What the Maximum SSI Payment Is and How It's Calculated

The federal maximum SSI payment in 2024 is $943 per month for an individual and $1,415 for a couple

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) maximum is set by the federal government and changes once a year, usually in January. The exact amount depends on whether you are a single person, a couple, or an essential person (someone living with and caring for an SSI recipient). The federal maximum is the ceiling — what Social Security will never pay you more than — but your actual payment may be lower because of how your state counts income and resources, or because you have other money coming in.

The maximum increases most years to account for inflation, a change called a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The 2024 amounts are $943 for an individual, $1,415 for a couple, and $472 for an essential person. These numbers change in January each year, so if you receive SSI, Social Security will tell you the new amount before it takes effect.

Your actual SSI payment is almost never the maximum. Social Security subtracts money you earn from work, money from other benefits, and sometimes money from your household. They also count how much you own — your resources — and if you have too much, you may not receive SSI at all.

Key Takeaways

• The federal SSI maximum is $943 per month for one person in 2024, but your actual payment will likely be lower because of income and resource limits.
• Social Security reduces your SSI payment dollar-for-dollar for most income you earn, with limited exceptions for work earnings and other sources.
• If you own more than $2,000 in resources (or $3,000 as a couple), you are not may be able to access for SSI, regardless of income.
• Some states add their own money on top of the federal SSI payment, which means the maximum you can receive varies by where you live.
• The maximum amount changes each January based on inflation, so your payment may increase even if nothing else in your situation changes.

How Social Security calculates what you actually receive

Social Security starts with the federal maximum and then subtracts your income. Countable income is money that reduces your SSI payment. Most income counts — wages from a job, money from family members, unemployment benefits, pensions — but Social Security allows you to exclude some of it.

If you work, Social Security excludes the first $65 you earn per month, plus half of everything above that. So if you earn $200 a month, they subtract $65, then half of the remaining $135, which is $67.50. Your SSI payment drops by $67.50. This rule is called the earned income exclusion and it exists to encourage people on SSI to work without losing all their benefits at once.

Unearned income — money you do not earn through work, like gifts, interest, or other benefits — is treated differently. Social Security excludes the first $20 per month of unearned income, then counts the rest. If your parent gives you $100, Social Security excludes $20 and counts $80 against your SSI payment.

Once Social Security adds up all your countable income, they subtract it from the federal maximum. If your countable income is $943 or more, your SSI payment is zero. If it is $500, your payment is $443. This is why people who receive other benefits — like a small pension or part-time wages — often receive reduced SSI rather than the maximum.

Resource limits that affect your may be able to access

SSI has strict resource limits. You cannot own more than $2,000 in countable resources as an individual, or $3,000 as a couple. Resources are things you own that can be turned into cash — bank accounts, savings, stocks, vehicles (with some exceptions). Your home and one car do not count, and neither do certain items like household goods or personal effects.

If you go over the resource limit, you lose SSI entirely. There is no partial payment. This means if you have $2,100 in a savings account, you are ineligible until you spend or give away the extra $100. The resource limit has not changed since 1989, which is why it catches people by surprise — a small inheritance, a tax refund, or money from a lawsuit can push you over.

Some resources do not count toward the limit. A burial fund of up to $1,500 per person is excluded. Money set aside in an ABLE account (a tax-advantaged savings account for people with disabilities) does not count up to $100,000. Money in certain trusts set up for you by someone else may not count. If you are close to the limit or have received money recently, ask Social Security which resources count in your situation.

State supplements that increase the maximum

Some states add their own money to the federal SSI payment. These state supplements vary widely. California, for example, adds money for individuals and couples. New York adds money for people living in their own homes. Other states add nothing. The state supplement, if you receive one, is included in your total SSI payment, so your maximum may be higher than the federal amount.

If you move to a different state, your SSI payment may change because the state supplement changes. Social Security will recalculate your payment based on your new state's rules. Some people who move from a high-supplement state to a low-supplement state see their total payment drop, even though their federal portion stays the same.

You can find your state's current supplement amount by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or by visiting your local Social Security office. The amount changes each year along with the federal maximum.

How the annual cost-of-living adjustment works

Each January, Social Security raises the SSI maximum by a percentage set by the federal government. This increase is called the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The COLA is based on inflation — how much prices rose for everyday goods and services over the past year. In years when inflation is high, the COLA is high. In years when inflation is low, the COLA is low or zero.

The COLA applies to the federal maximum, and most state supplements increase by the same percentage. So if the COLA is 3%, the federal maximum goes up 3%, and your state supplement (if you receive one) usually goes up 3% as well. Social Security notifies all SSI recipients of the new amount by December, and the increase takes effect on January 1.

The COLA does not may provide your payment will increase. If your income increases at the same time, your SSI payment may stay the same or even decrease. For example, if you get a raise at work, the extra earnings may offset the COLA increase. But if your income does not change, your SSI payment will go up by the COLA percentage.

What happens if you earn money from work

If you work while receiving SSI, your payment does not disappear immediately. Social Security allows you to earn money and still receive some SSI, using the earned income exclusion described earlier. The first $65 per month is excluded, and then half of the rest is subtracted from your SSI payment.

There is also a student earned income exclusion if you are under 22 and a full-time student. You can exclude up to $8,230 per month (in 2024) in work earnings, up to a yearly maximum. This rule allows students to work and save money without losing SSI.

If you earn enough that your countable income reaches the federal maximum, your SSI payment becomes zero. You are still technically may be able to access for SSI, and you can receive it again if your earnings drop. But while you are earning above the limit, you receive no payment. Some people use this as a way to save money — they work enough to earn above the SSI limit, then take a month off work and receive SSI again.

How to find out your specific payment amount

Your actual SSI payment depends on your income, resources, state of residence, and household situation. The federal maximum is a starting point, not a prediction. To find out what you will actually receive, you need to contact Social Security directly. You can call 1-800-772-1213, visit your local Social Security office, or create an account at ssa.gov to view your payment information online.

When you contact Social Security, have information ready about your income (wages, gifts, other benefits), your resources (bank accounts, savings), and anyone else in your household. Social Security will explain how your specific situation affects your payment and what the maximum you can receive is.

If you are already receiving SSI, your payment notice shows the amount you receive each month and explains why it is that amount. If the amount changes, Social Security will send you a new notice. Keep these notices — they show your payment history and are useful if you need to prove your income to a landlord, a utility company, or another organization.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive the full federal maximum if I live in a state with a supplement?

No. The federal maximum is the ceiling for the federal portion only. Your state supplement is added on top, so your total maximum is higher than the federal amount. For example, if your state adds $100, your maximum is $1,043 instead of $943. But you still have to meet income and resource limits to receive any payment at all.

What if I inherit money — will I lose SSI?

If the inheritance puts you over $2,000 in resources, you will lose SSI until you spend or give away the excess. However, if the money is left to you in a special needs trust or an ABLE account, it may not count toward your resource limit. Talk to a lawyer or a disability advocate before accepting an inheritance if you receive SSI.

Does my SSI payment increase automatically when the COLA happens?

Yes, the federal maximum increases automatically each January. But your actual payment may not increase if your income also increased. Social Security will recalculate your payment and send you a notice showing the new amount.

If I move to a different state, does my SSI payment change?

Yes, if the new state has a different supplement. Your federal portion stays the same, but the state supplement changes based on where you now live. Social Security will recalculate your payment and send you a new notice within 30 days of your move.

Can I work part-time and still receive the maximum SSI payment?

No. Any work earnings reduce your SSI payment using the earned income exclusion. You can earn up to $65 per month with no reduction, but above that, half of your earnings are subtracted from your SSI payment. The more you earn, the lower your SSI payment becomes.