The Supplemental Security Income program provides benefits to individuals with limited income and resources. The program furnishes monthly payments to meet basic needs, such as housing and food.
The program, managed by the Social Security Administration, does not require a work history or base monthly benefits on lifetime earnings, unlike the Social Security Disability Insurance program. Instead, the federal government sets a maximum SSI benefit amount each year.
This blog explains the SSI program, focusing on answering a common question: “How much would I receive in SSI disability?” Reach out to Sackett and Associates for additional information or skilled representation with your SSI disability benefits claim.
An Overview Of The SSI Program
The SSI program pays benefits to blind or disabled adults and children. It also provides benefits to individuals age 65 and older without a blindness or disability requirement.
The standard for “disability” used to evaluate SSI claims by adults is the same as for the SSDI program: An inability to do substantial gainful activity caused by a medically determinable physical or mental impairment expected to result in death or expected to last for at least 12 months.
Other definitions apply to disability for claims filed on behalf of a child and for claims based on blindness. The type or severity of a medical condition may affect whether a person is approved for the program, but it does not affect the SSI monthly benefit amount the individual receives.
SSI is a means-tested program with benefits available only to individuals with limited resources or assets and little to no income. Resources may not exceed $2,000 in value for individuals and $3,000 for couples.
SSI income limits determine whether the SSA approves an application for benefits. Once approved, an individual’s income from other sources may reduce their SSI payment amount.
SSI Monthly Benefit Amount
The maximum federal SSI disability payment amount that an individual may receive in 2026 is $994. The maximum federal benefit for couples is $1,491 per month. Annual cost-of-living adjustments can increase the maximum SSI benefit. For example, the SSI monthly benefit in 2025 was $967 for individuals and $1,450 for couples, but a 2.8% COLA increased the benefits in 2026.
Depending on the state where you reside, you may receive more than the federal SSI benefit payment each month. Some states fund a supplemental payment for their residents. Reach out to Sackett Law to find out whether your state offers a supplemental payment and the conditions required to receive it.
How Other Sources Of Income Affect SSI Monthly Benefits
If you receive income from sources other than SSI, it could affect your monthly benefits. Income includes the following:
- Earned income: Income that you receive as wages for working at a job or the net income you receive through self-employment counts as income. Other sources of earned income include honoraria, royalties, and sheltered workshop payments.
- Unearned income: Payments received from pensions, unemployment insurance, interest, dividends, and gifts from friends or relatives. Social Security retirement or SSDI benefits also count as unearned income.
- In-kind income: Anything provided to you for less than its fair market value, such as a room or apartment provided to you by a friend or relative, counts as income.
- Deemed income: A portion of the income of a spouse or parent may count as income of an SSI recipient.
Not all income counts toward reduction of your monthly SSI disability payment amount. The first $20 of unearned income you receive during a month does not count.
You may exclude the first $65 of earned income that you have in a month and one-half of the earned income that remains. For instance, if you have income from a part-time job of $465, only $200 of it is applied toward reducing your monthly SSI benefits. For an individual receiving the maximum federal SSI monthly benefit payment of $994, it would be reduced for the month to $794.
Concurrent Disability Benefits Through SSDI And SSI
Some people who meet the SSDI work duration guidelines may receive only a small monthly benefit based on their limited average lifetime earnings. If they do not exceed the SSI income limits, they could receive benefits through both programs.
A person receiving concurrent benefits, which means benefits through SSI and SSDI, will have their SSI benefits reduced by what they receive from SSDI. SSDI is treated as unearned income for SSI purposes, so they may exclude the first $20, with the remaining SSDI reducing their SSI monthly payment.
Get Advice About SSI Disability Benefits
Take the guesswork out of SSI disability benefits by speaking to the disability team at Sackett and Associates. Discover why people nationwide have relied on the advice and guidance of Sackett Law disability lawyer for more than 45 years. Contact us today for a free consultation and claim evaluation.
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