How to Check Your Eligibility and Apply for Supplemental Security Income

Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, is a federal financial assistance program that provides monthly payments to those who meet certain criteria and are enrolled. Funded by the general funds of the US Treasury and administered by the Social Security Administration, the program is designed to help beneficiaries pay for basic necessities. 

Who’s eligible for SSI and how can you apply? We’ll answer those questions and more below. Qualifications are specific and we’ll lay them out for you. 

For more, check out how to apply for Social Security Benefits and what to do if your Social Security check is missing. 

Who is eligible to receive Supplemental Security Income?

To receive SSI, certain requirements must be met, though it is generally for people who make less than $,1971 each month. Below are the eligibility criteria for those who can receive benefits.

• Those who are at least age 65, or those who are visually impaired or disabled.
• Those with limited income, including wages and pensions.
• People who have limited resources.
• US citizens, nationals of the US and some noncitizens.
• Those who live in one of the 50 states, Washington, DC, or the Northern Mariana Islands. 
• Children of a military parent assigned to permanent duty outside the US.
• Certain students who are temporarily abroad.

Learn more about SSI for children. 

How much can you get from SSI?

The maximum monthly SSI payment for 2024 is $943 for an individual and $1,415 for a couple, though several factors including how much money you make and which state you live in can affect how much you’ll receive. 

Several states offer additional payments, raising the total monthly benefit amount for SSI recipients. Your income, living arrangement and other factors will play a part in how much more your state will pay, if applicable. State supplemental income won’t affect your SSI payment (more on that below).

How income affects your SSI payment 

For every $2 you make from work or any activity that earns you money, your SSI benefit payment will be reduced by $1. For every $1 received from non-work sources (disability, unemployment, pensions), $1 is reduced from your SSI payment. 

Other factors that could reduce monthly SSI benefits include: 

• If you live with your spouse, their income could reduce your payment.
• Children receiving SSI may have their payment reduced based on their or their parents’ income.
• If you’re a sponsored noncitizen, your sponsor’s income and resources may be included as income.
  

  What doesn’t affect your SSI payment?

  Here’s what’s not counted when it comes to your income and resources.

  Income not counted toward SSI:

• State SSI supplement payments
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (food stamps)
• Section 8 housing vouchers
• Rent rebates or property tax refunds
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• The first $20 of your monthly income
• The first $65 of your monthly earnings from working and half the amount over $65
• Certain expenses for people with blindness
• Certain expenses for people with disabilities

Resources not counted towards SSI:

• Your home and land
• Life insurance policies valued at $1,500 or less
• Your vehicle
• Burial plots for you and members of your immediate family
• Up to $1,500 in burial funds for you and up to $1,500 in burial funds for your spouse

How to apply for Supplemental Security Income

If you meet the requirements, you can apply for SSI at any time by heading to https://www.ssa.gov/apply/ssi. 

• Select whether you’re applying for an adult or a child
• Choose the appropriate SSI program for yourself (disability or age 65+)
• Click the “Learn how to apply” button at the bottom. 

To begin your application, click the Get started button under the “Get Started to Apply for SSI” box, but be sure you check out the information you’ll be asked to provide before proceeding so you have everything you need on hand while applying.

Other ways to apply for SSI

If you’d prefer applying for SSI over the phone, you can set up an appointment by calling 1-800-772-1213. (Available in most time zones Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm local time). Deaf or hard of hearing individuals can call 1-800-325-0778.

Tell the agent that you’d like to apply for Supplemental Security Income, and they will schedule the appointment, as well as let you know whether it’ll be on the phone or in person. 

How long does the SSI application process take?

After you’ve submitted your application, it will be submitted to the Disability Determination Services (DDS) office in your state. Processing time can take six to nine months for review. After the application is processed and reviewed, you’ll receive a letter in the mail with a decision. 

Approved individuals will have their financial documents reviewed, and receive another letter in the mail with their benefit amount that they’ll receive every month. You can always check the status of your application by signing into your Social Security account. 

For more, take a look at how to estimate your Social Security benefit amount with this free online tool.