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Updated March 22, 2018
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Overview
disabled if their impairments are of such severity that
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a means-tested
they are unable to do any kind of substantial work that
federal entitlement program administered by the Social
exists in the national economy, taking into account their
Security Administration (SSA) that provides monthly cash
age, education, and work experience.
benefits to the aged, blind, and disabled. The program is
intended to provide a minimum level of income to adults
Disabled Children. Individuals under age 18 must have
who have difficulty meeting their basic living expenses due
a medically determinable physical or mental impairment
to age or disability and who have little or no Social Security
that results in marked and severe functional limitations
or other income. It is also designed to supplement the
and is expected to last for at least one year or to result in
support and maintenance of needy children with severe
death. Children typically qualify as disabled if they have
disabilities. SSI is commonly known as a program of “last
severe impairments that limit their ability to engage in
resort” because claimants must first apply for all other
age-appropriate childhood activities at home, in
benefits for which they may be eligible; cash assistance is
childcare, at school, or in the community. In addition,
awarded only to those whose income and resources (i.e.,
their earnings must not exceed the SGA limit.
assets) from most other sources are within prescribed limits.
In January 2018, SSA issued federally administered
Financial Requirements
payments to 8.2 million SSI recipients, including 1.2
To qualify for a monthly SSI payment, a person’s countable
million children under 18 years old, 4.8 million adults aged
income (gross income minus all applicable exclusions)
18-64, and 2.2 million seniors aged 65 or older (Figure 1).
must be less than the federal benefit rate (FBR), which is
the maximum monthly SSI benefit payable to qualified
Figure 1. SSI Recipients, by Age, January 2018
individuals and couples. In 2018, the FBR is $750 per
month for an individual living independently (or 74% of the
federal poverty level [FPL]) and $1,125 per month for a
couple living independently if both members are SSI
eligible (or 82% of FPL). The FBR is adjusted annually for
inflation by the same cost-of-living adjustment (COLA)
applied to Social Security benefits. Countable income is
subtracted from the FBR in determining SSI eligibility and
payment amount.
The SSI program counts most types of income, including
support and maintenance furnished in cash or in kind. The
income of certain ineligible family members (such as a
spouse or parent) may be deemed available to meet the
needs of the SSI recipient, and as such, may be included in
Source: SSA, “Monthly Statistical Snapshot, January 2018,” Table 3.
the recipient’s countable income. The program excludes
certain income in determining SSI eligibility and the
Eligibility Requirements
payment amount, such as the first $20 per month of any
To qualify for SSI, a person must (1) be aged, blind, or
income (earned or unearned) and the first $65 per month of
disabled as defined in federal law; (2) have limited income
earned income plus one-half of any earnings above $65.
and resources; and (3) meet certain other requirements.
Unearned income refers to income not derived from current
work, such as Social Security, veterans’ benefits, interest
Categorical Requirements
income, and cash from friends or relatives. Earned income
Aged refers to individuals who are age 65 or older. The
includes wages, net earnings from self-employment, and
blind are individuals of any age with 20/200 or less vision
other compensation related to work. Certain in-kind support
in the better eye with the use of a correcting lens or tunnel
is also excluded, such as food and housing assistance.
vision of 20 degrees or less. Individuals are disabled if they
meet SSI’s age-specific definition of disability.
The limit for countable resources is $2,000 for an individual
and $3,000 for a couple. Resources are cash or other liquid
Disabled Adults. Individuals aged 18 or older must be
assets or any real or personal property that a person owns
unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity
and could convert to cash to be used for his or her support
(SGA) due to any medically determinable physical or
and maintenance. Resources include bank savings and
mental impairment that is expected to last for at least
checking accounts, stocks, bonds, IRA and 401(k) plans
one year or result in death. In 2018, the SGA earnings
under certain conditions, and certain types of trusts. The
limit is $1,180 per month. Adults generally qualify as
resources of ineligible family members may be deemed
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Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
available to the SSI recipient and counted against the
benefits are considered mandatory (direct) spending
applicable resource limit. Certain resources are not counted
whereas related administrative costs are considered
in determining SSI eligibility, such as a person’s primary
discretionary spending. Total spending on SSI in FY2017
residence, household goods and personal effects, one
was $58.7 billion, with $54.6 billion for benefits and $4.1
vehicle, and property essential to self-support. The resource
billion for administrative and other costs.
limits are not adjusted for inflation and have remained at
their current levels since 1989.
Program Integrity
SSA conducts several types of reviews to assess continuing
Other Requirements
eligibility for SSI. Continuing disability reviews (CDRs) are
To qualify for SSI, a person must (1) reside in one of the 50
periodic medical reviews of blind or disabled recipients to
states, the District of Columbia, or the Northern Mariana
determine if they continue to meet the statutory definition
Islands and (2) be a U.S. citizen or a noncitizen who meets
of blindness or disability. Blind or disabled recipients
a qualified alien category and certain other conditions. (SSI
whose medical condition may improve are scheduled for a
is not available in Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, or
CDR once every three years and those with the most severe
American Samoa.) Recipients who are outside the country
conditions are scheduled once every five to seven years.
for more than a month are ineligible for benefits. Residents
Child SSI recipients undergo a special reevaluation at age
of public institutions (such as a jail or prison) are generally
18 to determine if they meet the adult standard of disability.
ineligible for SSI, except for situations involving certain
SSA also performs redeterminations of non-medical factors
medical facilities. Additional requirements related to filing
(i.e., income, resources) to verify that a recipient is still
for other benefits and fugitive felon status also apply.
financially eligible for SSI and is receiving the correct
payment amount. Redeterminations are conducted on a
Cash and Medical Benefits
periodic basis or when a recipient’s circumstances change.
In January 2018, the average federally administered SSI
payment was $552, which on an annualized basis is $6,624
Relationship Between SSI and Social
(Table 1). Benefits are generally lower for seniors because
Security
some of them also receive Social Security, which reduces
Although SSA administers both programs, SSI is not part of
their SSI payment. Benefits for children typically are higher
Social Security. SSI is a public assistance program based on
because they often do not have income of their own. Some
need, whereas Social Security is a social insurance program
states use their own funds to supplement the federal SSI
that provides benefits to insured workers and their eligible
benefit to provide a higher overall payment level than is
family members, provided the worker paid Social Security
prescribed in federal law.
taxes for a sufficient number of years and meets other
criteria. However, one of SSI’s goals is to supplement the
Table 1. SSI Payments, by Age Group, January 2018
income of individuals who have low levels of Social
Security and other income. One-third of SSI recipients also
Average
Total Monthly
receive Social Security, with more than half of those aged
Monthly
Payments
65 or older entitled to such benefits (Figure 2).
Category
Payment
(in millions)
Figure 2. Share of SSI Recipients with Other Income,
Total
$552
$4,776
by Type of Income, December 2016
Under Age 18
$657
$811
Aged 18-64
$575
$2,962
Aged 65+
$446
$1,002
Source: SSA, “Monthly Statistical Snapshot, February 2017,” Table 3.
In most states, SSI recipients are categorically eligible for
Medicaid, which is a joint federal-state program that
finances the delivery of primary and acute medical services,
as well as long-term services and supports (LTSS), to
certain needy populations. SSI recipients often have
medical conditions that require significant health care
resources. However, many SSI recipients are unable to
work enough to gain health insurance through an employer
or to pay for insurance on their own. Medicaid provides
most SSI recipients with health coverage, including some
Source: SSA, Annual Statistical Supplement, 2017, Table 7.D1.
long-term care services that private health insurance and
Notes: Recipients may have more than one type of income. The
Medicare to do not cover, making it an important program
share of children with earned income was 0.2%.
for persons with significant long-term care needs.
Financing
William R. Morton, Analyst in Income Security
Federal SSI benefits and administrative costs are financed
IF10482
by annual appropriations from general revenues. SSI
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Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
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