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Updated April 14, 2023
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Overview
economy, taking into consideration their age, education,
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal assistance
and work experience.
program that provides monthly cash payments to aged,
Children under 18 years old are considered disabled if they
blind, or disabled individuals who have limited income and
have a medically determinable physical or mental
resources (i.e., assets). The program is administered by the
impairment that results in marked and severe functional
Social Security Administration (SSA) and intended to
limitations and that (1) is expected to result in death or (2)
provide eligible individuals with a guaranteed minimum
has lasted, or is expected to last, for at least 12 consecutive
income for meeting basic needs, such as food and shelter.
months. Children typically qualify as disabled if they have
SSI provides a flat benefit, which is reduced by any
one or more severe impairments that limit their ability to
countable income. In February 2023, SSI provided federally
engage in age-appropriate childhood activities at home, in
administered payments to more than 7.5 million recipients,
childcare, at school, or in the community. In addition, their
including about 1.0 million blind or disabled children under
earnings must not exceed the SGA limit.
18 years old, 4.2 million blind or disabled adults aged 18-
64, and 2.4 million seniors aged 65 or older (Figure 1).
Financial Requirements
Figure 1. SSI Recipients, by Age Group, February
To be financially eligible for SSI, a person’s countable
2023
income and resources—gross income and resources minus
applicable exclusions—must be within certain limits. In
general, SSI counts only the income and resources of the
individual. However, SSI may deem (i.e., attribute) a
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 2023, the FBR is $914 per month for an
individual and $1,371 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 applied to
Social Security benefits. Countable income is subtracted
from the FBR, dollar for dollar, in determining program
Source: SSA, “Monthly Statistical Snapshot,” Table 3.
eligibility and the payment amount (if any).
Notes: Components may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
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-
Categorical Requirements
kind support and maintenance (i.e., food or shelter provided
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 (1) is expected to result in death or (2) has
inflation.) Resources are cash or other liquid assets or any
lasted, or is expected to last, for at least 12 consecutive
real or personal property that a person owns and could
months. SSA uses an earnings limit to determine if a
person’s work activity constitutes SG
convert to cash to be used for the person’s support and
A, which for 2023 is
maintenance. Resources include checking or savings
$1,470 per month. (This amount is adjusted annually for
accounts, stocks, bonds, individual retirement accounts or
average wage growth.) Adults generally qualify as disabled
401(k) plans that cannot be claimed as periodic payments,
if their impairments are of such severity that they are unable
and certain types of trusts. Certain resources are not
to do any kind of substantial work that exists in the national
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Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
counted, such as an individual’s primary residence,
are periodic medical reviews of blind or disabled recipients
household goods and personal effects, one vehicle, property
to determine if they continue to meet the statutory
essential to self-support, federal tax refunds and credits for
definition of blindness or disability. Blind or disabled
a 12-month period after receipt, and the first $100,000 in an
recipients whose impairment may improve are scheduled
Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account.
for a CDR at least once every three years, and those with
the most severe impairments are scheduled at least once
Other Requirements
every five to seven years. Child recipients undergo a special
To qualify for SSI, a person must reside in the United
reevaluation at age 18 to determine if they meet the adult
States, which the program defines as the 50 states, the
standard of disability. SSA also performs redeterminations
District of Columbia, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
of non-medical factors (i.e., income, resources, and living
(SSI is not available in American Samoa, Guam, Puerto
arrangements) to verify that a recipient is still financially
Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.) In addition, a person
eligible and receiving the correct payment amount.
must be a U.S. citizen or a qualified noncitizen who meets
Redeterminations are conducted on a periodic basis or when
certain other criteria. Individuals who are outside of the
a recipient’s circumstances change.
country (as defined above) for 30 consecutive days or more
are ineligible for SSI. Residents of public institutions (such
Relationship with Social Security
as jails or prisons) are generally ineligible for SSI, except
Although SSA administers both programs, SSI is not part of
for situations involving certain medical facilities. Lastly,
Social Security. SSI is a public assistance program that
individuals must apply for certain other benefits for which
provides a flat benefit based on need. In contrast, Social
they may be eligible (e.g., Social Security, pensions).
Security is a social insurance program that provides benefits
based on career-average earnings to qualified workers and
Cash and Medical Benefits
certain family members. However, one of SSI’s goals is to
In February 2023, the average federally administered SSI
supplement the income of individuals who have low levels
payment was $675 (Table 1). Benefits are generally lower
of Social Security and other income. In December 2021,
for seniors because some of them also receive Social
33% all SSI recipients also received Social Security,
Security, which, after the first $20, is countable income.
including 57% of those aged 65 or older (Figure 2).
Benefits for children are typically higher because they often
do not have income of their own. Some states use their own
Figure 2. Share of SSI Recipients with Other Income,
funds to supplement the federal SSI payment to provide a
by Type of Income and Age Group, December 2021
higher overall benefit level than is prescribed in federal law.
Table 1. SSI Payments, by Age Group, February 2023
Average
Total Monthly
Monthly
Payments
Category
Payment
(in millions)
All Ages
$675
$5,293
Under Age 18
$785
$827
Aged 18-64
$718
$3,155
Aged 65+
$554
$1,312
Source: SSA, “Monthly Statistical Snapshot,” Table 3.
Most states confer Medicaid eligibility to all SSI recipients.
Source: SSA, Annual Statistical Supplement, 2022, Table 7.D1.
Thirty-four states and D.C. enroll SSI recipients in
Notes: Recipients may have more than one type of income.
Medicaid automatically, while eight states require SSI
recipients to file a separate application before enrolling
them in Medicaid. The remaining eight states confer
For more information on SSI, see the following resources:
Medicaid eligibility to SSI recipients only if they meet
SSA, “Understanding Supplemental Security Income SSI
more restrictive eligibility criteria than SSI criteria.
Home Page—2023 Edition,” https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-
Financing
understanding-ssi.htm.
Federal SSI benefits and administrative costs are financed
by annual appropriations from general revenues. SSI
CRS Report R44948, Social Security Disability Insurance
benefits are mandatory spending, while administrative costs
(SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Eligibility,
are discretionary spending. Total federal spending on SSI in
Benefits, and Financing.
FY2022 was $65.5 billion, with $60.8 billion for benefits
and $4.7 billion for administrative and other costs.
William R. Morton, Analyst in Income Security
Program Integrity
IF10482
SSA conducts several types of reviews to assess continuing
eligibility for SSI. Continuing disability reviews (CDRs)
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Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Disclaimer
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