Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
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The Basics
People who are disabled, blind, or elderly may not be able to work or afford to live on their own. If you can’t work, have no other sources of income, and have limited resources, you may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
The federal government created the SSI program to help people in this situation. Those who qualify for SSI benefits get monthly cash payments to pay for those basic needs. The SSI program is run by the Social Security Administration. In California, people who get SSI also get a smaller benefit from the State Supplemental Program (SSP) included with their monthly SSI benefit. For most people, the maximum possible SSI benefit (including the SSP) is $1,133.73 for an individual and $1,927.62 for a couple. If you're blind, the maximum is $1,211.00 for an individual and $2,134.14 for a couple
In California, people who qualify for SSI also get Medi-Cal benefits automatically.
Three disability benefits have very similar names: SSI, SSDI, and SDI:
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Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal program that gives a cash benefit to people who have disabilities and have low income and resources. You do not need to have worked in the past to get SSI. SSI is explained in this article.
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Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal program that gives a cash benefit to people with long-term disabilities who qualify because they used to work or have family members who worked.
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State Disability Insurance (SDI) is a state program that gives a cash benefit for one year or less to Californians with disabilities who worked before becoming disabled.
You may be able to qualify for more than one of these programs at the same time. For example, if you become disabled, you might get SDI at first and later start getting SSDI. If you get SSDI and also have low resources, you may qualify for SSI as well. Make sure you know which benefits you get and which you might qualify for if you applied.
Learn more
Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal covers people with and without disabilities who have low income.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
SSDI helps people with disabilities who worked and paid Social Security taxes.
Benefits and Work Estimator
Got a work plan? See how it would help your situation.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- The Basics
- Eligibility and Application
- The SSI Benefit
- SSI and Work
- Example
- FAQs
- Pitfalls
- Resources
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Eligibility and Application
Eligibility
Three groups of people can get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits:
- People older than 18 but younger than 65, with disabilities and limited income and resources. This article focuses on people between 18 – 65.
- People who are 65 years old or older, with limited income and resources.
- Qualifying children and youth under 18 with disabilities. A different definition of disability applies to people under 18. To learn more about SSI for people under 18, read DB101’s section on Benefits for Young People.
You do not have to have worked at all to get SSI benefits.
If you’re between 18 – 65, to qualify for SSI benefits, you need to:
- Meet certain citizenship and residency requirements;
- Meet income and resource limits; and
- Have a disability that prevents you from working.
Medical Disability
To be eligible for SSI benefits, you must show that you have a disability that prevents you from working. Social Security has very specific rules about what is and is not a disability. Social Security uses the same definition of disability for all its programs.
- You must be able to show medical reports that confirm that you have a severe physical or mental disability. If no reports are available, Social Security will send you to a doctor to confirm your condition.
- Your condition must have lasted or be expected to last at least a year or be expected to result in death.
- If you have a visual impairment, Social Security uses special rules to decide if you are blind.
Unable to Work
Your disability must also prevent you from working. Social Security has a standard way of defining work. The term Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) is used to describe a level of work activity or earnings. In 2023, if you are earning more than $1,470 per month (or $2,460 if you’re blind), Social Security says your earnings are Substantial Gainful Activity.
Note: You may be able to reduce your countable monthly income if you get a wage subsidy, have Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) or Blind Work Expenses (BWEs). Also, when Social Security figures out if your work activity is SGA, Social Security does more than just look at your earnings. If you are self-employed, for example, Social Security uses up to 3 different tests and analyzes things like hours worked and responsibilities to decide if your work counts as SGA. To find out more information, visit the Social Security Administration’s website.
When Social Security looks at your application, the agency asks a series of questions to figure out if your disability prevents you from working.
Social Security calls this set of questions the Functional Assessment:
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If you are working above the SGA level, you are considered able to work, and therefore not disabled and not eligible for SSI benefits. Otherwise…
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If your condition is on the Listing of Impairments, and the condition is severe enough, you are automatically considered disabled. If not…
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Social Security figures out if you could do your old job, even if you’re not working now. If so, you are not disabled. If not…
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Social Security figures out if you could do any other kind of work, considering your medical condition, age, and background. If so, you are not disabled. If not…
- You are disabled.
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Social Security figures out if you could do any other kind of work, considering your medical condition, age, and background. If so, you are not disabled. If not…
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Social Security figures out if you could do your old job, even if you’re not working now. If so, you are not disabled. If not…
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If your condition is on the Listing of Impairments, and the condition is severe enough, you are automatically considered disabled. If not…
Example: Mimi has a severe and life-threatening lung disease. She is still working and earning $1,710 a month working part-time in a flower shop. Social Security decides that her earnings are above $1,470, the current SGA level. Mimi is therefore not disabled according to Social Security because of her earnings.
Example: Floria injured her spine in a fall. She fractured 2 vertebrae and damaged some nerve roots. She is not working now. Social Security finds that her condition is listed on the Listing of Impairments and that it’s severe enough to be disabling. Floria is therefore disabled according to Social Security and may qualify for monthly benefits.
Your disability has to prevent you from earning above the SGA level not just in your old job, but in any job. Social Security looks at your age, education, work experience, and any skills that could be used in other jobs. (If you’re over 55, the rules are less strict.)
Example: Luigi had been working as a longshoreman until he ruptured a disc in his back in a game of touch football. He is not working now, so his actual earnings are below the SGA level. The back injury is long-term and serious, but is not on the Listing of Impairments as an automatically disabling condition.
Luigi wouldn’t be able to do his old job, with all the heavy lifting, but Social Security decides that with his experience, he could be able to work at a desk as a dock dispatcher. Because he would be able to work, Luigi is not disabled according to Social Security.
Resource Requirements
When you apply for SSI benefits, you have to list money and property that you own. If you have money or property that you could sell to support yourself, Social Security wants to make sure that you do that first before you get help.
- Resources are cash and other property that you own and could convert to cash.
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Excluded resources are resources that don’t count towards SSI’s resource limit. The most important excluded resources are:
- The home you live in
- One vehicle
- Here is a complete list of excluded resources.
- Countable resources are all resources that aren’t excluded.
You must have less than $2,000 in countable resources ($3,000 for a couple) to qualify for SSI benefits.
However, if your disability began before you turned 26, you can open an ABLE account where over time you can save up to $100,000 in resources and not have them counted by SSI. Learn more about ABLE accounts.
Example: Billy has $5,000 in a standard savings account (not an ABLE account), set aside for a rainy day. Even though he has no plans to spend this money and doesn’t want to, it does count as a resource. Billy is not eligible for SSI benefits.
Citizenship Requirements
To qualify for SSI benefits, you must be a U.S. citizen or a qualified alien. Some important categories of qualified aliens include people who are:
- Lawfully Admitted for Permanent Residence (LAPR) in the U.S.
- Refugees admitted to the U.S. under Section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)
- People granted asylum under section 208 of the INA
Qualified aliens must also meet certain other conditions to be eligible for SSI benefits. Some groups of immigrants and refugees will only be able to get SSI benefits for 7 years after their date of entry into the U.S. If they think they will continue to need SSI benefits, they need to become U.S. citizens before that time is up. If you are unsure of your immigration status or how it affects SSI, you should contact the Social Security Administration or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). See the Social Security Administration's website for more information.
Application
You can apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI):
- Online (which starts the application process immediately)
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By calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY) to make an appointment to apply either:
- Over the phone, or
- In person at your local Social Security office.
The initial application process will take some time, sometimes up to four months. If you need urgent help, call your county social services agency right away. If you’re eligible, they can get you health coverage and CalFresh (formerly Food Stamps). Depending on your need and circumstances, they may also be able to help you with emergency cash assistance and/or housing.
While waiting to hear from Social Security, you can also apply for CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, and other benefits. You can apply online at BenefitsCal or at your county social services agency.
Note: Due to COVID-19, there may be limits on in-person services. Contact your agency by phone to ask about this.
Application Questions
When you apply for SSI, you’ll need to give Social Security:
- Basic facts (name, date of birth, etc.)
Bring:
- Identification, like your state ID, drivers license, or passport
- Birth certificate
- Proof of U.S. citizenship if you were born outside the U.S., like naturalization papers or your U.S. passport. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must be a qualified alien who meets certain conditions. For more details, contact your local Social Security office.
- Social Security Number
- Documentation of your medical condition
Bring:
- Names of doctors, hospitals, clinics and professionals who have treated you, including complete addresses and phone numbers
- Prescriptions and results of medical tests
- Documentation explaining all aspects of how your medical condition affects your daily life
Be ready to:
- Sign forms so Social Security can get copies of your medical records
- Fill out forms about how your disability affects your daily life
- Give Social Security permission to contact your employer, friends, or family to learn how your disability affects you
- Documentation of your income
Bring:
- A list of the types of jobs you’ve done for the past 15 years
- Copies of recent tax records or W-2 forms
- Information about any other benefits you get
- School records, if you’re under 22
Remember that:
- To qualify for SSI, your monthly earned income must be below SGA ($1,470, or $2,460 if you are blind).
- Documentation of your assets
Bring:
- Copies of bank statements
Be ready to:
- Answer questions and give proof about any real estate, savings and retirement accounts, stocks, bonds, etc. that you own
Remember that:
- The SSI asset limit is $2,000 for single people, $3,000 for a couple
- Your own home doesn’t count
- Your first vehicle doesn’t count, particularly if you use it to get to medical appointments
Social Security will also ask you to sign up to get your check through direct deposit into your bank account.
Don’t delay your application just to round up the documents you need; Social Security can help you. Social Security provides an online Adult Disability Starter Kit, which explains what you need to know before you apply, and includes a checklist and worksheet to guide you through the process.
It’s important to apply right away if you think you’ll need SSI. Even though it will take a while for Social Security to process your application, your benefits will be paid retroactively to your application date.
Decision
If you've supplied all the documentation needed, Social Security usually takes 3 to 6 months to look over your application and decide if you should get SSI benefits. Once they decide, they send you an award letter or a denial letter.
- The amount you’ll get in monthly benefits from SSI (including the SSP)
- When the benefits will be paid
- The benefits amount you’ll get in retroactive (past) benefits, based on the date you applied for SSI benefits
- When Social Security will review your medical condition again — usually 3 to 7 years after you start getting benefits
After you get your award letter, your SSI benefits go into your bank account automatically each month. If you don’t have a bank account, you can have your SSI benefits put onto a Direct Express debit card that you can use to pay for things.
Award letters can be hard to read. If you have questions about your new benefit, you can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY). More information is available on Social Security’s website.
Denial and Appeal
Some applicants get a denial letter, telling them that their claim for SSI benefits has been turned down.
The most common reasons for SSI to deny claims are:
- Medical: This is the most frequent reason for denied claims. Often Social Security doesn’t have enough medical documentation of your health condition, or Social Security doesn’t believe your medical condition is bad enough to keep you from working.
- Resources: Social Security believes that you have more resources than the allowed limit of $2,000 ($3,000 for a couple)
- SGA: Social Security believes that you are earning more than the Substantial Gainful Activity limit of $1,470.
Note: When you apply for SSI benefits, Social Security must first check to see if you’re eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). If you get a denial letter from SSDI, it does not mean you’ve been turned down for SSI benefits. Check the letterhead on the denial letter. An actual SSI denial letter will say Supplemental Security Income at the top.
You don’t have to accept Social Security’s decision. If you feel that the decision is unfair or incorrect, you have the right to file an appeal.
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After you get a denial letter, you have 60 days to file an appeal. Do it quickly. If you file an appeal within 10 days, you may continue to get your SSI benefits at the same level until Social Security has made a decision about your appeal. If you miss the 60-day window, you may lose the right to appeal at all.
- Note: Social Security figures that you get a letter within five days after they sent it.
- Refiling is not the same as appealing. If your application for SSI benefits is denied and you disagree with the decision, you should file an appeal; you should not fill out the application forms again (that would be refiling). If you appeal and win, your benefits will be paid back to your original application date. If you refile, Social Security will start all over and you will give up any claim to past benefits you might have gotten.
- To file an appeal, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY) and ask them to send you an SSI appeal form. You can also request your appeal using this online form. If you file online, you will need to mail or deliver any new information about your situation to Social Security.
- You have the right to have a lawyer or other qualified person (familiar with you and with the SSI program) represent you during the appeal process. Or you may choose to deal with it yourself.
There are 4 levels to the appeal process. If you are not satisfied with the result at each level, you can appeal to the next. The 4 levels are:
- Reconsideration: In a reconsideration, somebody inside Social Security who wasn’t involved in the first decision looks at your application again from scratch. You can supply more information if you want. This is a paper appeal and means that you don’t have to go in front of a judge. You should supply Social Security with any new information you have about your case.
- Hearing: If the reconsideration is denied, you can ask for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. You can bring witnesses to help make your case. You should consider having an attorney or representative help you with the hearing.
- Appeals Council: Social Security’s Appeals Council will review your case if you appeal the decision of the Administrative Law Judge. The Council can accept the decision of the judge, decide the case for itself, or send it back to an Administrative Law Judge for an additional hearing.
- Federal Court: If the Appeals Council decides against you, you can file a lawsuit in federal court.
For any level beyond the reconsideration, it would be a good idea to have a lawyer working for you.
- Disability Rights California (DRC) is a nonprofit disability rights group that offers general information about legal rights, referrals, and self-advocacy information, and may represent selected people with disabilities.
- The National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives (NOSSCR) provides referals to attorneys and paralegals who represent people who think they’ve been unfairly denied Social Security benefits.
Learn more
Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal covers people with and without disabilities who have low income.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
SSDI helps people with disabilities who worked and paid Social Security taxes.
Benefits and Work Estimator
Got a work plan? See how it would help your situation.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
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The SSI Benefit
Once you’ve shown that your disability keeps you from working, Social Security looks at the amount of money you have to pay for basic needs. SSI may be able to give you a monthly cash payment to help meet those needs. Californians who qualify for SSI benefits are also automatically enrolled in Medi-Cal health coverage. On this page we'll explain what the maximum possible benefit you could get is and also look at what things might cause you to get a higher or lower benefit.
Note: The SSI benefit in California is actually a combination of funds from the Social Security Federal Benefit Rate (FBR) and California's State Supplemental Program (SSP). In this article, whenever we talk about SSI, we actually are talking about the combined SSI and SSP benefits; even though the money comes from two different places, you'll only get one direct deposit each month into your bank account or Direct Express Debit Card.
The Maximum SSI Benefit
The goal of the SSI program is that you have the money you need to meet your basic needs. The amount of money that the SSI program figures you need depends on your living situation. Here we present the maximum possible benefit for people in different types of situations. We'll explain more about a few of these situations below.
Individual |
Eligible Couple |
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Adults |
$1,133.73 |
$1,927.62 |
Adults living in the household of another |
$833.89 |
$1,477.83 |
Blind adults | $1,211.00 | $2,134.14 |
Blind adults living in the household of another | $911.16 | $1,684.35 |
Under 18, living alone, with parents, or with relatives | $1,003.07 | Does not apply |
Under 18, living in somebody else's household | $703.23 | Does not apply |
Note: These are not all of the situations that could affect your benefit amount. Some of the other things that could impact it include things like:
- Whether the place you live has a kitchen
- Whether you live in a certified or non-certified medical facility
- Who pays the expenses of the private medical facility where you live
Social Security maintains a complete listing of California maximum monthly payments for different situations.
Situations that Can Change the Maximum Benefit
As we just saw, if you’re a person who lives alone, the maximum SSI benefit is $1,133.73 ($1,211.00 if you're blind). The maximum is different if you are an eligible couple, if you live in someone else’s household and you don’t pay the full costs of food and shelter, or if you live in an institution, such as a hospital, nursing home, or prison.
Couples
Social Security calls you part of an eligible couple if:
- You are married; and
- You are living with your spouse; and
- Both you and your spouse are eligible for SSI benefits.
Note: If two people live in the same household, act as if they are married, and present themselves to the community as being married, Social Security will consider them a married couple for SSI purposes.
Social Security figures that two people who live together can live cheaper than two people who live separately, so the maximum SSI benefits amount for a couple is $1,927.62 (which is only about 170% of the individual maximum of $1,133.73). The maximum for a couple where both people are blind is $2,134.14.
If you’re married and living with your spouse, but your spouse is not eligible for SSI benefits, then Social Security thinks that some of your spouse’s income must be available to help pay for basic needs. The process of deciding how your spouse’s income should affect your SSI benefits is called spousal deeming.
If you’re not married or are not living with your spouse, Social Security treats you as separate people when calculating your benefits.
Living in Somebody Else's Home
If you live in your own place and pay for your own food and shelter, you can get up to $1,133.73 per month ($1,211.00 if blind). It doesn’t matter if you own or rent your place.
If you live in someone else’s household, but pay for your own food and shelter, you can still get up to $1,133.73 per month ($1,211.00 if blind).
But if you live in someone else’s household, and somebody else is paying for some or all of your food and shelter costs, Social Security reduces the maximum benefits amounts you can get. This is because Social Security considers the help you are getting to have value, meaning you need less help from SSI. The maximum SSI benefit in this situation is $833.89 ($911.16 if you're blind).
Shelter can include any of the normal costs of keeping a place to live: rent, mortgage payments, property taxes, heating fuel, gas, electricity, water, sewer service, and garbage collection.
Note: If the other person who supplies you with food and shelter is your spouse who lives with you, that help is not considered in this way. Instead, some of your spouse’s income is deemed to be available to you.
Ruggero lives in his uncle’s house and gets SSI benefits. His uncle gives him 3 meals a day and charges Ruggero no rent. Because Ruggero is getting help with both his food and his rent from somebody living in the same house, Ruggero does not get the full $1,133.73 monthly SSI benefit. His benefit is reduced and he only gets $833.89 per month.
People Living in Medical Facilities
People who live in medical facilities like hospitals and nursing homes generally can’t collect full SSI benefits.
- If you are living in a medical facility where Medi-Cal pays for more than half the cost of your care, your SSI benefits amount is at most $59 a month for an individual or $117 for a couple.
- If you live in a public facility and Medi-Cal is NOT paying for more than half of your care, you cannot get any SSI benefits.
- If your doctor says you will be in the facility for less than 90 days, and you can show that you need your SSI benefits to keep your home or living arrangement, you may continue to get your SSI benefits.
If you’re expecting to stay for less than 90 days, you need to get the doctor’s note and documentation about your need to Social Security right away. The facility’s admissions office can help you. SSI also needs a statement from you or someone who knows your cicrumstances saying that you need to keep your SSI benefits to avoid losing your home or living arrangements.
Homelessness
You don’t have to have a fixed address to collect SSI benefits. If you’re experiencing homelessness, you have the same access to SSI benefits as anyone else. See Social Security’s Spotlight on Homelessness for more information.
How SSI Counts Your Income
Some people on SSI benefits have other sources of money. You could have some earnings from work, for example, or you could have other benefits coming in. SSI has rules about how much of that other income Social Security expects you to spend on basic needs. The part of your monthly income that SSI expects to be spent on basic needs is called your countable income.
Not all of your income is countable income, some of it is uncountable; there’s a calculation to figure that out. SSI deals with the 2 kinds of income differently.
Earned income is money you get from work you do. It includes salaries, wages, tips, bonuses, professional fees, or other amounts you get in exchange for physical or mental work you actually do. Note that Social Security looks at your gross earned income (wages before taxes are deducted) when figuring out your SSI benefits.
If you’re self-employed, you subtract your work expenses before reporting your earned income, the way you do when you file your taxes.
Unearned income is anything else. It’s money you get for which you do no work. Examples include disability benefits such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI); short-term or long-term disability insurance; Veterans benefits; or Workers’ Compensation; income from a trust or investment; dividends, profits, or any other money from a source other than work.
The countable income calculation seems complicated, but here is the basic idea: Social Security figures that most of your unearned income is supposed to go toward basic expenses, so most of your unearned income goes into your countable income. When you’re working, Social Security assumes that about half of your earned income goes to basic expenses, so roughly half of your earnings are part of your countable income.
Step 1: Countable Unearned Income
Start with your total unearned income. Subtract $20, the general exclusion that everyone gets. What’s left is your countable unearned income.
Note: When something is subtracted in the countable income calculation, the result is never allowed to be less than zero.
Step 2: Countable Earned Income
Start with your total gross earned income (earnings before taxes are deducted). Subtract anything left over from that $20 general exclusion. Then subtract another $65, the earned income exclusion. Subtract any Impairment Related Work Expenses (more about these on the SSI and Work page). Take what’s left, and divide by 2. The result is your countable earned income.

Earned Income |
Minus the unused portion of the $20 General Exclusion |
Minus the $65 Earned Income Exclusion |
Minus Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) |
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= Subtotal |
Divide by two |
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= Countable Earned Income |
The calculation is different if you are blind according to SSI rules. If you are blind, we use Blind Work Expenses instead of Impairment Related Work Expenses (see SSI and Work for more details).

Earned Income |
Minus the unused portion of the $20 General Exclusion |
Minus the $65 Earned Income Exclusion |
![]() |
= Subtotal |
Divide by two |
![]() |
= Subtotal |
Minus Blind Work Expenses (BWEs) |
![]() |
= Countable Earned Income |
Step 3: Countable Income
Add your countable unearned income to your countable earned income. Subtract any contribution to a Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS). The result is your total countable income.

Countable Unearned Income |
Plus Countable Earned Income |
Minus PASS Contribution, if applicable |
![]() |
= Total Countable Income |
Step 4: Benefits Calculation
Start with the maximum SSI benefit for your living situation. Subtract your countable income. The result is your SSI benefits amount.
If your countable income is larger than the maximum SSI benefit, your SSI benefits amount will be zero. In other words, Social Security thinks you are making enough money to pay for your own expenses.
Working students under age 22 can take some of their income out of the countable income calculation. You can read more about the Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE) on the SSI and Work page.
Notice that every dollar of unearned income (above the first $20) reduces your SSI benefits by $1. But because of that “divided-by-2” step, it takes $2 of earned income (after the various subtractions) to reduce your SSI benefits by $1.
Example: Magda is collecting $320/month in SSDI benefits and working a few hours a month to earn $200.

Step 1: Countable Unearned Income | |
Magda's Monthly Unearned Income | $320 |
Minus the $20 General Exclusion | - $20 |
![]() | |
Countable Unearned Income | |
![]() | |
Step 2: Countable Earned Income | |
Magda's Monthly Earned Income | $200 |
Minus the unused portion of Magda's $20 General Exclusion | - $0 |
Minus the $65 Earned Income Exclusion | - $65 |
Minus Magda's Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) | - $0 |
![]() | |
Subtotal | |
Divide by two | ÷ 2 |
![]() | |
Countable Earned Income | |
![]() | |
Step 3: Total Countable Income | |
Countable Unearned Income | |
Plus Countable Earned Income | + |
Minus PASS Contribution | - $0 |
![]() | |
Total Countable Income | |
![]() | |
Step 4: SSI Benefit Calculation | |
Maximum SSI Benefit | $1,133.73 |
Minus Total Countable Income | - |
![]() | |
Magda's SSI Benefit | |
![]() | |
Magda's Total Monthly Income |
If you're not already on SSI benefits, try the following tool to see how much your benefits might be.

Step 1: Countable Unearned Income | |
Your Monthly Unearned Income | $ |
Minus the $20 General Exclusion | - $20.00 |
![]() | |
Countable Unearned Income | |
Unused portion of Your $20 General Exclusion | |
![]() | |
Step 2: Countable Earned Income | |
Your Monthly Earned Income | $ |
Minus the unused portion of Your $20 General Exclusion | - |
Minus the $65 Earned Income Exclusion | - $65.00 |
Minus Your Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) | - $ |
![]() | |
Subtotal | |
Divide by two | ÷ 2 |
![]() | |
Countable Earned Income | |
![]() | |
Step 3: Total Countable Income | |
Countable Unearned Income | |
Plus Countable Earned Income | + |
Minus PASS Contribution | - $ |
![]() | |
Total Countable Income | |
![]() | |
Step 4: SSI Benefit Calculation | |
Maximum SSI Benefit | $1,133.73 |
Minus Total Countable Income | - |
![]() | |
Your SSI Benefit | |
![]() | |
Your Total Monthly Income |
Changes to Your SSI
How much you get in SSI benefits depends on your:
- Earned income
- Unearned income, and
- Living arrangements.
If any of these things change, even slightly, you must report the change twice:
- To your local county social services agency within 10 days of when the change happens.
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To Social Security at the start of the month after the change. You can report:
- In person, by phone, or by fax during the first 10 days of the next month.
- Using the SSI Telephone Reporting System, the SSI reporting app, or My Social Security during the first 6 days of the next month.
Tip: Some people report their earned income every month, even when the amount doesn’t change. You can sign up to get a reminder text or email each month, so that you won't forget to report.
Note: Due to COVID-19, there may be limits on in-person services. Contact your agency by phone to ask about this.
For SSI, you can report changes:
- In person or by phone with your local Social Security office.
- By mail to your local Social Security office. Write “Attention: SSI” on the envelope to make sure it goes to the right place.
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You can also check with Social Security if you can report earnings with:
- The SSI Telephone Wage Reporting System at 1-866-772-0953
- The SSI Mobile Wage Reporting Application available in the Google Play or Apple App stores, or
- The my Social Security online wage reporting tool.
When you report, you’ll need to have documentation, such as a letter explaining any changes and copies of your paystubs.
If you also get Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, you must report your income separately for SSI and SSDI.
If you have questions about the best way to report your earnings, talk to your local Social Security office or talk to a benefits planner.
Overpayments
Social Security may decide that they have paid you more in benefits than you were supposed to get. This situation is called an overpayment. You’ll get a letter from Social Security that tells you how much money you must pay back.
It’s very important to deal with an overpayment notice right away. The overpayment letter will ask for the money to be returned within 30 days, but Social Security recognizes that people on SSI have very little income, so they are willing to work out a reasonable monthly payment plan with you. You should contact Social Security immediately to talk about your options.
The most common reason for overpayments is the failure to report changes in earnings. They can also happen if you don’t report changes in unearned income, living situation, or marriage status. You could also be overpaid because your resources grow beyond the SSI resource limit, or because you are no longer disabled — but you continue to get benefits. If you do not report changes, then the overpayment is your fault and you’ll have to pay the money back.
If you were overpaid but feel that it wasn’t your fault, and you can’t pay back the overpayment because you need the money to pay living expenses, you can ask for a waiver of the overpayment. You can get the waiver form by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 and asking for form SSA-632. If the waiver is granted, you don’t have to repay the overpayment.
Social Security may make a mistake or make a decision without knowing all the facts. If you think the amount of your overpayment is incorrect or that you do not have any overpayment, you have the right to appeal (see SSI Appeals). If you decide to appeal, you should do so right away. If you appeal within 10 days of the date the notice was sent, your checks will keep coming until Social Security decides on the appeal.
Redetermination
Every 1 to 6 years, Social Security will review your income, resources, and living arrangements to make sure that you’re still eligible for SSI benefits and that you’re getting the right benefits amount. This is called a redetermination.
The redetermination can take place:
- In person
- By phone
- By mail
It’s important that you respond right away and do everything Social Security needs you to do. If you don’t respond in a timely way, your SSI payments could be stopped. If you have trouble filling out a redetermination form, you can ask for help at your local Social Security office.
In a redetermination, Social Security doesn’t ask about your medical condition. They will update your records with information about your income, assets, marital status, and so on.
Medical Reviews
Social Security is required by law to review your condition periodically to make sure that you are still medically disabled. This process is called a medical Continuing Disability Review (CDR). You will be notified when Social Security needs to do a CDR, and Social Security may ask you for medical records or other information.
- If you have been getting benefits for 2 years or more, Social Security will not do a medical review just because you go to work.
- Social Security won’t do a medical review on your case as long as you’re using employment services through the Ticket to Work Program.
Direct Deposit
Social Security will deposit your SSI benefits directly into your bank account or on a Direct Express Debit Card.
Where am I? The Benefits Planning Query (BPQY)
If you have any questions about your Social Security benefits, or if you’re planning a life change that can affect your benefits, it helps to know exactly what your Social Security records look like.
You can get this information by ordering a free statement from Social Security called the Benefits Planning Query (BPQY). You can request your BPQY at your local Social Security office or by calling 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY).
If the BPQY is incorrect in any way, or you don’t understand what it’s saying, you should call Social Security and get it straightened out.
Learn more
Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal covers people with and without disabilities who have low income.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
SSDI helps people with disabilities who worked and paid Social Security taxes.
Benefits and Work Estimator
Got a work plan? See how it would help your situation.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Try It
SSI and Work
If you are eligible for SSI benefits, the program uses a countable income calculation to figure out the size of your benefits amount. (You can learn about countable and uncountable income on the DB101 page The SSI Benefit.) Roughly speaking, if you earn $2 additional dollars from work, you lower your SSI benefits by only $1.
Most people on SSI benefits who go to work end up better off financially. Even though their SSI benefits go down, their total income will almost always be higher. Social Security wants you to go back to work if you are able to. There are programs and special features in the SSI program that can help. Any program or feature that makes it easier for you to go to work is called a work incentive.
Even if you earn enough money and your SSI benefits amount goes to zero, you’re not “out” of the SSI program. Many people can keep their Medi-Cal coverage even after their SSI benefits amount goes to zero. Most can have their SSI benefits restarted easily if their income suddenly drops for any reason, if they are still disabled.
Work Expenses
Social Security knows that you may have extra expenses when you go to work. Some of your work expenses can be called Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs). If you are blind, still more expenses can be counted as Blind Work Expenses (BWEs). IRWEs and BWEs are used in figuring out your countable earned income. Both may keep your SSI benefits amount higher when you are working.
You need to report your IRWEs or BWEs to Social Security when you report your income. You must include receipts.
Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs)
Not every expense is a work expense, and not every work expense is an IRWE.
To qualify as an IRWE, all of the following have to be true:
- You bought an item or service that you need to work.
- You need that item or service because of a serious health condition.
- You paid for it yourself and nobody reimbursed you for the cost.
- You paid a reasonable price for it.
- You were working during the month you paid the expense.
- You can fully document the expense with receipts.
- IRWEs are approved at the local Social Security office on a case-by-case basis.
Musetta uses a wheelchair. She enlarges her bedroom door and adds a ramp outside her house so she can get from her porch to the street. Both modifications make it possible for her to get to work and can be counted as IRWEs.
IRWEs make your countable earned income smaller — which makes your SSI benefits amount larger.

Earned Income |
Minus the unused portion of the $20 General Exclusion |
Minus the $65 Earned Income Exclusion |
Minus Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) |
![]() |
= Subtotal |
Divide by two |
![]() |
= Countable Earned Income |
Blind Work Expenses (BWEs)
Blind Work Expenses can be any expense that is necessary to let you work. Unlike an IRWE, a BWE does not have to be related to your blindness or other medical condition.
- Federal, state, and local income taxes
- Social Security taxes
- Visual and sensory aids
- Translation of materials into Braille
- Professional association fees
- Union fees
The countable earned income rules are different if you meet the SSI requirements for blindness.

Earned Income |
Minus the unused portion of the $20 General Exclusion |
Minus the $65 Earned Income Exclusion |
![]() |
= Subtotal |
Divide by two |
![]() |
= Subtotal |
Minus Blind Work Expenses (BWEs) |
![]() |
= Countable Earned Income |
Notice that the BWEs are subtracted after dividing by 2, rather than before. This works in your favor to keep your SSI benefits amount higher.
Working Students: The Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE)
SSI makes it easy to earn some money if you’re going to school. The Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE) allows students to earn up to $2,220 per month without having those wages count as part of their countable income.
The SEIE applies for SSI recipients who are:
- Under 22 years old; and
- Regularly attending school.
For the SEIE, regular school attendance means:
- Attending a college or university for at least 8 hours a week under a semester or quarter system
- Being in grades 7 – 12 for at least 12 hours a week
- Being in a course of training (with shop practice) to prepare for a paying job for at least 15 hours a week
- Being in a course of training (without shop practice) for 12 hours a week
If there are reasons beyond your control that prevent you from going to school quite this much, Social Security can make an exception to these rules.
The SEIE lets you keep the first $2,220 in earnings each month in the countable earned income calculation. But there’s an annual cap of $8,950, so if you earn more than this in any given year, the income starts counting again.
Example: Nick is 20, attending classes at his local city college, and earning $1,800/month in a summer job. He has no other unearned income and no IRWEs.
The SEIE allows him to keep $2,220/month. The general exclusion ($20) and earned income exclusion ($65) reduce his remaining countable earned income to zero. His SSI benefits amount remains $1,133.73 and he gets to keep his earnings.

Nick's Monthly Earned Income | $1,800.00 |
Minus the Student Earned Income Exclusion | - $2,220.00 |
Minus the unused portion of Nick's $20 General Exclusion | - $20.00 |
Minus the $65 Earned Income Exclusion | - $65.00 |
Minus Nick's Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) | - $0.00 |
![]() | |
Subtotal | |
Divide by two | ÷ 2 |
![]() | |
Countable Earned Income |

Your Monthly Earned Income | $ |
Minus the Student Earned Income Exclusion | - $2,220.00 |
Minus the unused portion of Your $20 General Exclusion | - $20.00 |
Minus the $65 Earned Income Exclusion | - $65.00 |
Minus Your Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) | - $ |
![]() | |
Subtotal | |
Divide by two | ÷ 2 |
![]() | |
Countable Earned Income |
However, if his job lasts more than a few months, he’ll hit the $8,950 annual cap. At that point, his full earnings will come into the calculation — and his SSI benefits amount will go way down.

Nick's Monthly Earned Income | $1,800.00 |
Minus the Student Earned Income Exclusion (annual cap exceeded) | - $0.00 |
Minus the unused portion of Nick's $20 General Exclusion | - $20.00 |
Minus the $65 Earned Income Exclusion | - $65.00 |
Minus Nick's Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) | - $0.00 |
![]() | |
Subtotal | |
Divide by two | ÷ 2 |
![]() | |
Countable Earned Income |
Nick’s increased countable income means that his SSI benefits amount is now almost zero.
Other Help in Going to Work
Saving for an Employment Goal: Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS)
SSI has strict resource limits ($2,000 for an individual, $3,000 for a couple). But these limits can make it hard to go back to work. If you need to save enough money to pay for college classes or buy a delivery truck, you’ll run into the resource limit pretty quickly.
Social Security’s Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) is for people on SSI or SSDI who want to save money for a work-related goal that will help them achieve self-sufficiency, such as saving money for school or to start a business.
To set up a PASS, you must:
- Be on SSI or be eligible for SSI
- Have another source of earned or unearned income, such as SSDI or a job; or
- Have resources over $2,000 to fund your PASS
- Have a particular work goal in mind that will allow you to earn enough to get off disability benefits
- Be able to write down a plan that shows how saving a certain amount of money will allow you to reach your goal
When you have a PASS, you set aside a certain amount of money (other than SSI) each month towards your work goal. The money you set aside won’t count toward your SSI countable income, and the savings you build won’t count against your SSI resource limit. That way, SSI can keep paying for your basic needs while you get ready to work.
To learn more about PASS, read the DB101 article about Plans to Achieve Self-Support.
Saving for Specific Goals: Individual Development Accounts (IDAs)
An Individual Development Account (IDA) is a special savings account. If you are working and qualify for an IDA, you can put some of your earnings into the IDA to save for a specific goal. A goal might be going to college, making a down payment on a first home, or starting a business.
Most IDA programs will add from $1 to $4 to your IDA account for every dollar you put in yourself. This makes an IDA a very attractive way to save money.
There are many different IDA programs available. Some are funded by the federal government, others by the state, and still others by private companies or nonprofits.
If your IDA is funded by the federal government, then:
- The earnings you put into the IDA don’t count as earned income when SSI figures out your benefits
- The matching money the IDA adds to your contribution doesn’t count as SSI earned income
- The IDA account itself doesn’t count against your SSI resource limit
To learn more about IDAs, read the DB101 article on Individual Development Accounts.
Saving for the Future: ABLE Accounts
If your disability began before you turned 26, you can open an ABLE account where over time you can save up to $100,000 in resources and not have them counted by SSI. ABLE accounts mean that if you get a job (or even if you don't), you can save some money without losing your benefits. Additionally, the money in an ABLE account gets tax advantages similar to the way retirement accounts work.
However, ABLE accounts have restrictions:
- They can only be opened through specific programs or institutions.
-
You can only open one ABLE account.
- California's ABLE account program is CalABLE.
- You can choose to open an account in another state’s ABLE program.
- You and the other people making contributions on your behalf have a limit on how much you can deposit each year. Combined, you cannot deposit more than $17,000 in 2023.
-
You can only use money in an ABLE account for specific things, such as:
- Education
- Housing
- Transportation
- Help getting and keeping work
- Health care
- Assistive technology, and
- Other approved expenses.
- A person can only have one ABLE account.
To learn more about ABLE accounts, read DB101's article on Building Your Assets and Wealth.
Getting Employment-Related Services: Ticket to Work Program
Sometimes all you need to go to work is some career counseling or job training or help writing a business plan.
Under the Ticket to Work Program rules, all adult beneficiaries aged 18 – 64 who get SSI or SSDI cash benefits are eligible. You can participate in the Ticket to Work Program immediately or wait until a later time when you feel ready to work. The Ticket does not have an expiration date. You can go to the Ticket to Work Choose Work website to find a list of Ticket to Work services providers in your area. As long as you are using Ticket to Work services, Social Security will not do a medical review of your disability.
To learn more, read DB101’s article on Ticket to Work.
SSI, Work, and Health Coverage
SSI recipients automatically get Medi-Cal. One reason why people worry about going to work is that they are concerned about losing their health coverage. Fortunately, it is usually possible to keep Medi-Cal coverage even if your SSI benefits amount goes to zero because of earnings.
1619(b)
If you’re on SSI and Medi-Cal, and your SSI benefits amount goes to zero because you go back to work, a part of the SSI rules called the 1619(b) work incentive allows you to keep your Medi-Cal coverage.
To keep your Medi-Cal coverage under 1619(b), you must:
- Have been eligible for an SSI cash payment for at least 1 month;
- Need Medi-Cal coverage to keep working;
- Still meet all the other SSI requirements, such as low unearned income, low spouse income, and so on;
- Still have resources below the SSI limit of $2,000 ($3,000 for a couple); and
- Have less than $56,758 in gross wages. Note: If you have medical expenses higher than the state average, this figure may be higher.
Medi-Cal coverage under 1619(b) continues with no premium.
Read more about Medi-Cal, including 1619(b), in the DB101 article on Medi-Cal.
California’s Working Disabled Program
If you are working, disabled, and your income is too high to qualify for 1619(b) and free Medi-Cal, the Working Disabled Program (WDP) may allow you to get Medi-Cal. Note: Medi-Cal's Working Disabled Program used to have a monthly premium. Starting on July 1, 2022, there is no more premium. Learn more about this change.
To qualify, you must:
- Meet the medical requirements of Social Security’s definition of disability. You don't have to meet the income and work requirements.
- Be working and earning income. The Medi-Cal regulations do not define what “working” means for this program, and you can qualify if you are working part time. You can use pay-stubs or other written verification from an employer to prove that you’re working.
-
Have assets worth less than $130,000 for an individual ($195,000 for a couple). For this program:
- Retirement funds like 401(k)’s are not counted as assets.
- Any money that you earn from your work while you are on the program will not be counted as assets, as long as you put that money into a separate bank account.
-
Have countable income less than $3,038 for individuals and $4,108 for couples.
- Disability income does not count for the WDP program. This means that SSDI, Worker’s Compensation, California State Disability Insurance, and any federal, state, or private disability benefits are not considered as income for this program.
- Your gross income can be much higher than your countable income. For example, an individual with no unearned income or IRWEs can make up to $73,920 a year in gross income and still be eligible for this program.
- Have countable unearned income less than the appropriate SSI maximum benefit rate for a persona in your situation.
Use the Medi-Cal for the Working Disabled Estimator to get an idea of whether you'd qualify for this program.
Read more about Medi-Cal, including the Working Disabled Program, in the DB101 article on Medi-Cal.
A Safety Net When Work Ends: Expedited Reinstatement (EXR)
Let’s say you were getting SSI benefits, but you’ve gotten a job and are making enough money that you’re no longer eligible for benefits. Then something goes wrong and you lose your job. Don’t worry. You don’t have to start at the beginning and reapply for SSI benefits. If you’re still eligible, and less than 5 years have passed, you may be able to request Expedited Reinstatement (EXR).
You can request EXR if:
- Your SSI benefits amount went to zero because of any combination of earned and unearned income;
- You can’t work at the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level because of your disability;
- Your current medical impairment is the same as the one that originally made you eligible for SSI; and
- Your benefits amount has been stopped for less than 5 years.
If you get EXR, you can get up to 6 months of temporary SSI benefits while Social Security looks at your medical records.
Knowing that EXR is available takes away some of the worry you might have about going to work. If your disability keeps you from working after all, you can always go back on SSI benefits.
Learn more
Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal covers people with and without disabilities who have low income.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
SSDI helps people with disabilities who worked and paid Social Security taxes.
Benefits and Work Estimator
Got a work plan? See how it would help your situation.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Try It
Example
Angelica’s Story
Angelica had been dealing with mental illness for years. When she was hospitalized with schizophrenia at 17, she was covered by her parents’ insurance. At 26, her mental state got worse. She could no longer hold down the part-time jobs she’d been doing. Angelica’s aunt tried to help out by occasionally paying for Angelica’s trips to the psychologist, but Angelica was running out of money and ideas. And she had no health coverage at all.
Her psychologist helped her put it together. “You have a medical condition, a mental health issue, which keeps you from working. The government calls that a disability. Why don’t you go to the local county social services agency and see if they can get some help? I think you should be able to get some cash assistance and medical coverage.”
Applying for Help
Angelica went to her county social services agency and talked to Ms. Pinkerton, one of the employees there. Angelica told Ms. Pinkerton about her medical history and her inability to work. She’d had no work for 3 months and was down to the last $500 in her bank account.
Ms. Pinkerton explained that with her medical and work history, Angelica should be eligible for Social Security disability benefits, either SSDI or SSI. Social Security would check its records to see if Angelica had enough past work to qualify for SSDI; otherwise, SSI would be the appropriate program. “You haven’t been able to work at the SGA level — $1,470/month — for some time now. And with resources of $500, you’re below SSI’s resource limit of $2,000. So you’re a good candidate.”
When Ms. Pinkerton mentioned that the Social Security application process could take several months, Angelica was unhappy. She was out of money right now. Ms. Pinkerton said, “While you are waiting for SSI, you can try applying for some other programs that may be able to help you. I can tell you the documents you need and help you fill out the applications.”
Angelica came back the next day with bank statements, tax records, pay stubs, and contact information for all the doctors and hospitals she’d dealt with. Then Angelica and Ms. Pinkerton sat together and filled out the forms. They filled out all the forms necessary for CalFresh (formerly Food Stamps) as well. Ms. Pinkerton also helped Angelica do the paperwork for Medi-Cal, saying "I think we can get you health coverage through Medi-Cal even before SSI comes through.”
Then, Ms. Pinkerton helped Angelica apply for SSI online. “We want to get your application into their records as quickly as possible, because if it turns out you qualify for SSI, they’ll pay your SSI benefits all the way back to your application date,” Ms. Pinkerton said.
Waiting
In early January, Ms. Pinkerton called Angelica. Angelica had gotten a disability determination from the state and so she was approved for Medi-Cal and CalFresh. “I’m breathing easier, because these will help me until SSI benefits begin” Angelica sighed.
On February 22, Angelica called Ms. Pinkerton, clearly upset. She’d gotten a denial letter from Social Security. Ms. Pinkerton asked Angelica to read the letterhead carefully. It turned out that Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) had denied Angelica because she didn’t have enough quarters of work to qualify. “That’s fine,” Ms. Pinkerton explained. “We didn’t expect you to get SSDI anyway, given your work record. We’re really looking for SSI. Social Security has to check to see if you’re eligible for SSDI first before they can consider you for SSI, that’s all. This isn’t a setback. You’ve just got some more waiting to do.”
Award
On April 12, Angelica got her SSI award letter. She qualified for $1,133.73/month in SSI benefits.
Angelica really started to feel good when Ms. Pinkerton told her the rest, “Later, when you’re feeling up to it, you can consider going back to work a few hours a week. You’ll have to report any changes in your income both to this office and to Social Security. But your SSI benefits amount will go down by less than your earnings, so you should always end up better off if you can work. For example, if you were earning $300/month, your SSI benefits amount would only go down by $107. And if you feel bad again and can’t work anymore, it’s pretty easy to get back on SSI at that point. I encourage you to experiment with DB101.org's online Benefits and Work Estimator to get a feel for how earnings and SSI work together. When you are seriously considering going back to work, you should contact a benefits planner for more help.”
“Thanks for everything,” said Angelica.
Learn more
Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal covers people with and without disabilities who have low income.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
SSDI helps people with disabilities who worked and paid Social Security taxes.
Benefits and Work Estimator
Got a work plan? See how it would help your situation.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Try It
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SSI?

SSI is the Social Security Administration’s Supplemental Security Income program. SSI provides monthly income for people who meet Social Security’s rules for disability, and have limited income and resources.
Is the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program the same in all states?

No. The amount of SSI varies from state to state. Each state determines if it will supplement the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR) provided by Social Security. The state of California provides a State Supplemental Payment (SSP). These amounts may be adjusted annually to account for cost of living changes.
What is the State Supplemental Payment (SSP)?

This is the amount that a state may add to the national Federal Benefit Rate (FBR). California's State Supplemental Payment is $219.73. Combined with the Federal Benefit Rate of $914, this allows an individual a total benefit of $1,133.73. The FBR for a couple is $1,371, while the SSP for a couple is $556.62. The maximum benefit for a couple is $1,927.62.
Some states that provide a State Supplement Payment, including California, have arranged with Social Security to combine their supplemental payments with the federal payment. There are other states that provide State Supplemental Payments and manage their own programs. These states may require an additional application.
Do other benefits come along with SSI?

Does SSI get me access to health coverage?

Who is eligible for SSI?

SSI is for people who:
- Are disabled, blind, or over age 65
- Have resources below $2,000 ($3,000 for an eligible couple)
- Are unable to work very much because of disability
- Have limited income
- Are US citizens (or meet certain requirements for noncitizens).
To be eligible for SSI you must be medically disabled according to Social Security’s rules.
I’ve never had a job. Can I get SSI?

Yes. You can be eligible for SSI if you have never worked.
How does Social Security define disability?

To be eligible for SSI, you must show that you have a disability that prevents you from working. Social Security requires that:
- You must be able to show medical reports that confirm that you have a severe physical or mental disability.
- The disability must be life-threatening or have lasted or be expected to last at least a year.
- The disability must prevent you from doing Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) for at least a year.
Does what I have in the bank, or the property I own, affect my eligibility for SSI?

Yes. The SSI program has very strict limits on how much money you can have and on what you own. You are allowed to have resources of up to $2,000 ($3,000 for a couple) under the program.
The home you live in and one vehicle are not included in those limits. Certain other resources are also not included.
If your disability began before you turned 26, you can open an ABLE account where over time you can save up to $100,000 in resources and not have them counted by SSI. Learn more about ABLE accounts.
Do I have to be a US citizen to get SSI?

Not necessarily. To qualify for SSI, you must be a US citizen or a qualified alien. Some important categories of qualified aliens include people who are:
- Lawfully Admitted for Permanent Residence (LAPR) in the U.S.
- Refugees admitted to the US under Section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)
- Granted asylum under section 208 of the INA
Qualified aliens must also meet certain other conditions to be eligible for SSI.
Some groups of immigrants and refugees will only be able to get SSI for seven years after their date of entry into the US. If they think they will continue to need SSI, they need to become US citizens before that time is up. If you are unsure of your immigration status or how it affects SSI, you should talk to Social Security or the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. See the Social Security Administration's website for more information.
How can I apply for SSI?

You can apply for SSI:
- Online (which starts the application process immediately)
-
By calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY) to make an appointment to apply either:
- Over the phone, or
- In person at your local Social Security office.
Note: If you are approved, you get SSI benefits for the entire time since the date you applied. That’s why you should apply as soon as possible. If you don’t have everything ready for your application, that’s OK — you can still apply and send any missing information as quickly as you can.
Note: Due to COVID-19, there may be limits on in-person services. Contact your agency by phone to ask about this.
Once I apply, how long will it take to get my SSI benefits?

The SSI application process can take from 3 to 6 months to complete, starting from when Social Security has everything they need to make a decision. If you’re approved, Social Security will send you a check for back benefits going back to the date you applied. That’s why it is important to apply as soon as you can.
Can I get other help while waiting on my SSI application?

While waiting to hear from Social Security, you can also apply for, CalFresh (formerly Food Stamps), CalWORKs, and Medi-Cal. Depending on your need and circumstances, you may also be able to get emergency cash assistance and/or housing. You can apply online at BenefitsCal or at your county social services agency.
I was denied for SSI. Is there anything I can do?

Yes. You don’t have to accept Social Security’s decision. If you feel that the decision is unfair or incorrect, you have the right to file an appeal.
You have 60 days from when you get the denial letter to file an appeal. Do it quickly; the faster you file, the faster your case will be resolved. If you miss the 60-day window, you may lose the right to appeal at all. Note: Social Security figures that you get a letter within five days after they sent it.
To file an appeal, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY) and ask them to send you an SSI appeal form. You can also request your appeal using this online form.
When you file an appeal, you can send more information that will help explain your case.
You have the right to have a lawyer or other qualified person represent you during the appeal process. Or you may choose to deal with it yourself.
How long can I continue to get SSI benefits?

You’ll keep getting SSI benefits as long as you are still disabled and meet the income, resource, and other eligibility requirements.
From time to time, Social Security will check to make sure that you still qualify. A medical Continuing Disability Review (CDR) looks at whether you are still medically disabled. A redetermination looks at your income, resources, and living arrangements.
How does my income affect my SSI benefits?

If you have income from other sources, your SSI benefit will get smaller. Social Security treats income from some sources differently than income from other sources. Your SSI benefit is reduced by the amount of your countable income, which depends on your earned and unearned income.
-
Earned income is money you get from work you do. It includes salaries, wages, tips, bonuses, professional fees or other amounts you get in exchange for physical or mental work you actually do.
If you’re self-employed, you subtract your work expenses before reporting your earned income, the way you do when you file your taxes.
- Unearned income is anything else: It's money you get for which you do no work. Examples include disability benefits such as SSDI; short or long-term disability insurance; VA benefits; Workers’ Compensation; income from a trust or investment; dividends, profits; or any other money gotten from a source other than work.
Social Security’s countable income calculation is described in detail here.
What happens to my SSI benefits if I move into a nursing home or other medical facility?

People who live in medical facilities like hospitals and nursing homes generally can’t collect full SSI benefits.
- If you are living in a medical facility where Medi-Cal pays for more than half the cost of your care, your SSI benefits amount is at most $59 a month for an individual or $117 for a couple.
- If you live in a public facility and Medi-Cal is NOT paying for more than half of your care, you cannot get any SSI benefits.
- If your doctor says you will be in the facility for less than 90 days, and you can show that you need your SSI benefits to keep your home or living arrangement, you may continue to get your SSI benefits.
If you’re expecting to stay for less than 90 days, you need to get the doctor’s note and documentation about your need to Social Security right away. The facility’s admissions office can help you. SSI also needs a statement from you or someone who knows your cicrumstances saying that you need to keep your SSI benefits to avoid losing your home or living arrangements.
What should I do if my income or living arrangements change?

You need to report any changes. Your monthly SSI benefits amount depends on your:
- Earned income
- Unearned income
- Living arrangement
If any of these change, even slightly, you must:
- Report the change to Social Security. For SSI, report changes that happen in a month within the first 10 days of the following month to avoid an overpayment (or within the first six days if you use the SSI Telephone Wage Reporting System).
- Report the change to your local county social services agency in person, by phone, or by email. You have 10 days to report the change.
Note: Due to COVID-19, there may be limits on in-person services. Contact your agency by phone to ask about this.
For SSI, you can report changes:
- In person or by phone with your local Social Security office.
- By mail to your local Social Security office. Write “Attention: SSI” on the envelope to make sure it goes to the right place.
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You can also check with Social Security if you can report earnings with:
- The SSI Telephone Wage Reporting System at 1-866-772-0953
- The SSI Mobile Wage Reporting Application available in the Google Play or Apple App stores, or
- The my Social Security online wage reporting tool.
When you report, you’ll need to have documentation, like a letter explaining any changes and copies of your paystubs. If you have questions about the best way to report your earnings, talk to your local Social Security office or with a benefits planner.
Note: If you also get Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, you must report your income separately for SSI and SSDI. Ask your Social Security claims representative how you should report income for SSDI.
What can I do if I disagree with an overpayment notice?

If you were overpaid but feel that it wasn’t your fault, and you can’t pay back the overpayment because you need the money to pay living expenses, you can ask for a waiver of the overpayment. You can get the waiver form by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 and asking for form SSA-632. If the waiver is granted, you don’t have to repay the overpayment.
Social Security may make a mistake or make a decision without knowing all the facts. If you think the amount of your overpayment is incorrect or that you do not have any overpayment, you have the right to appeal. If you decide to appeal, you should do so right away. If you appeal within 10 days of the date the notice was sent, your checks will keep coming until Social Security decides on the appeal.
What happens to my SSI if I go back to work?

Income from work raises your countable income, which lowers your SSI benefits. Roughly speaking, for every $2 you earn at work, your SSI to go down by $1. That’s why most people on SSI who go back to work end up better off. Read DB101’s page on SSI and Work for more information.
Does my health coverage change when I go back to work?

If you’re on SSI and go back to work, your Medi-Cal coverage can continue even after your earnings have reduced your SSI benefits amount to zero. Depending on your income and resource levels, Medi-Cal coverage can continue either through SSI’s 1619(b) work incentive or through Medi-Cal's Working Disabled Program.
What happens if I go to work, lose my SSI benefits, and then find I can’t work anymore?

If you stop getting SSI because your income goes up, but then your income goes down again, you may not have to reapply for SSI benefits.
If it has been less than 12 months since your last SSI payment or if you qualify for SSI 1619(b), you can get your SSI benefits started up again by reporting to your local Social Security office that you are no longer working.
If it has been more than 12 months, you can ask for Expedited Reinstatement (EXR) if:
- Your SSI benefits amount went to zero because of your income
- You can’t work at the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level because of your disability
- Your current impairment is the same as the one that originally made you eligible for SSI, and
- You stopped getting SSI benefits less than five years ago.
If you qualify for EXR, you can get up to six months of temporary SSI benefits while Social Security makes sure you still qualify.
I’m on both SSI and SSDI. How do these programs work together?

You can be on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) at the same time if your SSDI benefits are low enough. Benefits from SSDI and many other sources are counted as unearned income when calculating your SSI benefits. After the first $20, every dollar in unearned income makes your SSI benefits amount go down by a dollar.
Learn more
Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal covers people with and without disabilities who have low income.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
SSDI helps people with disabilities who worked and paid Social Security taxes.
Benefits and Work Estimator
Got a work plan? See how it would help your situation.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
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Common Pitfalls
Not knowing which Social Security benefits you get.
There are two Social Security disability programs: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). You may be on one or both programs. Their acronyms are similar, and both are run by the Social Security Administration, so people often confuse the two programs. Although both programs use the same definition of disability, they have different rules.
Make sure you know exactly which program you are on. If you have any questions about what benefits you’re on, ask Social Security for a Benefits Planning Query (BPQY). If you are getting benefits administered by the state, such as Medi-Cal or CalFresh (formerly Food Stamps), you can contact your local county social services agency to confirm which programs you’re on.
Not supplying enough information when you apply
When you apply for SSI benefits, the decision can take a long time. The last thing you need is for Social Security to deny your application because of some missing piece of information. Make sure you include contact information for all doctors, physical therapists, and others who have treated you for your disability.
However, you also want to apply as soon as you can, because if you are approved for SSI you will be paid your benefits for the entire time back to the date you applied. If you don’t have everything ready when you apply, that’s OK — go ahead and apply with as many details as you can, but be sure to send any missing information as quickly as possible.
Waiting too long to file an appeal
If you are denied SSI benefits and don’t agree with Social Security’s decision, you can file an appeal. After you get a denial letter, you have 60 days to file an appeal. That’s not a lot of time, especially if you want to find some help with your appeal. Make sure you file your appeal right away.
Note: Social Security figures that you get a letter within five days after they sent it.
Refiling, rather than appealing, if you are denied SSI benefits
Some people who are denied SSI benefits just gather up additional information and submit a new SSI application. This is the wrong thing to do. You should file an appeal instead. You must file your appeal within 60 days of the date of your denial letter.
If you file a new SSI application, your process starts all over with a new application date.
If you appeal and you win, your SSI benefits will be paid all the way back to the original application date.
Not working out of fear of losing your benefits
Many people on SSI don’t try to go to work because they fear losing the cash benefits from SSI or their Medi-Cal coverage. But the SSI rules are designed to make a return to work possible.
When you start to work, SSI lets you keep the first $85 in earned income ($20 general exclusion + $65 earned income exclusion) without affecting your benefits at all. After that, every $2 of earnings reduces your SSI benefits amount by only $1, so you end up with more money than you would have had if you weren’t working. Most people on SSI who go back to work will end up better off.
If you try getting a job and it doesn’t work out, you should be able to get back on SSI benefits quickly through quick benefits restart or Expedited Reinstatement (EXR) as long as you are still disabled.
Also, if you earn enough for your SSI benefits to go to zero, you may still be able to keep your Medi-Cal coverage through SSI’s 1619(b) work incentive or through Medi-Cal's Working Disabled Program.
Not documenting work expenses
Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) (or Blind Work Expenses (BWEs) if you are blind) are documented expenses related to your disability that support your work. Social Security subtracts these work expenses from your countable income when calculating your benefit. This increases the amount of your benefit.
But no matter how legitimate an IRWE is, Social Security will not allow it unless you have receipts. Make sure you always get receipts for all work expenses, and file them carefully.
Failing to report changes in income, resources or living situation
Your monthly SSI benefits amount depends on your:
- Earned income
- Unearned income
- Living arrangement
If any of these change, even slightly, you must:
- Report the change to Social Security. For SSI, report changes from one month within the first 10 days of the following month to avoid an overpayment (or within the first six days if you use the SSI Telephone Wage Reporting System).
- Report the change to your local county social services agency in person, by phone, or by email. You have 10 days to report the change.
If you don't report these changes, you may have to pay back the (which you would have to pay back to SSI).
Note: Due to COVID-19, there may be limits on in-person services. Contact your agency by phone to ask about this.
For SSI, you can report changes:
- In person or by phone with your local Social Security office.
- By mail to your local Social Security office. Write “Attention: SSI” on the envelope to make sure it goes to the right place.
-
You can also check with Social Security if you can report earnings with:
- The SSI Telephone Wage Reporting System at 1-866-772-0953
- The SSI Mobile Wage Reporting Application available in the Google Play or Apple App stores, or
- The my Social Security online wage reporting tool.
When you report, you’ll need to have documentation, like a letter explaining any changes and copies of your paystubs. If you have questions about the best way to report your earnings, talk to your local Social Security office or with a benefits planner.
Note: If you also get Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, you must report your income separately for SSI and SSDI. Ask your Social Security claims representative how you should report income for SSDI.
Not responding promptly to an overpayment notice
Social Security may decide that they have paid you more in benefits than you were supposed to get. This situation is called an overpayment. You’ll get a letter from Social Security that tells you how much money you need to pay back.
It’s very important to deal with an overpayment notice right away. The overpayment letter will ask for the money to be returned within 30 days, but Social Security knows that people on SSI have very little income, so they are willing to work out a monthly payment plan with you. You should contact Social Security immediately to talk about your options.
Learn more
Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal covers people with and without disabilities who have low income.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
SSDI helps people with disabilities who worked and paid Social Security taxes.
Benefits and Work Estimator
Got a work plan? See how it would help your situation.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
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Resources
Learn More about SSI
You’ll find more information about SSI:
- On the Social Security Administration’s website.
- Using Social Security’s Spotlights on special SSI topics.
Apply for SSI
You can apply for SSI:
- Online (which starts the application process immediately)
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By calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY) to make an appointment to apply either:
- Over the phone, or
- In person at your local Social Security office.
Note: Due to COVID-19, there may be limits on in-person services. Contact your agency by phone to ask about this.
Ticket to Work
Social Security’s Ticket to Work Program helps people with disabilities who get Social Security benefits re-enter the workforce and become more independent. The Ticket to Work Program offers free access to employment-related services, such as training, transportation, and vocational rehabilitation.
Getting Help with Your Benefits
If you get Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), or Childhood Disability Benefits (CDB), and you're looking for a job, a trained Benefits Planner can help you avoid problems with your job plan. If you need help or have questions about your situation, you can call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY), Monday through Friday.
View DB101's full list of experts who can help you understand different benefits.
Community-Based Organizations
Various community-based organizations guide people through state, federal, public, and private health and income programs. Some organizations may work with specific populations while others work with people with any type of disability. Here are a few examples
Goodwill Industries services range from personal evaluation and office skills training to career counseling, childcare, and transportation. Some Goodwill Industries centers also do benefits planning for people who get SSI, SSDI, and Medicare. Find locations at www.Goodwill.org, or by calling (voice) 1-800-466-3945.
The California Foundation for Independent Living Centers lists centers serving people with all disabilities. Many of these centers do benefits planning for people who get SSI, SSDI, and Medicare. If they don't offer benefits planning themselves, Independent Living Centers can refer you to local benefits planners. Find the list of independent living centers at www.CFILC.org, or by calling (voice) 1-916-325-1690 or (TTY) 1-916-325-1695.
The California Department of Public Health's Office of AIDS lists 1,300 organizations offering HIV/AIDS services throughout California. Some of these organizations provide case management, benefits planning, and benefits counseling services that can include help with public and private benefits programs. You can search the list online, or call (voice) 1-800-367-AIDS (2437) or (TTY) 1-888-225-AIDS (2437).
Disability Rights California provides representation for consumers of public programs who are disabled. Website publications include topics on health care, benefit programs, and In-Home Supportive Services.
Learn more
Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal covers people with and without disabilities who have low income.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
SSDI helps people with disabilities who worked and paid Social Security taxes.
Benefits and Work Estimator
Got a work plan? See how it would help your situation.