SSI Income Limits 2026: $20/$65 Exclusions & Earnings Rules
Verified quick answer
SSI does not use one simple gross-income cutoff. SSA counts different types of earned and unearned income under separate exclusions, and living arrangements can also change the payment.
What to do next
List every income source and use SSA’s rules rather than assuming gross monthly income alone decides eligibility.
Official source: SSI income rules
Reviewed August 2, 2026. GlobalBenefits.org is independent and is not a government agency. The responsible program agency makes the final eligibility decision.
SSI does not use one universal gross-income cutoff. SSA determines countable income after applying rules for earned income, unearned income, in-kind support, household deeming, and exclusions. The result is then compared with the applicable federal and state payment amount.
2026 federal starting amount
The maximum federal SSI payment in 2026 is $994 per month for one eligible person and $1,491 for an eligible couple. These are maximums, not guaranteed checks. Countable income and living arrangements can reduce the payment to zero.
Unearned income
Social Security benefits, pensions, unemployment benefits, interest, and cash support are common forms of unearned income. SSA generally excludes the first $20 of many types of monthly income, then subtracts remaining countable unearned income from the applicable SSI rate.
Earned income formula
For many recipients with only wages, SSA excludes the first $20 if unused, then the first $65 of earned income, and one-half of the remaining earnings. Impairment-related work expenses, blind work expenses, a Plan to Achieve Self-Support, and student exclusions can change the result.
2026 student exclusion
An eligible student under age 22 who regularly attends school may exclude up to $2,410 of earnings per month, up to $9,730 for calendar year 2026. The exclusion applies to earned income and requires the student conditions to be met.
Get an individual calculation
Use SSA’s SSI income guide and income-exclusion summary. Report gross wages and other changes, keep receipts, and request a written computation if the notice does not match your records.