Information checked: September 9, 2026.
Supplemental Security Income is based on countable income and resources, but not everything a person receives or owns counts. A single gross-income number cannot determine eligibility because exclusions, living arrangements, spouse or parent deeming, and state supplements can change the result.
Key answer: In 2026, the federal SSI resource limit remains $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple. The maximum federal monthly payment is $994 for an eligible individual and $1,491 for an eligible couple, before reductions for countable income and living arrangements and before any state supplement.
Table of contents
- 2026 federal amounts
- What counts as income
- Income exclusions
- What counts as a resource
- Resources that may not count
- Frequently asked questions
2026 federal amounts
| Rule | Individual | Eligible couple |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum federal monthly SSI payment | $994 | $1,491 |
| Countable resource limit | $2,000 | $3,000 |
The maximum payment is not an income limit. SSA calculates the actual payment after countable income and other factors. Some states add a supplement, and living in another person's household without paying a fair share of food and shelter costs can reduce the federal payment.
What counts as income
SSA considers earned income such as wages and self-employment, unearned income such as Social Security benefits, pensions, and unemployment, and in some circumstances food or shelter received from another person. Income of a spouse, parent, or immigration sponsor may be deemed to the applicant.
SSA's public eligibility tool says work-income screening varies by circumstances; do not treat a search-result number as a universal cutoff.
Income exclusions
SSA excludes certain items before calculating countable income. Examples can include SNAP benefits, Section 8 housing assistance, state SSI supplements, certain state or local need-based assistance, refundable federal tax credits, and income set aside under an approved Plan to Achieve Self-Support.
For an eligible student under age 22, the 2026 student earned-income exclusion can exclude up to $2,410 per month, subject to a $9,730 annual maximum. Other earned and unearned income exclusions may apply before the SSI reduction formula.
What counts as a resource
Resources are things a person owns and can generally convert to cash for food or shelter. SSA lists cash, bank accounts, stocks, mutual funds, savings bonds, digital currency, land, certain life insurance, vehicles, and other property. Countable resources are usually measured at the first moment of the month.
Resources that may not count
- The home you live in and its land
- Household goods and personal effects
- One vehicle used for transportation by the household
- Burial spaces for the person or immediate family
- Up to the applicable excluded amount of burial funds
- Property needed for self-support
- Certain ABLE and PASS funds under their program rules
An excluded item can become countable if its use or status changes. Report account, property, household, income, and living-arrangement changes promptly through SSA's approved channels.
Frequently asked questions
Is $994 the amount everyone receives?
No. It is the 2026 maximum federal amount for an eligible individual. Countable income and living arrangements can reduce it, while a state supplement may increase total payment.
Does my home count toward $2,000?
The home you live in and the land it is on generally do not count as an SSI resource.
Does SNAP reduce SSI?
SSA lists SNAP benefits among items generally excluded from SSI income.
Final checklist
Separate income from resources, apply exclusions before assuming ineligibility, include spouse or parent deeming when relevant, and let SSA make the formal determination.
Related guides
- Social Security Payment Schedule 2026: How Your Payment Date Is Determined
- WIC Income Guidelines 2026: Eligibility, Benefits, and Application Documents
- LIHEAP 2026–2027: How to Apply for Heating and Utility Bill Assistance