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Updated November 22, 2022
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Overview
Children under 18 years old are considered disabled if they
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal assistance
have a medically determinable physical or mental
program that provides monthly cash payments to aged,
impairment that results in marked and severe functional
blind, or disabled individuals who have limited income and
limitations and is expected to last for at least one year or to
resources (i.e., assets). The program is administered by the
result in death. Children typically qualify as disabled if they
Social Security Administration (SSA) and intended to
have one or more severe impairments that limit their ability
provide a guaranteed minimum income for meeting basic
to engage in age-appropriate childhood activities at home,
needs, such as food and shelter. SSI provides a flat benefit,
in childcare, at school, or in the community. In addition,
which is reduced by any countable income. In September
their earnings must not exceed the SGA limit.
2022, SSI provided federally administered payments to 7.6
million recipients, including 1.0 million blind or disabled
Financial Requirements
children under 18 years old, 4.2 million blind or disabled
To be financially eligible for SSI, a person’s countable
adults aged 18-64, and 2.3 million seniors aged 65 or older
income and resources—gross income and resources minus
(Figure 1).
applicable exclusions—must be within certain limits. In
general, SSI counts only the income and resources of the
Figure 1. SSI Recipients, by Age Group, September
individual. However, SSI may deem (i.e., attribute) a
2022
portion of the income and resources of an ineligible spouse
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 2022, the FBR is $841 per month for an
individual and $1,261 per month for a couple if both
members are SSI eligible. (In 2023, the FBR is $914 per
month for an individual and $1,371 per month for a couple.)
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).
Source: SSA, “Monthly Statistical Snapshot,” Table 3.
SSI counts most types of income, including earned and
Eligibility Requirements
unearned income. Earned income includes wages, net
earnings from self-employment, and other compensation
To qualify for SSI, a person must (1) be aged, blind, or
related to work. Unearned income is all other income, such
disabled as defined in federal law; (2) have limited income
as Social Security, veterans’ benefits, periodic annuity or
and resources; and (3) meet certain other requirements.
pension payments, and cash from others. SSI also counts in-
kind support and maintenance (i.e., food or shelter provided
Categorical Requirements
by others). Certain income is not counted, such as the first
The term aged refers to individuals aged 65 or older. The
$20 per month of any income (earned or unearned) and the
term blind refers to individuals of any age who have 20/200
first $65 per month of earned income plus one-half of any
or less vision in the better eye with the use of a correcting
earned income above $65. (These exclusions are not
lens or tunnel vision of 20 degrees or less.
adjusted for inflation.) SSI also excludes federal tax refunds
Adults aged 18 or older are considered disabled if they are
and credits as well as federal food and housing assistance.
unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity (SGA)
The countable resource limit is $2,000 for an individual and
due to any medically determinable physical or mental
$3,000 for a couple. (These limits are not adjusted for
impairment that is expected to last for at least one year or to
inflation.) Resources are cash or other liquid assets or any
result in death. SSA uses an earnings limit to evaluate SGA,
real or personal property that a person owns and could
which is $1,350 per month in 2022 ($1,470 per month in
convert to cash to be used for the person’s support and
2023). Adults generally qualify as disabled if their
maintenance. Resources include checking or savings
impairments are of such severity that they are unable to do
accounts, stocks, bonds, individual retirement accounts
any kind of substantial work that exists in the national
(IRAs) or 401(k) plans that cannot be claimed as periodic
economy, taking into consideration their age, education,
payments, and certain types of trusts. Certain resources are
and work experience.
not counted, such as an individual’s primary residence,
household goods and personal effects, one vehicle, property
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Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
essential to self-support, federal tax refunds and credits for
are periodic medical reviews of blind or disabled recipients
a 12-month period after receipt, and the first $100,000 in an
to determine if they continue to meet the statutory
Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account.
definition of blindness or disability. Blind or disabled
recipients whose medical condition may improve are
Other Requirements
scheduled for a CDR at least once every three years, and
To qualify for SSI, a person must reside in the United
those with the most severe impairments are scheduled at
States, which the program defines as the 50 states, the
least once every five to seven years. Child recipients
District of Columbia, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
undergo a special reevaluation at age 18 to determine if
(SSI is not available in American Samoa, Guam, Puerto
they meet the adult standard of disability. SSA also
Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.) In addition, a person
performs redeterminations of non-medical factors (i.e.,
must be a U.S. citizen or a qualified noncitizen who meets
income, resources, and living arrangements) to verify that a
certain other conditions. Individuals who are outside of the
recipient is still financially eligible and receiving the correct
country (as defined above) for 30 consecutive days or more
payment amount. Redeterminations are conducted on a
are ineligible for SSI. Residents of public institutions (such
periodic basis or when a recipient’s circumstances change.
as jails or prisons) are generally ineligible for SSI, except
for situations involving certain medical facilities. Lastly,
Relationship with Social Security
individuals must apply for certain other benefits for which
Although SSA administers both programs, SSI is not part of
they may be eligible (e.g., Social Security, pensions).
Social Security. SSI is a public assistance program that
provides a flat benefit based on need. In contrast, Social
Cash and Medical Benefits
Security is a social insurance program that provides benefits
In September 2022, the average federally administered SSI
based on career-average earnings to qualified workers and
payment was $623 (Table 1). Benefits are generally lower
certain family members. However, one of SSI’s goals is to
for seniors because some of them also receive Social
supplement the income of individuals who have low levels
Security, which is countable income. Benefits for children
of Social Security and other income. In December 2021,
are typically higher because they often do not have income
one-third of all SSI recipients also received Social Security,
of their own. Some states use their own funds to
including more than half of those aged 65 or older.
supplement the federal SSI payment to provide a higher
overall benefit level than is prescribed in federal law.
Figure 2. Share of SSI Recipients with Other Income,
by Type of Income and Age Group, December 2021
Table 1. SSI Payments, by Age Group, September
2022
Average
Total Monthly
Monthly
Payments
Category
Payment
(in millions)
Total
$623
$4,886
Under Age 18
$730
$762
Aged 18-64
$659
$2,932
Aged 65+
$510
$1,191
Source: SSA, “Monthly Statistical Snapshot,” Table 3.
Receipt of SSI confers eligibility for Medicaid in most
states. Thirty-four states and D.C. confer Medicaid
Source: SSA, Annual Statistical Supplement, 2022, Table 7.D1.
eligibility to SSI recipients automatically, while eight states
require SSI recipients to file a separate application before
Notes: Recipients may have more than one type of income. The
conferring Medicaid eligibility. The remaining eight states
share of children with earned income was 0.2%.
confer Medicaid eligibility to SSI recipients only if they
meet more restrictive eligibility criteria than SSI criteria.
For more information on SSI, see the following resources:
Financing
SSA, “Understanding Supplemental Security Income SSI
Federal SSI benefits and administrative costs are financed
Home Page—2022 Edition,” https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-
by annual appropriations from general revenues. SSI
understanding-ssi.htm.
benefits are mandatory spending, while administrative costs
are discretionary spending. Total federal spending on SSI in
CRS Report R44948, Social Security Disability Insurance
FY2022 was $63.1 billion, with $58.6 billion for benefits
(SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Eligibility,
and $4.5 billion for administrative and other costs.
Benefits, and Financing.
Program Integrity
William R. Morton, Analyst in Income Security
SSA conducts several types of reviews to assess continuing
IF10482
eligibility for SSI. Continuing disability reviews (CDRs)
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Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Disclaimer
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