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Updated September 13, 2021
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Overview
impairment that results in marked and severe functional
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal assistance
limitations and is expected to last for at least one year or to
program that provides monthly cash payments to aged,
result in death. Children typically qualify as disabled if they
blind, or disabled individuals who have limited income and
have one or more severe impairments that limit their ability
resources (i.e., assets). The program is administered by the
to engage in age-appropriate childhood activities at home,
Social Security Administration (SSA) and intended to
in childcare, at school, or in the community. In addition,
provide a guaranteed minimum income for meeting basic
their earnings must not exceed the SGA limit.
needs, such as food and shelter. SSI provides a flat benefit
of $794 per month in 2021 ($1,191 per month for a couple),
Financial Requirements
which is reduced by any countable income. In July 2021,
To be financially eligible for SSI, a person’s countable
SSI provided federally administered payments to 7.8
income and resources—gross income and resources minus
million recipients, including 1.1 million children under 18
applicable exclusions—must be within certain limits. In
years old, 4.4 million adults aged 18-64, and 2.3 million
general, SSI counts only the income and resources of the
seniors aged 65 or older (Figure 1).
individual. However, SSI may deem (i.e., attribute) a
portion of the income and resources of an ineligible spouse
Figure 1. SSI Recipients, by Age Group, July 2021
or parent who lives in the same household in determining
the individual’s eligibility and payment amount.
The countable income limit is set at the same level as the
federal benefit rate (FBR), which is the maximum monthly
SSI payment. In 2021, the FBR is $794 per month for an
individual and $1,191 per month for a couple if both
members are SSI eligible. 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, dollar for dollar, in determining
program eligibility and the payment amount (if any).
SSI counts most types of income, including earned and
unearned income. Earned income includes wages, net
earnings from self-employment, and other compensation
Source: SSA, “Monthly Statistical Snapshot, July 2021,” Table 3.
related to work. Unearned income is all other income, such
as Social Security, veterans’ benefits, periodic annuity or
Eligibility Requirements
pension payments, and cash from others. SSI also counts in-
To qualify for SSI, a person must (1) be aged, blind, or
kind support and maintenance (i.e., food or shelter provided
disabled as defined in federal law; (2) have limited income
by others). Certain income is not counted, such as the first
and resources; and (3) meet certain other requirements.
$20 per month of any income (earned or unearned) and the
first $65 per month of earned income plus one-half of any
Categorical Requirements
earned income above $65. (These exclusions are not
The term aged refers to individuals aged 65 or older. The
adjusted for inflation.) SSI also excludes federal tax refunds
term blind refers to individuals of any age who have 20/200
and credits as well as federal food and housing assistance.
or less vision in the better eye with the use of a correcting
The countable resource limit is $2,000 for an individual and
lens or tunnel vision of 20 degrees or less.
$3,000 for a couple. (These limits are not adjusted for
Adults aged 18 or older are considered disabled if they are
inflation.) Resources are cash or other liquid assets or any
unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity (SGA)
real or personal property that a person owns and could
due to any medically determinable physical or mental
convert to cash to be used for the person’s support and
impairment that is expected to last for at least one year or to
maintenance. Resources include checking or savings
result in death. SSA uses an earnings limit to evaluate SGA,
accounts, stocks, bonds, individual retirement accounts
which is $1,310 per month in 2021. Adults generally
(IRAs) or 401(k) plans that cannot be claimed as periodic
qualify as disabled if their impairments are of such severity
payments, and certain types of trusts. Certain resources are
that they are unable to do any kind of substantial work that
not counted, such as an individual’s primary residence,
exists in the national economy, taking into consideration
household goods and personal effects, one vehicle, property
their age, education, and work experience.
essential to self-support, federal tax refunds and credits for
a 12-month period after receipt, and the first $100,000 in an
Children under 18 years old are considered disabled if they
Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account.
have a medically determinable physical or mental
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Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Other Requirements
special reevaluation at age 18 to determine if they meet the
To qualify for SSI, a person must reside in the United
adult standard of disability. SSA also performs
States, which the program defines as the 50 states, the
redeterminations of non-medical factors (i.e., income,
District of Columbia, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
resources, and living arrangements) to verify that a
(SSI is not available in American Samoa, Guam, Puerto
recipient is still financially eligible and receiving the correct
Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.) In addition, a person
payment amount. Redeterminations are conducted on a
must be a U.S. citizen or a qualified noncitizen who meets
periodic basis or when a recipient’s circumstances change.
certain other conditions. Individuals who are outside of the
country (as defined above) for 30 consecutive days or more
Relationship with Social Security
are ineligible for SSI. Residents of public institutions (such
Although SSA administers both programs, SSI is not part of
as jails or prisons) are generally ineligible for SSI, except
Social Security. SSI is a public assistance program that
for situations involving certain medical facilities. Lastly,
provides a flat benefit based on need. In contrast, Social
individuals must apply for certain other benefits for which
Security is a social insurance program that provides benefits
they may be eligible (e.g., Social Security, pensions).
based on career-average earnings to qualified workers and
certain family members. However, one of SSI’s goals is to
Cash and Medical Benefits
supplement the income of individuals who have low levels
In July 2021, the average federally administered SSI
of Social Security and other income. In July 2021, one-third
payment was $586 (Table 1). Benefits are generally lower
of all SSI recipients also received Social Security, including
for seniors because some of them also receive Social
more than half of those aged 65 or older.
Security, which reduces their SSI payments. Benefits for
children are typically higher because they often do not have
Race and Ethnicity
income of their own. Some states use their own funds to
In 2017, more than half of all SSI recipients were members
supplement the federal SSI payment to provide a higher
of a racial or ethnic minority group (Figure 2). Black
overall benefit level than is prescribed in federal law.
recipients made up one-fourth of child and working-age
adult recipients, while Hispanic recipients made up one-
Table 1. SSI Payments, by Age Group, July 2021
fifth of child recipients and about one-third of senior
recipients.
Average
Total Monthly
Monthly
Payments
Figure 2. SSI Recipients, by Age Group and
Category
Payment
(in millions)
Race/Ethnicity, 2017
Total
$586
$4,708
Under Age 18
$693
$757
Aged 18-64
$617
$2,865
Aged 65+
$476
$1,085
Source: SSA, “Monthly Statistical Snapshot, July 2021,” Table 3.
SSI recipients are automatically eligible for Medicaid in
most states. However, eight states require SSI recipients to
meet more restrictive eligibility criteria than SSI criteria to
qualify for Medicaid.
Financing
Federal SSI benefits and administrative costs are financed
by annual appropriations from general revenues. SSI
Source: Katherine Giefer, A Profile of Supplemental Security Income
benefits are mandatory spending, while administrative costs
Recipients: 2017, Census Bureau, May 2021.
are discretionary spending. Total federal spending on SSI in
FY2020 was $60.8 billion, with $56.4 billion for benefits
For more information on SSI, see the following resources:
and $4.4 billion for administrative and other costs.
SSA, “Understanding Supplemental Security Income SSI
Program Integrity
Home Page—2021 Edition,” https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-
SSA conducts several types of reviews to assess continuing
understanding-ssi.htm.
eligibility for SSI. Continuing disability reviews (CDRs)
are periodic medical reviews of blind or disabled recipients
CRS Report R44948, Social Security Disability Insurance
to determine if they continue to meet the statutory
(SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Eligibility,
definition of blindness or disability. Blind or disabled
Benefits, and Financing.
recipients whose medical condition may improve are
scheduled for a CDR at least once every three years, and
William R. Morton, Analyst in Income Security
those with the most severe conditions are scheduled at least
once every five to seven years. Child recipients undergo a
IF10482
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Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Disclaimer
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