SSI Calculator: Estimate Your 2026 Monthly Payment

What Is Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?

SSI is a federal program run by the Social Security Administration that provides monthly cash payments to people who have limited income and resources. It's designed for three groups: people who are aged (65 or older), blind, or disabled.

Unlike SSDI, you don't need any work history to qualify for SSI. It's a needs-based program, meaning your eligibility depends on how much money and assets you have right now. If you've never worked or don't have enough work credits for SSDI, SSI might be your path to monthly benefits.

In 2026, about 7.4 million people receive SSI payments every month. The program covers basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter. And in most states, getting approved for SSI automatically qualifies you for Medicaid, which covers your healthcare costs too.

The program has strict income and resource rules though. You can't have more than $2,000 in countable assets as an individual ($3,000 for couples). And any income you do have reduces your monthly payment dollar for dollar after certain exclusions. That's what this calculator helps you figure out.

For a full breakdown of how this program works, check out our complete SSI guide.

How SSI Payment Amounts Work

Your SSI payment starts with something called the Federal Benefit Rate, or FBR. Think of it as the maximum possible SSI payment before any deductions.

For 2026, the FBR is $994 per month for an individual and $1,491 per month for a couple. These numbers go up each year with the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The 2026 COLA was 2.8%.

Your actual payment depends on three things: your income, your resources, and your living arrangement. Here's the basic formula:

SSI Payment = Federal Benefit Rate - Countable Income

If you have zero countable income and you live in your own place, you get the full FBR. But most people have at least some income that reduces the payment. The good news is that SSA doesn't count all of your income. They exclude certain amounts before calculating your payment.

The $20 General Exclusion

SSA ignores the first $20 of unearned income you receive each month. This applies to things like other Social Security benefits, pensions, interest income, and gifts. If your unearned income is less than $20, whatever's left over from that exclusion gets applied to your earned income instead.

The $65 Earned Income Exclusion

For money you earn from working, SSA ignores the first $65. After that, they only count half of what's left. So if you earn $265 at a part-time job, here's the math: $265 minus $65 equals $200. Half of $200 is $100. So only $100 counts against your SSI payment.

This is one of the most generous parts of SSI. It means working actually pays off because you keep more than half of what you earn on top of your SSI check.

SSI Income Rules: Earned vs. Unearned

SSA splits your income into two categories, and each one gets treated differently when calculating your SSI payment.

Unearned Income

This is money you get without working for it. Common examples include:

• Social Security benefits (SSDI, retirement, survivors)
• Pensions and annuities
• Interest and dividends
• Cash gifts
• Rental income
• Unemployment benefits
• Workers' compensation

The $20 general exclusion gets applied to unearned income first. After that, every dollar of unearned income reduces your SSI by a dollar.

Earned Income

This is money from working, whether that's wages from a job or self-employment income. Earned income gets better treatment under SSI rules:

• First $65 is excluded
• If any of the $20 general exclusion wasn't used on unearned income, it applies here too
• After exclusions, only half the remaining amount counts

In-Kind Support and Maintenance (ISM)

If someone else pays for your food or shelter, SSA might count that as income too. For example, if your parents pay your rent, that counts as in-kind support. The most common way SSA handles this is the "one-third reduction" rule, where they reduce your FBR by one-third if you live in someone else's household and they cover your food and shelter.

This is why your living arrangement matters so much for SSI. The calculator above factors in the one-third reduction when you select "Someone else's household."

SSI Resource Limits: What Counts and What Doesn't

Resources are the assets you own. To get SSI, your countable resources can't exceed:

• $2,000 for an individual
• $3,000 for a couple

These limits haven't changed in decades, which is a sore point for a lot of people. But there are quite a few things that don't count toward the limit.

What Counts as a Resource

• Cash on hand
• Money in checking and savings accounts
• Stocks and bonds
• Investment accounts
• Life insurance with a face value over $1,500
• Property you don't live in (second homes, rental property, vacant land)

What Does NOT Count

• Your primary home (no matter what it's worth)
• One vehicle (regardless of value)
• Household goods and personal items
• Burial funds up to $1,500 per person
• Burial plots for you and your immediate family
• ABLE account funds (up to $100,000)
• Property you need to be self-supporting

The resource check happens on the first day of each month. So if you're over the limit on January 1st, you won't get SSI for January. Even if you spend down your resources by January 15th, you've already missed that month.

How Your Living Arrangement Affects SSI

Where you live and who pays for your food and shelter play a big role in how much SSI you get. SSA looks at three main scenarios.

Living in Your Own Home or Apartment

If you rent or own your own place and pay your own bills, you get the full FBR (assuming your income doesn't reduce it). This is the best scenario for maximizing your SSI payment. It doesn't matter if you live alone or have roommates, as long as you're paying your own share of the household expenses.

Living in Someone Else's Household

If you live in someone else's home and they help pay for your food or shelter, SSA reduces your FBR by one-third. This is called the Valued at One-Third Reduction (VTR). In 2026, that means your maximum payment drops from $994 to about $663 as an individual.

There's an important detail here. If you pay your fair share of household costs, the one-third reduction doesn't apply, even if you're living in someone else's home. So if you contribute to rent, groceries, and utilities, make sure to document that.

Institutional Settings

If you're in a Medicaid-funded institution (like a nursing home), SSI drops to just $30 per month. This is meant to cover small personal needs since the institution covers your food and shelter. If you're in a medical facility for less than a full calendar month, the regular payment rules may apply.

For more detail on how SSI works in different states, check out our state-specific pages for New York, California, or Texas.

SSI vs. SSDI: What's the Difference?

People mix up SSI and SSDI all the time. They sound similar and both are run by Social Security, but they work very differently. Here's a quick side-by-side comparison.

Some people actually qualify for both programs at the same time. This is called "concurrent benefits." If your SSDI payment is low, SSI can top it up. Your SSDI counts as unearned income for SSI, so the SSI amount gets reduced, but you still might get something from both.

For a deeper look at the differences, read our full breakdown: SSDI vs. SSI: What's the Difference?

State SSI Supplements

The numbers in this calculator only cover the federal SSI payment. But roughly half of all states add their own supplement on top of the federal amount. This can make a real difference in your total monthly check.

For example, California adds one of the largest state supplements in the country. New York also adds a meaningful supplement. On the other hand, Texas has no state supplement at all, so residents there get only the federal payment.

State supplements vary based on your living arrangement and whether you're an individual or a couple. Some states manage their supplement through SSA (so you get one combined check), while others run it separately (meaning two checks).

If you live in a state with a supplement, your actual SSI payment will be higher than what this calculator shows. Check your state's page on our site for more details on local supplement amounts.

How to Apply for SSI Benefits

Applying for SSI isn't quite as simple as filling out an online form. Here's what the process looks like.

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

Use the calculator above to get a quick idea of whether you might qualify based on your income and resources. You can also take our eligibility check for a broader look at both SSI and SSDI.

Step 2: Gather Your Documents

You'll need documentation of your income, bank accounts, living situation, medical conditions, and treatment history. The more organized you are upfront, the smoother things go. Key documents include:

• Social Security card and birth certificate
• Bank statements (checking, savings, investment accounts)
• Pay stubs or proof of any income
• Lease agreement or mortgage documents
• Medical records, doctor's notes, and treatment history
• List of medications you take

Step 3: Apply at Your Local SSA Office

Unlike SSDI, you can't do the full SSI application online. You can start it on the SSA website or by calling 1-800-772-1213, but you'll need to complete it in person or by phone with an SSA representative. They'll schedule an interview to go over your application.

Step 4: Wait for a Decision

SSI applications typically take 3 to 6 months for a decision. If you're denied, you have 60 days to file an appeal. Many people get denied on the first try but win on appeal, especially at the hearing level with an administrative law judge.

The medical eligibility standards for SSI are the same as SSDI. You need to have a condition that's expected to last at least 12 months or result in death, and it must prevent you from doing substantial work (earning above $1,690/month in 2026).

Frequently Asked Questions About SSI