Understanding SSI Home Page / Understanding Supplemental Security Income SSI Income Income is any item an individual receives in cash or in-kind that can be used to meet his or her need for food or shelter. Income includes, for the purposes of SSI, the receipt of any item which can be applied,
either directly or by sale or conversion, to meet basic needs of food or shelter. Generally, the
more countable income you have, the less your SSI benefit will be. If your countable income is over the allowable limit, you cannot receive SSI benefits. Some of your income may not count as income for the SSI program. Examples of payments or services we do not count as income for the SSI program include but are not limited to: HOW DOES YOUR INCOME AFFECT YOUR SSI BENEFIT?Step 1: We subtract any income that we do not count from your total gross income. The remaining amount is your "countable income". Step 2: We subtract your "countable income" from the SSI Federal benefit rate. The result is your monthly SSI Federal benefit as follows: 1) Your Total Income 2) SSI Federal benefit rate THE FOLLOWING EXAMPLES ARE BASED ON SAMPLE DOLLAR AMOUNTS:EXAMPLE A – SSI Federal Benefit with only UNEARNED INCOMETotal monthly income = $300 (Social Security benefit) 1) $300 (Social Security benefit) 2) $841 (SSI Federal benefit rate) EXAMPLE B – SSI Federal Benefit with only EARNED INCOMETotal monthly income = $317 (Gross wages) 1) $317 (Gross wages) -116 (Countable income) =$725 (SSI Federal benefit) EXAMPLE C – SSI Federal Benefit and STATE SUPPLEMENT with only UNEARNED INCOMEThe facts are the same as example A, but with federally administered State supplementation. 1) $300 (Social Security benefit) 2) $841 (SSI Federal benefit rate) =$561 (SSI Federal benefit) 3) $561
(SSI Federal benefit) EXAMPLE D – SSI Federal Benefit and STATE SUPPLEMENT with only EARNED INCOMETotal monthly income = $317 (Gross wages) 1) $317 (Gross wages) $297 -65 (Not counted) $232 divided by 1/2 =$116 (Countable income) 2) $841 (SSI Federal benefit rate) =$725 (SSI Federal benefit) 3) $725 (SSI Federal benefit)
HOW WILL WINDFALL OFFSET AFFECT MY BENEFIT?Windfall offset occurs when we reduce your retroactive Social Security benefits if you are eligible for Social Security and SSI benefits for the same months. We reduce your Social Security benefits by the amount of SSI you would not have received if we had paid you Social Security benefits when they were due. WHEN DOES DEEMED INCOME APPLY?
WHEN DOES DEEMED INCOME NOT APPLY?When you no longer live with a spouse or parent.When a disabled or blind child attains age 18. When an alien's sponsorship ends. |