Income Limits for SSI

To qualify for SSI, your income must be below a certain threshold set by the SSA. This includes earned income (from a job) and unearned income (such as pensions, gifts, or benefits from family). Here’s how the income limits work for SSI eligibility:

• For an individual: The monthly income limit is $914 in 2025.
• For a couple: The monthly income limit is $1,371 in 2025.

These limits are adjusted yearly for inflation, and any income above these amounts may make you ineligible for SSI.

What Counts as Income for SSI?

The SSA considers various types of income when determining SSI eligibility:

• Earned Income: This includes wages from a job or earnings from self-employment.
• Unearned Income: This includes Social Security benefits, pensions, unemployment benefits, alimony, or gifts.
• In-kind Income: Non-cash items, such as food or shelter provided by others, may also count toward your income limit.

Certain deductions, such as the first $65 of earned income or $20 of unearned income, may be excluded from the calculation.

How SSDI is Affected by Income

For SSDI, income limits are different, as SSDI eligibility is determined by your work history and medical condition, not your income. However, the SSA has a rule called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) that limits the amount you can earn while still qualifying for SSDI. In 2025, the monthly income threshold for SGA is:

• $1,470 for non-blind individuals.
• $2,460 for blind individuals.

If you earn more than the SGA amount, you may be deemed to be able to work and may not qualify for SSDI.

How Work Income Affects SSI

For SSI, the SSA allows for earned income exclusions to help individuals with disabilities maintain some level of financial independence while still receiving benefits. Some common exclusions are:

• $65 per month of earned income.
• Half of your remaining earned income after the first $65.

Additionally, Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE), such as transportation or specialized equipment required for work due to your disability, may also be excluded from your income.

Income Limits in Relation to Other Resources

SSI also considers your resources, such as savings and property, in addition to income. For 2025, the resource limits are:

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

These resource limits are different from income limits, and having resources beyond these amounts may disqualify you from SSI.