SSI Uses a Hard Asset Cutoff, Not a Sliding Scale
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) helps low-income seniors, along with blind or disabled adults, cover basic needs — but it works differently from many other benefit programs. Rather than gradually reducing your benefit as your savings grow, SSI applies a strict resource test: as of 2025, individuals can have no more than $2,000 in countable resources, and couples no more than $3,000, full stop. Cross that line and you're ineligible regardless of how little income you have, though your home, one vehicle, and certain other assets don't count toward the limit. If you pass the resource test, SSI then looks at your countable income against the Federal Benefit Rate — $967 a month for individuals and $1,450 for couples in 2025 — after excluding the first $20 of most income. Your payment is the gap between your countable income and that federal rate, and many states add a supplemental payment on top of the federal amount.
How It's Calculated
| Step | Item | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Resource Test | Assets must be ≤ $2,000 (individual) / $3,000 (couple) |
| 2 | Countable Income | Monthly Income − $20 general exclusion |
| 3 | Eligibility | Countable Income < Federal Benefit Rate |
| 4 | Est. Monthly SSI | Federal Benefit Rate − Countable Income |
Frequently Asked Questions
SSI is a federal program for people 65+, blind, or disabled with limited income and resources — different from Social Security retirement benefits.
As of 2025, $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples. Your home and one vehicle are typically excluded.
SSI excludes the first $20 of most income, plus more for earned income. This calculator uses a simplified version.
※ Uses 2025 federal figures and a simplified income exclusion. Your official eligibility and payment are determined by the Social Security Administration, and many states add a supplemental payment.