Can You Work and Still Get SSI Benefits?

If you receive income from sources other than the Supplemental Security Income program, it may or may not affect how much you get, if anything, from SSI. The SSI program, administered by the Social Security Administration, provides monthly benefit payments to help people with limited income and resources pay for food, shelter, and other essential needs.

Money that you receive from sources could affect your SSI monthly benefits. The thing about the SSI income limits is that federal rules do not count all income when determining how much money you can make on SSI.

This blog from American Disability Action Group explains countable income and what you need to know about it when working while receiving SSI benefits. It explains the effects of working and earning while on SSI.

The scope of the SSI program

The SSI program provides monthly payments to children and adults with little or no income and limited resources. Individuals must also meet at least one of the following requirements:

• Have a disability as defined by federal guidelines.
• Be legally blind according to federal criteria.
• Be at least 65 years of age without having to be blind or disabled.

The maximum monthly federal benefits paid through the SSI program changes annually, but it is $967 for individuals in 2025 and $1,450 for couples.

Most states supplement federal monthly SSI benefits, except for the following states that do not:

• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Mississippi
• North Dakota
• Tennessee
• West Virginia

State supplement payments and conditions vary depending on the rules established by each state. For example, some states may condition the supplement payment on a person’s income or their living arrangements.

What income counts for the SSI program?

The amount of your federal SSI benefit payment each month may be reduced by the income you receive from working and other sources. SSI recognizes four types of income:

• Earned income: Money earned as wages or through self-employment, royalties, honoraria, and sheltered workshop payments.
• Unearned income: Money that is not earned income, including Social Security benefits, state-funded disability benefits, interest, dividends, and cash received from relatives and friends.
• In-kind income: Food, shelter, or other things of value that a person receives for free or for less than its fair market value. For example, shelter provided to you by someone without asking you for rent or charging you less than market value.
• Deemed income: A portion of the income of your spouse or parents may be deemed to be your income.

If you work while receiving SSI benefits, not all of the wages you receive count against your monthly federal benefits.

SSI Payment Rules For People With Earned Income

Some of the income you receive from working does not count as income for purposes of determining how much you receive during the month from SSI. The first $65 of your before-tax wages from working does not count as income. Of the remaining earned income, one-half of it can be excluded, as well.

So, if you work and receive $657 during a month, only $592 would count after the $65 exclusion. However, you may also exclude one-half of the remaining earned income. For example, if you earned $657 from working this month, the exclusion of the first $65 leaves a balance of $592. Of the $592, only one-half, or $296, counts as income.

If you receive the full federal benefit rate each month of $967, it would be reduced this month by countable earnings of $296. Your SSI federal benefit payment becomes $671 for the month.

Your countable earned income could be less, depending on whether you received unearned income during the month. SSI excludes the first $20 of earned or unearned income, but you can only use the exclusion once during a month. If you did not use the exclusion, you could use it to further reduce your earnings in the example from $592 to $572. Half of it becomes $286, so the monthly federal SSI benefit payment from our example becomes $681.

The Social Security Administration has SSI payment rules to protect individuals whose countable income results in a stoppage of their monthly benefit payments. A person who continues to be unable to work because of a disabling medical condition may request expedited reinstatement without being asked to complete a new application. They may be entitled to temporary benefits for as long as six months while their request for reinstatement is under review.

Contact A Disability Lawyer For Advice And Representation

Navigating rules that control the Supplemental Security Income work limit can be a challenge. The disability professionals at American Disability Action Group have the experience and knowledge to guide you through all aspects of the SSI program, including advising you about SSI payment rules when you have earned or other forms of income. To learn more about what we can do for you, contact us for a free consultation and claim evaluation.

Sources:

SSI program and Income types: https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-income-ussi.htm