acalculator

How much SSI can I get?

Enter your monthly income to estimate your 2026 federal SSI payment. SSA decides the real amount; this is an estimate.

Your numbers

Who gets SSI
Monthly federal SSI
$714.00

With $300.00 of unearned and $0.00 of earned income a month, your federal SSI is about $714.00 a month.

A year
$8,568.00
Countable income
$280.00
Federal benefit rate
$994.00
Earnings that end the payment
$1,493.00

Monthly federal SSI: $714.00. With $300.00 of unearned and $0.00 of earned income a month, your federal SSI is about $714.00 a month.

The results are estimates for information only. They are not financial, tax, or legal advice. Check the numbers with your lender or a qualified professional before you decide. Terms of use

How to calculate

Estimates the monthly federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment for 2026 from your earned and unearned income, for one person or a couple.

Example with the default inputs (Who gets SSI One person, Unearned income a month $300.00, Earned income a month $0.00): With $300.00 of unearned and $0.00 of earned income a month, your federal SSI is about $714.00 a month.

Method: Countable income = (unearned − $20) + (earned − any unused part of the $20 − $65) ÷ 2, each part not below 0; SSI = federal benefit rate − countable income, not below 0.

  • Federal benefit rate for 2026: $994 for one person, $1,491 for a couple (SSA).
  • Only the $20 general exclusion and the $65-plus-half earned income exclusion are applied; other exclusions (student earnings, work expenses, a PASS) are left out.
  • You live in your own home or pay your share of the shelter costs; free shelter from others (in-kind support) lowers SSI and is not included.
  • Resources (savings and other assets) are within the limit of $2,000 for one person or $3,000 for a couple.
  • State supplements are not included; many states add a payment.
  • Income of a spouse or parent who does not get SSI (deeming) is not included.
  • An estimate only; SSA decides the amount.

Machine-readable copies: Markdown, JSON.

Worked examples

Each example is checked against the calculator on every build.

  1. Who gets SSI One person, Unearned income a month $300.00, Earned income a month $0.00 gives Countable income $280.00, Monthly federal SSI $714.00, A year $8,568.00.Source: SSA, Understanding SSI: SSI Income, 2026 Edition, Example A: $300 − $20 = $280 countable
  2. Who gets SSI One person, Unearned income a month $0.00, Earned income a month $317.00 gives Countable income $116.00, Monthly federal SSI $878.00.Source: SSA, Understanding SSI: SSI Income, 2026 Edition, Example B: ($317 − $20 − $65) ÷ 2 = $116 countable
  3. Who gets SSI A couple, Unearned income a month $1,000.00, Earned income a month $500.00 gives Countable income $1,197.50, Monthly federal SSI $293.50, Each spouse gets $146.75, Earnings that end the payment $1,087.00.
  4. Who gets SSI One person, Unearned income a month $0.00, Earned income a month $0.00 gives Monthly federal SSI $994.00, Earnings that end the payment $2,073.00.Source: SSA, SSI Federal Payment Amounts for 2026 ($994)

How it works

SSI pays the federal benefit rate minus your countable income, per month.

Federal benefit rate (2026): $994 for one eligible person, $1,491 for an eligible couple (SSA).

Countable income. Let U be unearned income and E be earned income, per month (for a couple, both spouses together).

  1. General exclusion: the first $20 of income does not count. It comes off unearned income first: G = the smaller of $20 and U.
  2. Countable unearned income = U − G.
  3. Any part of the $20 not used on unearned income comes off earnings: L = $20 − G.
  4. Countable earned income = (E − L − $65) ÷ 2, or 0 if that is negative.
  5. Countable income = countable unearned + countable earned.

Payment = federal benefit rate − countable income, or 0 if that is negative. A couple’s payment is split equally between the spouses. The yearly amount is 12 times the monthly payment.

Earnings that end the payment. With unearned income U, the payment reaches 0 when countable income equals the federal rate R: earnings = 2 × (R − (U − G)) + L + $65. If countable unearned income alone is R or more, it is 0.

No step is rounded; SSA’s own figures may differ by cents.

Assumptions

  • Only the $20 general and the $65-plus-half earned income exclusions are applied. The student earned income exclusion, impairment-related work expenses, blind work expenses and a Plan to Achieve Self-Support also lower countable income and are left out.
  • You pay your share of shelter costs. Free shelter from someone else (in-kind support and maintenance) lowers SSI and is not included.
  • Resources are within the limits ($2,000 for one person, $3,000 for a couple).
  • State supplements are not included.
  • The income of a spouse or parent who does not get SSI is not deemed.

Worked examples by hand

Social Security only (SSA Example A). U = $300, E = 0. Countable = $300 − $20 = $280. Payment = $994 − $280 = $714 a month, $8,568 a year.

Wages only (SSA Example B). U = 0, E = $317. The whole $20 carries to earnings: ($317 − $20 − $65) ÷ 2 = $116. Payment = $994 − $116 = $878.

A couple with both kinds of income. U = $1,000, E = $500. Countable unearned = $980; countable earned = ($500 − $65) ÷ 2 = $217.50. Countable = $1,197.50. Payment = $1,491 − $1,197.50 = $293.50, or $146.75 each. Earnings that end the payment: 2 × ($1,491 − $980) + $65 = $1,087.

No income. Payment = $994. Earnings that end it: 2 × $994 + $20 + $65 = $2,073.

Other questions people ask

What is the maximum SSI payment in 2026?

The federal benefit rate for 2026 is $994 a month for one eligible person and $1,491 a month for an eligible couple. It rose 2.8% in January 2026 with the cost-of-living adjustment. Some states add a supplement on top.

How does income reduce SSI?

SSA subtracts your countable income from the federal benefit rate. The first $20 of most income does not count. Of earnings, the first $65 and half of the rest do not count either. So $300 of Social Security leaves $714 of SSI, and $317 of wages leaves $878.

How much can I earn and still get SSI?

With no other income, one person can earn up to $2,072.99 a month in 2026 and still get some SSI: 2 × $994 + $20 + $65 = $2,073 is where the payment reaches 0. Unearned income such as a pension lowers that limit.

Does Social Security count as income for SSI?

Yes. Social Security benefits are unearned income. After the $20 general exclusion, each dollar of Social Security lowers SSI by a dollar.

What is the SSI resource limit?

Countable resources must be $2,000 or less for one person and $3,000 or less for a couple. Your home, one car, and some other items do not count. This calculator assumes your resources are under the limit.