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.
Please share this information with others who may benefit – and post it on social media.
Did you find this Information helpful?
Tags: Social Security benefits, SSI, supplemental security income
See CommentsAbout the Author
Comments
Leave a Comment
Please review our Comment Policy before leaving a comment. For your safety, please do not post Personally Identifiable Information (such as your Social Security Number, address, phone number, email address, bank account number, or birthdate) on our blog.
Kimberly C.
Your son would have to have worked to receive social security disability. SSI is mostly for ppl who have never worked. If he were under 18 he would get a check because his father is disabled, but your son is over 18 and is only eligible for SSI based on some sort of mental disability, I believe.
Deborah
My oldest child has been on SSI since the age of 18. His father, my former spouse, recently went on full disability. Now my son is being told his SSI is being reduced to almost nothing, but according to this very website, my son should now be eligible to receive SSDI based on his father’s work history. What does he need to do to apply for this? Is it automatic?
S.D.
Hi, Deborah Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. We pay Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefits to adults who have a disability that began before they were 22 that prevents them from doing substantial work. The benefit is paid on the record of a parent who receives Social Security retirement or disability benefits or is deceased. To schedule an appointment for your son, please call 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. (Check out Contact Social Security By Phone for telephone wait times.) For more information, visit our Disability Planner. To learn how you can help your son with the disability application process, visit Information for People Helping Others. We hope this helps.