You May Be Eligible for SSI and Social Security Benefits
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: January 16, 2025
This is Part 1 of our ongoing series about our disability programs.
You may be able to get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) even if you already receive Social Security benefits. About 2.5 million adults and children get SSI and Social Security at the same time.
We pay Social Security benefits to workers and their eligible family members based on the worker’s earnings. SSI is a needs-based program that provides payments to people with little or no income and few resources.
Adults and children who meet the SSI income and resource requirements may be eligible for SSI and Social Security disability, retirement, or survivors benefits.
People younger than 65 must be blind or have a qualifying disability and meet SSI income and resource limits, while people 65 and older do not have to have a disability. About 1.4 million people 65 and older receive both SSI and Social Security.
What do we mean by “little or no income”?
In 2025, you may be eligible for SSI if your total income – including your Social Security benefit – is less than $987 per month (the 2025 SSI monthly federal benefit rate plus $20).
We consider income from all non-work sources, including pensions, veterans’ benefits, unemployment, and Social Security disability, retirement, or survivors benefits. We also count some – but not all – earnings from work, including self-employment.
What do we mean by “few resources”?
Resources are things that you own that you could change to cash and use to support yourself. They include vehicles (if you own more than one) and money in bank accounts, stocks, and bonds. To be eligible for SSI, your resources cannot be worth more than:
- $2,000 for a single person.
- $3,000 for a married couple living together.
When we determine your eligibility for SSI, we must consider the income and resources of your spouse if you are married and living together. Income and resource limits may be higher for a parent applying for SSI for a child.
We don’t count all income and resources. For example, we don’t count the house you own if you live in it, and we usually don’t count your car. You can learn more about what we can exclude at Exceptions to SSI income and resource limits.
Visit the SSI webpage to find out if you might be eligible for SSI and learn how to apply. If you have questions about eligibility, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions to learn about the differences between SSI and Social Security.
Note: People who are eligible for SSI are generally eligible for Medicaid, state-run health coverage. Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, receive Social Security disability benefits, or have kidney disease. It is possible to have both Medicaid and Medicare.
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Tags: Social Security benefits, SSI, supplemental security income
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Dawn J.
I worked from an early age, served my community and country. In my early 40’s my body started to break down. Couldn’t do my jobs anymore. Reached out to Social Security. Was denial serval times. 5years later I was approved for SSI just 4 months after my work credits had expired. I don’t know if this had anything to do with the decision all I know is my condition and ailments did not change. Thank God, I was able to gain my VA disability, which kicked me off my little SSI payment. Better than nothing I suppose. Grateful, however , something has to change the mandate of work credits expiring.
Becky W.
I agree I was medically certified disabled by 3 different doctors, but had to pass SS standards. With all the delays and hearings, (4 years worth) by the time they decided I was
indeed, disabled, They said my work history was too long ago, and I didn’t qualify for disability money. SO not fair. They drag it out so they don’t have to pay you.
Stacy S.
Will I get 2,000 from ssi or not
Teresa
As a young man between the age of 18 and 21, my nephew was in a motorcycle accident. He is mentally and physically disabled. From my understanding he has a social worker. He lives on his own, however SS pays his bills and gives him a monthly allowance. They check in with him often and he has to check in with them. His father passed and I believe my nephew may inherit some money. How is the best way to handle this as he is not capable of making good decisions or handling money.
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Teresa
As a young man between the age of 18 and 21, my nephew was in a motorcycle accident. He is mentally and physically disabled. From my understanding he has a social worker. He lives on his own, however SS pays his bills and gives him a monthly allowance. They check in with him often and he has to check in with them. His father passed and I believe my nephew may inherit some money. How is the best way to handle this as he is not capable of making good decisions or handling money.
Johnny p.
I am 64 years old and I get 749.00 a month in retirement . How much would I get if I had s.s.i. benefits.???
Kimberly
963.
Kusay A.
My social security is $650 a month, I had cancer, heart problems and kidney disease.I am 67 years old, and I am thinking to quit my work, due to health reason. My question how much my ssi would be.
S.S.
Hi, Kusay. Thanks for reading our blog and for your questions. If you have limited income and resources, you may be able to get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in addition to your monthly benefit. SSI is a needs-based program that makes payments to people with limited income and resources who are blind, have a qualifying disability, or are 65 or older. To learn more about SSI eligibility requirements, visit our Who can get SSI page. To schedule an appointment to apply for SSI, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. We hope this helps.
Glen
I live in California I was told I had heart issues at 48 I 58 now but I did not believe I could never work again I waited to long to collect SSD I ended up with 900 and change with ssi. Now homeless it’s impossible to live off that pay 900 for a room. I do not understand how this country could believe that anyone can live off that. Before I would make friends with anyone just to have a place to stay I ended up with drugs in home I personally hate drugs. But the only people that will help out is that class of people so I am forced to be around that or sleep on sidewalk. I really don’t understand this life I have no choice but to be around are free world is not free at all. I had pretty good life had my own business was working and raised my family. But I got terminal illness and now lost everything no help and from working all my life did best possible but my pay back is little more then 900 a month. This is not the way life was suspose to be like I also get 15:food stamps but this year got raise the cola raise 2.5 percent extra 20 month when everything’s about 50 percent higher but then because I got the big 20 my food stamps taken away. This is so screwy nothing is set right but I took care of people threw my trade. Never knew I would be screwed so hard I know I can not get extr4
Lil h.
Sorry .its a big mess isnt it.1 am on ss n snap and i really dont feel secure with it.it feels like the gov can take ur benefits at any time.gud luck to u.god bless
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Tina
My 74 year old mother is only receiving SSI. She can’t work due to severe cervical and spine issues and had cancer in 2023. Does this article mean sne Might also now be eligible for Social Security? She’s extremely low income, doesn’t own a car, and lives on less than $1,000 a month with less than $500 at any given time in assets.
Sherri R.
My brother is 67 and receives $1,310.00 a month on social security. He is disabled and having problems paying all his bills. Is he eligible for SSI or social security disability?
C.B.
Hi, Sherri. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. With a monthly retirement benefit of $1310, your brother will not be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSI is a needs-based program that provides payments to adults and children with disabilities or blindness, and persons 65 and older without disabilities, who have limited income and resources. Because he has reached full retirement age, he cannot apply for disability. However, he may be able to receive other assistance from the state in which he lives. To learn about services in his community and to find out if he’s eligible, you can contact his state or local social services agency or welfare office. For other resources, check out our blog: How Connecting to Benefits Programs Can Save You Money. We hope this helps.
Pamela P.
I am 63 years old and my social security disability dude, to my back industry, my head injury, and I have severe depression and mental illness.I get 1309.00 a month i’ve been living in my car for the last 3 weeks due to my sons. A wife, it’ll be me and my dogs out on the street. My son moved me here from upstate New York. Because I can get better healthcare. And I would be close to family because I just have not been doing good. I told him it would be too much with my 3. Dogs and his 4 dogs and he said, no, it would be fine. Well, we ended up in an argument over a remote control that got chewed up. Of course, it was one of my dogs, but no, it wasn’t.Is there any help from me out there?I don’t want to live in my car i reached out to all kinds of resources.Then I get a ticket yesterday because I thought it was okay to stay in Walmart parking lot. Well, it’s not so now I have to be out with my three.Dogs somewhere in a demerse camping spot maybe I’ll find a bigfoot to live with out there, but on the lighter note, if there’s anything anybody knows that I can do, they can help me, please let me know
Rob S.
FIX THIS INSANE MESS!! People can’t live from these scraps off the table. Period! SSA should be 150% what it is now, minimally. That’s just to eliminate the stress of existence. GD federal employees average around over $125,000/yr YOU try living off $17000!!!! Give up your pay except $17000. I dare you. You folks are disgusting for this. Approaching 100 years and STILL cannot get this right!??
Pamela P.
I am 63 years old and my social security disability dude, to my back industry, my head injury, and I have severe depression and mental illness.I get 1309.00 a month i’ve been living in my car for the last 3 weeks due to my sons. wife, kicked me and my dogs out on the street. My son moved me here from upstate New York. Because I can get better healthcare. And I would be close to family because I just have not been doing good. I told him it would be too much with my 3. Dogs and his 4 dogs and he said, no, it would be fine. Well, we ended up in an argument over a remote control that got chewed up. Of course, it was one of my dogs, but no, it wasn’t.Is there any help from me out there?I don’t want to live in my car i reached out to all kinds of resources.Then I get a ticket yesterday because I thought it was okay to stay in Walmart parking lot. Well, it’s not so now I have to be out with my three.Dogs somewhere in a demerse camping spot maybe I’ll find a bigfoot to live with out there, but on the lighter note, if there’s anything anybody knows that I can do, they can help me, please let me know