SSI Eligibility Calculator
Check your SSI eligibility and estimate your monthly Supplemental Security Income payment using the 2026 federal benefit rate and income rules.
SSI pays up to $994 a month for an individual or $1,491 for a couple in 2026, minus your countable income after certain exclusions. You must be 65 or older, blind, or disabled, and your countable resources must stay under $2,000 (individual) or $3,000 (couple). No work history is required, unlike SSDI.
SSI works differently from Social Security retirement or SSDI. There's no work history requirement, but the income and resource rules are strict. Your payment is the federal benefit rate minus your countable income, and specific exclusions determine how much of your income actually counts. Answer the questions below to check your eligibility and estimate your monthly payment.
Check SSI Eligibility & Estimate Payment
Estimated Monthly Federal SSI Payment
A $0 estimated payment means you're categorically eligible, but your current income is too high for a federal payment this month. This is different from failing the age/blind/disability or resource tests — if your income drops, you may become eligible for a payment again.
Many states add a state supplement on top of this federal amount. This tool estimates only the federal portion, so your actual total payment may be higher depending on where you live.
SSI eligibility starts with a basic requirement: you must be 65 or older, blind, or have a qualifying disability. From there, two separate limits apply. First, your countable resources, things like bank accounts, cash, stocks, and bonds, must stay under $2,000 if you're single or $3,000 if you're part of a couple. Your home, one vehicle, and ordinary household goods don't count toward this limit, and it hasn't changed in decades. Second, your income determines your actual payment amount. SSA doesn't count all of your income. The first $20 from any source is excluded, and earned income gets an additional $65 exclusion plus a 50% discount on whatever's left after that. This means work is rewarded: a dollar of wages reduces your SSI payment by roughly 50 cents, while a dollar of unearned income like a pension reduces it by close to a full dollar. Many states also add a supplement on top of the federal payment, which this tool doesn't calculate, so your actual total could be higher than the estimate shown here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SSI income limit for 2026?
There's no single income cutoff. SSI compares your countable income (after exclusions) to the federal benefit rate of $994/month for an individual or $1,491/month for a couple. In practice, an individual's SSI phases out around $1,014/month in unearned income or around $2,073/month in earned income, because of the exclusions applied to wages.
How much is the SSI resource limit?
$2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple. This has not changed in decades and does not adjust with the cost-of-living increase. Your home, one vehicle, and ordinary household goods do not count toward this limit.
Is SSI the same as SSDI?
No. SSDI is based on your work history and payroll taxes paid. SSI is a separate, needs-based program available to people 65+, blind, or disabled with limited income and resources, regardless of work history.
Can I get both SSI and Social Security retirement or SSDI?
Yes, this is called concurrent benefits. If your Social Security or SSDI payment is low enough, you may also qualify for a reduced SSI payment to bring your total income closer to the federal benefit rate.
Do states add extra money to SSI?
Many states add a state supplement on top of the federal SSI payment. This tool estimates only the federal portion; your actual total payment may be higher depending on where you live.
What counts as income for SSI purposes?
Both earned income (wages, self-employment) and unearned income (Social Security, pensions, unemployment, gifts) count, but SSA excludes the first $20 of income from any source, plus an additional $65 of earned income, and only counts half of whatever earned income remains after that.
This calculator provides a general estimate based on current Social Security Administration SSI rules and does not constitute financial or legal advice. It calculates only the federal SSI payment; state supplements, deeming rules for spouses or parents, and other individual circumstances can change your actual payment amount. For a personalized, accurate determination, contact the Social Security Administration directly or visit ssa.gov/ssi.