Updated as of February 26, 2024.
SSI in Brief
- 2024 maximum benefit for SSI: $943
- Benefits can be reduced if you have too much income (including gifts)
- Monthly benefits are reduced by $1 for every $2 of EARNED of income
- Monthly benefits are reduced by $1 for every $1 of ANY OTHER KIND of income (not EARNED)
- Work incentives: Exclusions from earned income
- Student Earned Income Exclusion
- Blind Work Expenses
- Others
SSI Disability Eligibility
- Legally blind – special treatment in some cases
- Other disabilities
SSI Financial Eligibility
Limitations on Resources
- The limit is VERY low
- For singles: $2,000
- For married couples: $3,000
- ANYTIME your resources exceed these limits, you are ineligible for SSI
Limitations on Income
- Used to determine Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) for eligibility
Includes ALL income:
- Earned income, including wages, self-employment income, cash paid for work, etc.
- Unearned income, including cash gifts, other Social Security benefits, interest and dividends from investments, etc.
- In-kind income, such as food or shelter provided for free or at less than market value
- When you live with someone (even a parent) for free
- If not paying for rent or food, your monthly SSI payment will be cut by one-third.
- The maximum SSI monthly benefit in 2024 is $943. A one-third reduction lowers that payment to $628.67 — a reduction of $314.33 each month – a total of $3,722 in a year.
- Deemed income, usually the income of a spouse, if you have one.
Exclusions from income
- Unearned income exclusion = $20/month
- EARNED income exclusions:
- General earned income exclusion = $65
- Student Income Exclusion
- Available until age 22
- Maximum monthly income in 2024: $2,290
- Maximum annual income in 2024: $9,230
- Blind Work Expenses (BWE)
- Excludes any earned income that you use to meet expenses in earning that income
- Common examples include state and federal payroll taxes, and money spent for meals at work
- For more information, check out the Bridges Resource Library Blind Work Expenses (BWE) entry
- Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE)
- This is a subcategory of BWE; Only use this if receiving SSI for a disability other than legal blindness.
- For more information, check out the Bridges Resource Library Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) entry
- Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS)
- An additional exclusion/work incentive
- A written plan of action for getting a particular kind of job or starting a business. In it, you identify:
- The job or business (this is your work goal).
- The steps you will take and the things you will need in order to achieve your work goal (for example: education or training, transportation, child care, or assistive technology).
- The money you will use to pay for these things (this may be any income– other than SSI payments– or assets, such as Social Security benefits, wages from a current job, or savings).
- A timetable for achieving your goal.
- Can get help writing the PASS
- Must submit for approval
Medical Insurance for SSI Recipients
- Maryland provides Medicaid eligibility to people eligible for SSI benefits. The SSI application is also the Medicaid application. Medicaid eligibility starts the same month as SSI eligibility.
- One-month waiting period
- What about SSI recipients who lose some or all of their SSI due to earned income
- Note: Must still qualify for SSI under disability AND resources
- Those who lose some or all of their SSI may keep their Medicaid coverage [Section 1619(a)-(b)]
- Maryland’s annual income limit for Section 1619 benefits 2024 is $52,892
- If earning that much, no longer qualify for SSI
- Nevertheless, will still receive Medicaid
Other Benefits That May Be Available to SSI Recipients
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
- Often called “food stamps”
- Eligibility based on gross income
Lifeline: Free/low-cost internet or cell phone
- Offers discounts for phone and internet services from approved companies
- Available to those receiving SSI or SNAP benefits
Tuition Waiver at Maryland Community Colleges for SSI and SSDI Recipients Bridges Resource Library entry
- For up to 6 credits per semester or up to 12 credits per semester if the individual is enrolled in classes as part of a degree or a certificate program designed to lead to employment
- For continuing education designed to lead to employment, including life skills instruction
- Available to those receiving SSI or SSDI benefits
Amazon Prime Access
- Discounted Amazon Prime membership
- Available to those receiving SSI or SNAP benefits
Museums for All program
- Check out the Bridges Resource Library Museums for All entry for more information
- Available to those receiving SNAP benefits
Download Available
BWE Calculation Spreadsheet (two worksheets: SSI Calculation & BWE Calculation)
Contact the Bridges Helpdesk for More Information
Email: Helpdesk@imagemd.org
Text: Send to: (410) 357-1546
Voice mail: Call (410) 357-1546, leave a voice mail message, and we will return your call
This unique project is being coordinated through The IMAGE Center of Maryland, a center for independent living in Towson, and it is funded by a grant from the Maryland Department of Education Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services.