Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in California

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in California: Eligibility, Limits, and Benefits

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal needs-based program that provides monthly cash payments to disabled, blind, or elderly individuals with limited income and resources. Unlike Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), SSI does not require a work history. A person who has never worked, or who stopped working before accumulating enough credits for SSDI, may still qualify for SSI based on their disability and financial situation.

California is one of the better states for SSI recipients. The state adds a supplemental payment on top of the federal benefit, and SSI recipients automatically receive Medi-Cal with no separate application. This page covers everything you need to know about SSI eligibility in California: the income and asset rules, benefit amounts, children's SSI, how to apply, and what to do if your claim is denied.

Not sure if you qualify for SSI? Request a free eligibility review from our California disability attorneys.

What Is Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?

SSI is administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and funded by federal general revenue taxes, not by Social Security payroll taxes. Every month, it pays a set amount to individuals who are disabled, blind, or 65 and older and who meet the program's financial eligibility rules. The benefit is designed to cover basic needs: food, clothing, and shelter. In California, the state also adds its own supplement to raise the total payment above the federal baseline.

SSI operates independently from SSDI. You can qualify for SSI without ever having worked. You can receive both SSI and SSDI at the same time if your SSDI benefit is low enough. And SSI eligibility is re-evaluated on a regular basis because income and resources fluctuate over time.

SSI vs. SSDI: The Key Difference

SSDI is an earned benefit: you qualify because you worked and paid Social Security taxes long enough. SSI is a need-based benefit: you qualify because your income and resources fall below a threshold. Both programs use the same medical disability standard, but SSI has no work history requirement and adds strict financial rules that SSDI does not. For a full side-by-side comparison including benefit amounts, healthcare coverage, and back pay rules, visit our SSDI and SSI eligibility overview or read the full post on the difference between SSI and SSDI.

SSI Eligibility Requirements in California

To qualify for SSI in California, you must meet all of the following requirements:

• You are disabled, blind, or age 65 or older. For disabled or blind applicants under 65, the SSA applies its standard medical disability definition: you have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment expected to last at least 12 months or result in death, and that impairment prevents you from performing substantial work.
• Your countable income is below the SSI limit. Income limits are explained in detail in the section below. California adds its own supplement to the federal benefit, which affects the calculation.
• Your countable resources do not exceed $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple. Not all resources count. Your primary home, one vehicle, and household goods are excluded.
• You are a U.S. citizen or a qualifying non-citizen. Certain non-citizen categories may qualify. California also has a separate state-funded program for non-citizens who do not qualify for federal SSI: the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI).
• You reside in California. SSI eligibility is tied to state of residence. Moving between states can affect your benefit amount because state supplements vary.

Disability Definition for SSI

The SSA defines disability for SSI the same way it does for SSDI: inability to engage in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) due to a medically determinable condition expected to last 12 or more months or result in death. In 2025, SGA is $1,690 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,830 for blind individuals. The key difference from SSDI is that SSI has no work credit requirement. A person who has never held a job can meet the disability standard and qualify for SSI on medical grounds alone.

SSI Eligibility for Children

Children under 18 can qualify for SSI if they have a "marked and severe functional limitation" resulting from a physical or mental condition expected to last 12 months or result in death. The medical standard for children is different from the adult standard: the SSA assesses how the condition limits the child's ability to function compared to children of the same age, rather than the ability to work.

For child SSI, the family's income and resources also count. The SSA "deems" a portion of the parents' income and assets to the child when determining financial eligibility. California's SSP applies to child SSI recipients as well. Deeming applies when the parent has income and resources, and the child is under 18, lives at home with parents, or lives away and comes home on some weekends or holidays. If a child's SSI application is denied, the same 60-day appeal process applies.

Citizenship and Immigration Requirements

U.S. citizens who meet the medical and financial criteria qualify for SSI. Certain non-citizen categories may also qualify for federal SSI, including refugees and asylees (for the first seven years after qualifying status is granted), lawful permanent residents with 40 qualifying work credits, non-citizens on active military duty or honorably discharged veterans, and specific other qualifying categories.

Non-citizens who do not meet federal SSI requirements may qualify for California's Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI), a state-funded program that provides similar monthly benefits to certain legal non-citizens. You must be a California resident; be 65 or older, blind, or disabled; be a non-citizen and meet immigration status criteria; be ineligible for SSI/SSP due to immigration status; have resources below allowable limit of $2,000; and have income less than the CAPI standards. An attorney can help you determine whether federal SSI, CAPI, or both apply to your situation.

SSI Income Limits in California

SSI is a needs-based program, so your monthly income directly affects both whether you qualify and how much you receive. The calculation is more nuanced than a simple earnings cap: the SSA excludes certain types of income before counting the rest against your benefit.

The starting point is the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR), which is the maximum monthly SSI payment set by federal law. In 2026, the FBR is $994 per month for an individual and $1,491 per month for a couple. California adds its State Supplementary Payment (SSP) on top of the FBR, raising the total payment above the federal baseline. The total monthly SSI payment in California for an individual living independently is approximately $1,233. For a couple living independently, the combined amount is approximately $1,318.

Your SSI payment is reduced dollar-for-dollar by countable income above the exclusion thresholds. Here is how the income calculation works:

Income Exclusion	Amount Excluded	Applies To
General income exclusion	First $20/month	Most types of income
Earned income exclusion	First $65/month of earned income	Wages and self-employment
Additional earned income exclusion	Half of remaining earned income after the $65	Wages and self-employment
SNAP benefits	Fully excluded	Food assistance
Tax refunds	Fully excluded	Federal and state tax refunds
Impairment-related work expenses	Excluded	Disability-related costs to work

Read more about working rules at our post on how much you can work without losing SSI benefits.

What Counts as Income for SSI?

The SSA counts four categories of income for SSI purposes. Earned income includes wages, net earnings from self-employment, and certain royalties and honoraria. Unearned income includes Social Security benefits, pensions, interest, dividends, and most other regular cash payments. In-kind income is food or shelter received for free or below market value. Deemed income is income from a spouse or, for child SSI applicants, from a parent, that is attributed to the SSI recipient for eligibility purposes.

One important 2025 rule change: food provided by others, such as free meals from a family member or friend, no longer reduces SSI benefits. Prior to this change, free food counted as in-kind support and reduced the benefit by up to one-third of the FBR. This change took effect in September 2024, and it benefits recipients who rely on family support while receiving SSI.

Common SSI Income Exclusions

Beyond the standard exclusions in the table above, the SSA also excludes disaster assistance payments, support from certain state programs, and the first $60 per quarter of irregular or infrequent earned or unearned income. These exclusions reward work and protect recipients who receive occasional financial help without losing benefits entirely.

Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE)

Students under age 22 who regularly attend school and receive SSI can exclude a significant portion of their earned income from the SSI calculation. In 2025, the SEIE allows eligible students to exclude up to $2,410 per month, with a maximum annual exclusion of $9,730. This exclusion allows student SSI recipients to work part-time without losing their benefits, supporting the transition to greater financial independence.

How SSI Benefits Are Calculated

The SSI payment formula is: Federal Benefit Rate + California SSP, minus countable income. If your countable income is zero, you receive the full combined California SSI amount. Each dollar of countable income above the exclusions reduces your benefit by one dollar, until your benefit reaches zero.

Here is a simplified example. An individual receives $400 per month in part-time wages. The SSA excludes the first $65 of earned income and half of the remaining $335, leaving $167.50 in countable income. That $167.50 is subtracted from the combined FBR + SSP total to determine the monthly payment. Read more about SSI disability payment amounts in California.

SSI Asset and Resource Limits

To qualify for SSI, your countable resources cannot exceed $2,000 if you are single or $3,000 if you are married. Resources that exceed these limits disqualify you from SSI until you spend down below the threshold.

Exempt vs. Countable Resources

Exempt (Does Not Count)	Countable (Does Count)
Primary home (regardless of value)	Cash and bank account balances
One vehicle (regardless of value if used for transportation)	Stocks, bonds, and mutual funds
Household goods and personal effects	Real estate other than primary home
Life insurance with face value under $1,500	Life insurance with face value over $1,500 (cash surrender value counts)
Burial funds up to $1,500 per person	Second vehicle (if not used for transportation or medical needs)
ABLE account funds within annual limits	Additional burial funds above the $1,500 limit
Retroactive SSI/SSDI payments (for 9 months after receipt)	Retirement accounts in some circumstances

ABLE accounts (Achieving a Better Life Experience) allow SSI recipients with disabilities that began before age 46 to save money without those savings counting against the resource limit, up to the annual contribution limit.

What Happens If You Exceed the Resource Limit?

If your resources rise above the SSI limit at any point during the month, you are not eligible for SSI that month. Benefits stop until resources fall back below the threshold. This is not permanent disqualification: once your resources are back below the limit, you can request reinstatement. SSI has a provision called "expedited reinstatement" that allows former recipients to restart benefits more quickly without a full new application if their resources previously exceeded the limit due to certain circumstances.

The resource rules make financial planning important for SSI recipients. An attorney can help you understand what counts, what does not, and how to structure your resources to maintain eligibility without forfeiting the benefits you need.

California's State Supplementary Payment (SSP)

California adds a State Supplementary Payment to the federal SSI rate, paid as part of your single monthly SSI check. The SSP amount depends on your living arrangement.

Living Arrangement	Federal SSI Rate	CA SSP	Combined Monthly Payment
Individual, independent living	$994	$632	$1,626
Individual, living in another's household	$351	$556	$907
Couple, independent living	$1,491	$1,609	$3,100

Read more about SSI disability payment amounts in California.

California's SSP has been adjusted periodically. SSP amounts are typically updated at the same time as the federal Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), announced in October and effective the following January. Because both the federal rate and the state supplement change annually, the total California SSI payment amount must be verified and updated at least once per year.

SSI and Medi-Cal in California

In California, SSI recipients automatically receive Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program. There is no separate application and no waiting period. The moment SSI benefits are approved, Medi-Cal enrollment follows.

Medi-Cal provides comprehensive healthcare coverage including doctor visits, hospital care, prescription medications, mental health services, and dental care through Denti-Cal. For most SSI recipients, Medi-Cal is the primary source of healthcare coverage, and its automatic enrollment is a significant practical benefit of SSI approval in California.

This differs from SSDI. SSDI recipients receive Medicare, but only after a 24-month waiting period from the date benefits begin. During those 24 months, SSDI recipients must find other coverage. SSI recipients in California face no such gap: Medi-Cal begins when SSI benefits begin.

SSI recipients who also receive SSDI (concurrent benefit recipients) receive both Medicare (from SSDI) and Medi-Cal (from SSI). These individuals are called "dual eligibles" and may have their Medicare premiums covered through California's Medi-Cal Buy-In programs.

How to Apply for SSI in California

SSI applications are more complex than SSDI applications because you must document both your medical eligibility and your financial eligibility simultaneously. Here is how the process works in California:

• Gather your documents. You will need a government-issued photo ID and Social Security card, medical records and treating provider contact information, documentation of all income sources (pay stubs, benefit award letters, bank statements), documentation of all resources (bank account statements, property records, vehicle title), and your living arrangement details. For SSI, financial documentation is as important as medical evidence.
• File your application. SSI applications can be filed by phone at 1-800-772-1213 or in person at your local California SSA field office. Online filing is available for adults who are applying for SSI at the same time as SSDI. SSI-only applications typically must be filed by phone or in person. Your application date is critical: SSI back pay runs from your application date, so filing promptly protects your benefits.
• Complete the SSI interview. Unlike SSDI, SSI requires an in-person or phone interview with an SSA representative who reviews your financial situation, living arrangement, and medical condition. This interview determines your financial eligibility before the medical review begins.
• Medical review by California DDS. Once the SSA confirms your financial eligibility, your claim goes to California's Disability Determination Services for medical evaluation. A DDS examiner and medical consultant assess your condition against the SSA's disability standard.
• Decision issued. Initial SSI determinations in California typically take 6 to 8 months. If approved, benefits begin from your application date. If denied, you have 60 days to appeal. Read our post on how to apply for SSI in California for additional guidance.

An attorney can review your application before you submit it, catch financial documentation gaps that lead to denials, and help you prepare for the SSI interview. If you want help with the application process, request your free consultation.

If your situation is an emergency (no income and no resources), ask the SSA about an emergency advance payment at the time of your application. Read about SSI emergency advance payments.

SSI Household Rules and Deeming

SSI benefits are affected not just by your own income and resources, but by who you live with and how your household is structured. Two concepts matter most: in-kind support and maintenance, and deeming.

In-kind support and maintenance (ISM) occurs when someone provides you with free or reduced-cost shelter: free rent, a subsidized apartment, or a room in a family member's home. ISM reduces your SSI benefit by up to one-third of the Federal Benefit Rate per month. Note: as of September 2024, food provided by others no longer counts as ISM. Only shelter assistance now triggers an ISM reduction.

Deeming is the SSA's process of attributing a portion of a spouse's or parent's income and resources to the SSI recipient. If you are married and your spouse earns income, part of that income is deemed to you when calculating your SSI eligibility and payment amount. For child SSI applicants, a portion of each parent's income and resources is deemed to the child.

Deeming does not apply if you and your spouse live apart or if your spouse also receives SSI. For children, deeming stops at age 18 when SSI is redetermined under adult rules.

What Happens If Your SSI Claim Is Denied?

SSI denials follow the same four-level federal appeals process as SSDI: reconsideration, ALJ hearing, Appeals Council review, and federal court. At each level, you have 60 days from the date of your denial letter to file the next appeal.

One important SSI-specific rule: if your SSI benefits are stopped or reduced and you appeal within 10 days of the notice, you may be able to continue receiving SSI payments while your appeal is pending. This "continuation of benefits" option does not exist for SSDI in the same way, and it can prevent a complete loss of income during what can be a lengthy appeals process.

Most SSI appeals that succeed do so at the ALJ hearing level, where attorney representation makes the largest difference in outcomes. If your SSI claim has been denied, read our full guide on what to do after a disability claim denial in California.

Why Work with a California SSI Attorney?

SSI applications are more legally complex than SSDI applications. The financial eligibility rules, including income exclusions, resource limits, deeming, and living arrangement adjustments, require careful documentation to avoid preventable denials. Many SSI applications are denied for financial eligibility reasons, not medical ones, and these errors are often the result of incomplete or incorrectly presented financial records.

Our California disability attorneys evaluate SSI eligibility as part of every free consultation. We assess both the medical and financial dimensions of your situation, help you organize the documentation the SSA requires, and represent you at any hearing if your claim is denied. We work on contingency: no upfront fees, no attorney payment unless we win your case. The SSA caps attorney fees at 25% of your back pay or $9,200, subject to a regulated maximum.

Visit our Social Security Disability legal services page for more on how we work, or request your free SSI consultation to get started.