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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Dustan W.
I’m 48 with end stage 4 renal failure and on dialysis 4 days a week with three daughters under 15 in school. Was barely making it on my $1002 a month on ssa since diagnosed a year ago. Well at first ssi then ssa. Was supposed to receive my normal deposit for the third should have got the Friday few days early usually and nothing! Now when I sign in to social security it says all suspended and overpay of 1900? What the heck social security? As of dying wasn’t already enough stress while constantly worrying about leaving three daughters behind and a grieving widow of 25 years now my power will get turned off today I’m sure. God bless you
Michael C.
My wife and I have a special needs adult 35 year old daughter whom we care for full time. She also receives monthly SSI payments. When we die, will she be eligible for our benefits too? Thank you!
Ashley W.
Hello. Im am currently on SSI. I do have some work credits of my own. I be 60 years old in May of 2025. Social security Representative told me today 01/31/2025, that I must apply for survivors benefits by age 60. I told them they are wrong. My understanding is that at 62, yes they will ask me to collect on my own record, or I can collect survivors is I want to. The rep. insisted that I must do this at 60. I know i can stay on SSI till 62, then apply on my own record, and allow my survivors benefits to increase till full retirement age. Please let me know who right and who is wrong. Thank you.
Steve F.
My wife started her early retirement and was going to work part time. Seance than she has become fully disabled can see get disabled and her early retirement?
Thank you
PS what about her medications
Nimal S.
Why are we not preparing our people for old age, except, of course, the disable people? All those whining and complaining come after they arrive that difficult age.
We have a life time to prepare for it. I am a migrant and did 2 or 3 jobs and paid for SS and all other taxes. I qualify for a decent Ss benefit now. Still I am being careful on what to spend on. I prepare my own food. Someone complained about $80 worth only one meal above. That person must be really rich. I have never ever taken a meal above $20 at a time. I am being careful of our tax payer and my hard earned income. I do not mean to make anyone upset, but the reality needed ti be understood. We cannot expect all our needs from God or the government. We need to do our portion in life, first. Not to burden anyone including the government unless a person is helpless in continuing his/her life. Thank you.
Angshuman D.
“Great post, I really enjoyed the insights you shared. The tips are practical and easy to implement. Looking forward to reading more of your content. Keep up the great work.”
C.B.
Thanks for your feedback! We value your opinion of us and look forward to many more years of serving you in the future.
Cynthia W.
My adult disabled daughter (33 YO) gets SSDI of $818/month on her own work record and about $450/month in wages. She also gets $270/month in survivor benefits from her deceased dad. I plan to start social security in July 2025 and will get $4,580/month. I am trying to figure out what she will get from my work record. She is currently on a waiver program in PA and I don’t want her to lose her services. I know that the survivor benefits will cease once she gets benefits from me but does she get 50% of mine or is it 50% of mine LESS the SSDI she already gets?
T.Y.
Thank you for your question and for reading our blog, Cynthia. If the child is eligible for benefits, they may be eligible for a monthly benefit of up to 50% of the living parent’s benefit. However, there is a limit to the amount we can pay each family member. Generally, the family maximum amount payable is from 150% to 180% of the parent’s benefit. The total depends on the parent’s benefit amount and the number of family members who also qualify on their record. You can find more information about benefits for your family here. We hope this information helps.
Patricia C.
The TEXT NUMBER given out in a few of these comments is a DCSM.
I just used it and they immediately asked for my SOCIAL SECURITY USERNAME and
PASSWORD
Donald at text number (279) 200-6322 is a SCAM.
Lima
No it’s not. They just helped me with my complaint.
quacy m.
when doing snap food or EBT food the disable person always has a blind spot when it time to gain food reducing how much food they get or in money
Betty G.
Well I get ssi and hard for me to pay bills and eat its hard and they only give me 80 dollar in food stamps and yo be real thats one meal cause food is high
Margaret N.
And you are up at 1:41 am just worrying about it… That is sad, but I truthfully know how you feel because I am in the same boat! I am 65 years old I have all kinds of health problems and I’m raising my 12-year-old granddaughter. The state gives me $450 a month for her care and I get $940 a month from social security and truthfully I don’t know if I’m on SSI or if I am on retirement.. I have to go in and check and see which program actually put me on cuz you can’t live on that. So I had to get a job even though it’s super hard for me to work with my health conditions but I have to still raise my granddaughter I can’t stop working. So then of course once I started working then they cut down my food stamps from almost $400 down to $82 a month. It’s just not easy we don’t have the funds that we need to survive. I will probably never be able to stop working because I need every single penny and then some in order to raise my granddaughter. And to top it off even though I have full legal permanent custody of my granddaughter through the courts, they won’t give any social security for her. I have to actually adopt her in order to get social security for her. Her parents are no longer in her life. Housing is totally outrageous now. A single person on fixed income can’t afford to rent a place. And this single grandma who needs a bedroom for herself and the kiddo it’s super super tough super expensive. I wish you the best…
Jan
Hello Margaret,
My heart truly goes out to you, it is an absolute shame how our people have had to scrape to survive on social security. I myself am on disability due to autoimmune arthritis in my spine and Lupus. And you are so right, it is impossible to live on it. Thank goodness I have my grown son to help me, I don’t know what I would do without him. It just makes me sick how the Dems were putting the invaders on SSI and giving them $5000. per month cards!!! What!, I was offered $23.00 on a FS card!. Not even worth worrying over. I have found out some things I did not know and would like to share them with you. In every city and state there are agencies to help with free housing, cash, food etc….. you just need to know where to find them. Start with Catholic Charities first, they will be able to put you in touch with people and places that can and will help you. I wish you and your granddaughter the very best and God bless you. Go find them, you will be very surprised!!
ARL
Doesn’t matter now because the president just said NO MORE.
Lance
I am 52 have metastatic colon cancer. I have worked all my life and paid in. Why would I qualify for SSI instead of SSDI? I get $644 per month. I was told at my local office that I would be better off with SSDI.
Dorothy P.
You qualify for SSI if your monthly income is less than $987.
Jimmy D.
I only get 694.00 a month and I pay just about that for my rent 550.00 dollars a month electric bill is 100 can’t buy food or assorries
Kerry
Have you worked the full 40 credits you need for retirement? You have to get all of those credits before you can get SSDI before the age of 65.
C.B.
Hi, Lance. Thanks for reading our blog. We’re sorry to hear of your condition. Generally, you will need to have 40 credits, or 10 years of work paying Social Security taxes, to qualify for any type of Social Security benefit. In addition, to qualify for disability benefits, you generally need to have worked for five out of the last 10 years before you became disabled. The rules are different for younger workers who become disabled or die. You may find our explanation of credits page useful. For your security, we do not have access to your personal information in this venue. If you still need assistance, please call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Our National 800 number is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wait times to speak to a representative are typically shorter in the morning, later in the week, and later in the month. We hope this information helps.
Linda H.
Want yo see eligibility for meficare Medicaid i have cancer which is neoplasma and endometrial uterine cancer I’m applying because I need to see specialists and to get care with durable medical equipment and I haven’t received my medicare or notice from my application regarding. Social security since I filed in around March 2022 and need the 1099 Healthcare information 1099 a,b,and c I want to sign up for medicare I have a special enrollment illness and a medicare card and number and to apply fir survivors benefits my sister passed away in September 6 2024 and the status of my mother