSA’s own income limits and worked examples), the resource limit, every payment date for 2026 and 2027, the difference between SSI and SSDI, how to apply, and the deadlines after you are approved. Every rule is taken from the Federal Register, SSA’s operations manual (POMS) or the regulations in 20 C.F.R. part 416. Part of our Government benefits guides.

This page covers SSI only. If you worked and paid Social Security taxes, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) may also apply; if SSA turned down a disability claim, see how to appeal a Social Security disability denial.

How much is SSI? The 2026 and 2027 amounts

One person, 2026
$994$1,029 a month from January 2027
Couple, 2026
$1,491$1,544 a month from January 2027, split between the two of you
Increase for 2027
3.6 percentThe cost-of-living increase published on October 26, 2026
Resource limit
$2,000 / $3,000One person / a couple; unchanged since 1989

These are the federal benefit rates: the most federal SSI pays a month, before your income is subtracted. SSA announces them each fall in the Federal Register. Federal Register, October 26, 2026 (2026-21796) · November 3, 2025 (2025-19763)

Monthly amount2026From January 2027
One eligible person$994$1,029
An eligible couple (both get SSI)$1,491$1,544
Essential person (a rare older category)$498$516
Student earned income exclusion (blind or disabled children who are students)$2,410 a month, up to $9,730 for the year$2,500 a month, up to $10,080 for the year
Living in someone else’s household who gives you food and shelter (one-third reduction)$662.67 ($994 minus $331.33)$686 ($1,029 minus $343)

The January 2027 increase is paid with the January payment, which arrives on December 31, 2026, because January 1 is a federal holiday. Federal Register 2026-21796: payments “for January 2027 but paid on December 31, 2026”

Married couples. If both spouses get SSI, they share the couple rate: $1,491 a month in 2026, which SSA divides equally. Two single people would get up to $994 each, or $1,988 together: $497 a month more. The resource limit works the same way: $3,000 for a couple against $2,000 each for two single people. Federal Register 2025-19763 · 20 C.F.R. § 416.1205

Tip. State supplements. Many states add money to the federal amount, paid by SSA or by the state; the amount depends on the state and your living arrangement. SSA’s manual describes the optional state supplement in POMS SI 02001.020. Ask SSA or your state’s social services agency what your state adds.

Who can get SSI

You can get SSI if every one of these is true. 20 C.F.R. § 416.202

  • Age, blindness or disability. You are 65 or older, blind, or disabled. Children can qualify on blindness or disability.20 C.F.R. § 416.202(a)
  • You live in the United States. You are a resident and a U.S. citizen or national, a lawful permanent resident or another qualifying noncitizen. Not every noncitizen qualifies.20 C.F.R. § 416.202(b)
  • Limited income. Your countable income is below the federal benefit rate (plus any state supplement). SSA’s break-even points are in the next section.20 C.F.R. § 416.202(c)
  • Limited resources. Your countable resources are at or under $2,000, or $3,000 for a couple.20 C.F.R. §§ 416.202(d), 416.1205
  • No felony flight or probation violation. You are not fleeing to avoid prosecution or custody for a felony, and not violating a condition of probation or parole.20 C.F.R. § 416.202(f)
  • You apply. SSI starts with an application to SSA.20 C.F.R. § 416.202(g)

How SSA counts your income, and the income limits

SSA does not count all of your income. It works through the exclusions in a fixed order, then subtracts what is left (your countable income) from the federal benefit rate. 20 C.F.R. §§ 416.1112, 416.1124 · POMS SI 00820.500

  1. Unearned income: minus $20. Social Security, pensions, unemployment and other unearned income count in full, except the first $20 a month (a couple gets one $20 between them). SSA counts 100% of the rest. 20 C.F.R. § 416.1124(c)(12) · POMS SI 00810.420
  2. Wages: minus any unused part of the $20, then $65, then one-half. If the $20 was not used up on unearned income, SSA takes the rest off your wages, then $65, then one-half of what remains. 20 C.F.R. § 416.1112(c)(4), (c)(5), (c)(7)
  3. Food and shelter from others. If you live in someone else’s household and they provide both your shelter and all your meals, SSA reduces your federal benefit rate by one-third ($331.33 in 2026, $343 in 2027). If you get shelter but not all your meals, SSA counts what you get, up to a capped amount (the presumed maximum value). Since September 30, 2024, food alone is no longer counted. 20 C.F.R. §§ 416.1131, 416.1140 · POMS SI 00835.200, SI 00835.300 · Federal Register 2024-06464
  4. Subtract. Federal benefit rate minus countable income is your federal SSI for the month. At zero or below, no federal SSI is payable.

SSA’s own income limits (break-even points). SSA publishes the income at which federal SSI drops to zero: two times the federal benefit rate plus $85 for wages, and the federal benefit rate plus $20 for unearned income. They apply when you have only one kind of income and live in your own household. POMS SI 00810.350

Monthly income at which federal SSI stops2026From January 2027
One person, wages only$2,073$2,143
One person, unearned income only (for example Social Security)$1,014$1,049
Couple, wages only$3,067$3,173
Couple, unearned income only$1,511$1,564

Worked examples for one person in 2026 (our arithmetic with the rules above, living in your own home, no state supplement):

  • Only a $500 Social Security check. $500 minus $20 = $480 counted. SSI: $994 minus $480 = $514 a month ($549 from January 2027).
  • Only $1,000 in wages. $1,000 minus $20 minus $65 = $915; one-half is $457.50 counted. SSI: $994 minus $457.50 = $536.50 a month ($571.50 in 2027).
  • $300 of Social Security and $600 of wages. Unearned: $300 minus $20 = $280. Wages: $600 minus $65 = $535; one-half is $267.50. Counted: $547.50. SSI: $446.50 a month ($481.50 in 2027).
Tip. The calculator at the top compares your income with SSA’s break-even point. SSA decides the real amount from its own records, and some income is not counted at all, for example a student’s earnings up to the student exclusion or work expenses caused by a disability.

The resource limit: $2,000, or $3,000 for a couple

Resources are cash and things you own that you could turn into cash. To get SSI, your countable resources must be at or under $2,000, or $3,000 for an individual with an eligible spouse. The limits have not changed since January 1, 1989. 20 C.F.R. § 416.1205 · POMS SI 01110.003

Counts toward the limitDoes not count
Cash, checking and savings accountsThe home you live in, whatever its value (20 C.F.R. § 416.1212)
Stocks, bonds and other investmentsOne car used for transportation for you or your household, whatever its value (20 C.F.R. § 416.1218)
A second car (your equity in it)Some other items the regulations exclude, such as certain burial funds and household goods
Land or a building you do not live inA home you moved out of for good starts to count (20 C.F.R. § 416.1212(c))

If you separate from your spouse, your limit changes from $3,000 to $2,000 from the month SSA treats you as individuals. POMS SI 01110.003

Calculator

Are your countable resources within the limit?

1. Who is applying?

Pick one person or a couple, then type what your countable resources are worth.

Rehearse the SSI interview

Uses only the numbers on this page, each from its official source. Nothing you type leaves your device. Not legal advice.

SSI payment dates for 2026 and 2027

SSI is dated for the 1st of the month. When the 1st falls on a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday, the Treasury pays it on the business day before. That is why some months have two payments and others none: in December 2026 you get December’s payment on December 1 and January’s on December 31. POMS GN 02401.035

Payment forArrivesWhy it moves
January 2026Wednesday, December 31, 2025the 1st is New Year’s Day
February 2026Friday, January 30, 2026the 1st is Sunday
March 2026Friday, February 27, 2026the 1st is Sunday
April 2026Wednesday, April 1, 2026paid on the 1st
May 2026Friday, May 1, 2026paid on the 1st
June 2026Monday, June 1, 2026paid on the 1st
July 2026Wednesday, July 1, 2026paid on the 1st
August 2026Friday, July 31, 2026the 1st is Saturday
September 2026Tuesday, September 1, 2026paid on the 1st
October 2026Thursday, October 1, 2026paid on the 1st
November 2026Friday, October 30, 2026the 1st is Sunday
December 2026Tuesday, December 1, 2026paid on the 1st
January 2027Thursday, December 31, 2026the 1st is New Year’s Day
February 2027Monday, February 1, 2027paid on the 1st
March 2027Monday, March 1, 2027paid on the 1st
April 2027Thursday, April 1, 2027paid on the 1st
May 2027Friday, April 30, 2027the 1st is Saturday
June 2027Tuesday, June 1, 2027paid on the 1st
July 2027Thursday, July 1, 2027paid on the 1st
August 2027Friday, July 30, 2027the 1st is Sunday
September 2027Wednesday, September 1, 2027paid on the 1st
October 2027Friday, October 1, 2027paid on the 1st
November 2027Monday, November 1, 2027paid on the 1st
December 2027Wednesday, December 1, 2027paid on the 1st
January 2028Thursday, December 30, 2027the 1st is Saturday, and Friday, December 31 is the federal holiday for it
Tip. We worked out these dates from SSA’s rule in POMS GN 02401.035 and the federal holidays on OPM’s official list; SSA’s own printed schedule on ssa.gov could not be read from our checking location. The January 2027 date matches the Federal Register notice.

SSI or SSDI: what is the difference?

SSI (title XVI)SSDI (title II)
Who it is forPeople 65 or older, blind or disabled, with little income and few resourcesPeople with a disability who worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes
Work historyNot neededNeeded: you must be insured for disability (20 C.F.R. § 404.315(a)(1))
Income and resourcesStrict limits: $2,000 / $3,000 in resourcesNo resource limit
How muchUp to $994 ($1,029 from January 2027), minus countable incomeBased on your past earnings
Waiting periodNone5 full months after the disability begins (20 C.F.R. § 404.315(a)(4))

You can get both if your SSDI check is small: SSA counts the SSDI as unearned income for SSI. If SSA denies the disability part, the appeal steps are on how to appeal a disability denial. For SSDI itself (the work credits, the 5-month wait, the earnings limits and the pay dates), see Social Security disability (SSDI). For health coverage, see who qualifies for Medicaid, including the rules for people 65 or older, blind or disabled.

How to apply for SSI

  1. Contact SSA. Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit a Social Security office to start the application; SSA sets the interview. Start even if you are still collecting papers; SSA tells you what it still needs.
  2. Gather your papers. Proof of age and citizenship or immigration status, your Social Security number, rent or mortgage papers, pay stubs and benefit letters, bank statements for every account, and car titles or other ownership papers. The checklist below ticks them off.
  3. Disability or blindness claims. Bring the names, addresses and dates of your doctors, clinics and hospitals, your medicines and your work history.
  4. The interview. SSA asks about your income, your living arrangement (who lives with you and who pays for food and shelter), and everything you own. Answer for the whole household.
  5. The decision. SSA mails a written decision. You have 60 days after you receive it to ask for reconsideration if you disagree.

Checklist

Ready to apply for SSI?

Tick what you have ready

Tick each item as you get it ready.

Rehearse the SSI interviewWho qualifies

Every point comes from this page and its official sources. Your ticks are not saved or sent anywhere. Not legal advice.

After you are approved: report changes, and the deadlines

  • Report changes by the 10th. Tell SSA about changes in income, resources, who lives with you, your address or your marriage. A report made later than 10 days after the end of the month in which the change happened is late, and SSA may deduct a penalty from your benefits.20 C.F.R. §§ 416.708, 416.714(a)
  • Answer SSA’s requests within 30 days. If SSA asks for information in writing and you do not answer within 30 days, it may find you ineligible and suspend payments.20 C.F.R. § 416.714(b)
  • Appeal within 60 days. Ask for reconsideration in writing within 60 days after you receive the notice of a decision you disagree with.20 C.F.R. § 416.1409(a)
  • Keep your payments during the appeal: 10 days. If SSA plans to reduce, suspend or stop your SSI, appeal within 10 days after you receive the advance notice and your payment continues at the old amount while the appeal is decided.20 C.F.R. § 416.1336
Watch out. An overpayment caused by a late report can be taken back from future checks. Keep a copy of every report you make and the date you made it.

Getting help

Legal aid offices help with SSI applications, overpayments and appeals, often at no cost if your income is low.

Find a lawyer or free legal aidLegal aid and state bar referral services, with first-consultation prices.Appeal a disability denialThe four levels of appeal and the 60-day deadline.SNAP (food stamps)Income limits by household size; SSI households often qualify.

Common questions

How much is SSI in 2026?

Up to $994 a month for one person and $1,491 for an eligible couple. From January 2027 it is $1,029 and $1,544, after a 3.6 percent increase. SSA subtracts your countable income from these amounts, and many states add a supplement.

What is SSI, and is it the same as Social Security?

SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is a needs-based payment for people who are 65 or older, blind or disabled, with little income and few resources. SSA runs it, but it is not paid from your Social Security work record; SSDI and retirement benefits are. See SSI or SSDI.

What are the income rules for SSI?

SSA ignores the first $20 of most income, then $65 of wages and one-half of the rest of your wages, and subtracts what is left from the federal amount. With only wages, federal SSI stops at $2,073 a month in 2026; with only unearned income, at $1,014.

What are the resource rules for SSI?

Countable resources must be at or under $2,000 for one person or $3,000 for a couple. Your home and one car used for transportation do not count.

When is SSI paid?

On the 1st of the month, or on the business day before when the 1st is a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday. In 2026, February’s payment came on January 30 and January 2027’s comes on December 31, 2026. See all the dates.

How does marriage affect SSI?

An eligible couple gets one couple rate, $1,491 a month in 2026, instead of up to $994 each ($1,988), and a $3,000 resource limit instead of $2,000 each.

How do I apply for SSI?

Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit a Social Security office. Bring proof of age and status, your income and bank records, and your rent papers; disability claims also need your medical providers. See how to apply.

How long do I have to report a change?

Until 10 days after the end of the month in which it happened. A later report is late, and SSA may deduct a penalty from your benefits.

Official sources

  1. Federal Register, October 26, 2026 (2026-21796): Cost-of-Living Increase and Other Determinations for 2027 ($1,029 individual, $1,544 couple, $516 essential person; 3.6 percent; January 2027 payment paid December 31, 2026; student exclusion $2,500 and $10,080) federalregister.gov
  2. The same 2027 notice as published (PDF), section on SSI benefit rates and the student earned income exclusion govinfo.gov
  3. Federal Register, November 3, 2025 (2025-19763): Cost-of-Living Increase and Other Determinations for 2026 ($994 individual, $1,491 couple, $498 essential person; student exclusion $2,410 and $9,730) federalregister.gov
  4. SSA POMS SI 00810.350: income break-even points (2 FBR + $85 earned, FBR + $20 unearned; 2026 and 2027 tables, updated 10/21/2026) secure.ssa.gov
  5. SSA POMS SI 00810.420: the $20 per month general income exclusion (one $20 per couple) secure.ssa.gov
  6. SSA POMS SI 00820.500: earned income exclusions and their order ($65, then one-half) secure.ssa.gov
  7. SSA POMS SI 01110.003: resource limits ($2,000 and $3,000 since 1/1/89; separation changes the limit) secure.ssa.gov
  8. SSA POMS SI 00835.200: the one-third reduction provision secure.ssa.gov
  9. SSA POMS SI 00835.300: the presumed maximum value (PMV) rule secure.ssa.gov
  10. SSA POMS SI 02001.020: federal benefit rate increases and rate charts, optional state supplements secure.ssa.gov
  11. SSA POMS GN 02401.035: SSI checks are dated the 1st; on a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday, the business day before secure.ssa.gov
  12. U.S. Office of Personnel Management: federal holidays for 2026, 2027 and 2028 (December 31, 2027 is the holiday for New Year’s Day 2028) opm.gov
  13. Federal Register, March 27, 2024 (2024-06464): Omitting food from in-kind support and maintenance calculations, effective September 30, 2024 (PDF) govinfo.gov
  14. 20 C.F.R. § 416.202: who may get SSI benefits ecfr.gov
  15. 20 C.F.R. § 416.1205: limitation on resources ($2,000 / $3,000 from 1989) ecfr.gov
  16. 20 C.F.R. § 416.1112: earned income we do not count ((c)(4) the unused $20, (c)(5) $65, (c)(7) one-half) ecfr.gov
  17. 20 C.F.R. § 416.1124: unearned income we do not count ((c)(12) the first $20) ecfr.gov
  18. 20 C.F.R. § 416.1131: the one-third reduction rule ecfr.gov
  19. 20 C.F.R. § 416.1140: the presumed value rule ecfr.gov
  20. 20 C.F.R. § 416.1212: exclusion of the home ecfr.gov
  21. 20 C.F.R. § 416.1218: exclusion of one automobile ecfr.gov
  22. 20 C.F.R. § 416.708: what you must report ecfr.gov
  23. 20 C.F.R. § 416.714: when reports are due (10 days after the close of the month; 30 days to answer a request) ecfr.gov
  24. 20 C.F.R. § 416.1409: how to request reconsideration (60 days) ecfr.gov
  25. 20 C.F.R. § 416.1336: advance notice; payments continue if you appeal within 10 days ecfr.gov
  26. 20 C.F.R. § 404.315: who is entitled to disability benefits (insured status; 5-month waiting period) ecfr.gov
How toHow to appeal a Social Security disability denialYour rightsSNAP (food stamps): who is eligible, and the income limitsYour rightsUnemployment Benefits by State: How Much You Get and for How LongGet helpFind a lawyer or free legal aid

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