If you or a loved one receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you might be wondering: What is the SSI income limit in 2025? And how much can you have in assets without losing benefits? Simply put, SSI has strict rules about how much income and how many assets you can have to stay eligible.
These SSI income and asset limits help decide whether someone can qualify for SSI and how much they’ll receive. These limits typically change a little every year. Read on to learn more about the SSI income limits in 2025, how they affect you or your family in California, and what the new updates mean for children, individual adults, and couples.
Key Takeaways
- The Social Security Administration looks at both income (money you receive) and assets (things you own) to decide if you qualify for SSI, but they are counted and limited separately.
- The 2025 SSI income limit is $967/month for individuals and $1,450/month for married couples.
- The 2025 SSI asset limits are $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples.
- Household income from a spouse or parent may be “deemed” to you and affect your eligibility. This is important for married couples and children with disabilities applying for SSI.
- An experienced SSI attorney can help you understand these limits, apply exclusions, and protect your benefits. Legal guidance is especially helpful when appealing a denial or calculating your countable income accurately.
Table of Contents
- What Is the SSI Income Limit for 2025?
- What Counts as Income for SSI?
- SSI Asset Limits: How Many Resources Can You Have?
- California SSI Income Limits
- SSI Household and Family Income Limits
- Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE) in 2025
- New for 2025: Food Help No Longer Reduces SSI
- Get Help Understanding Your SSI Eligibility in California
What Is the SSI Income Limit for 2025?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) sets a base monthly amount called the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR). If your countable income is below this amount, you may qualify for SSI.
The chart below shows the maximum monthly SSI payments you can receive per month before any deductions, based on your household type. Your actual payment might be lower depending on your income.
SSI Income Limits Chart 2025
| Household Type | Explanation | 2025 Monthly Income Limit (FBR) |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | A single adult applying for or receiving SSI on their own. | $967 |
| Married Couple (Both Eligible) | Both spouses qualify for SSI benefits and receive a combined payment. | $1,450 |
| Essential Person | Someone who lives with and provides essential care to an SSI recipient. | $484 |
What Counts as Income for SSI?
When the SSA looks at your income, they only count certain types. This countable income includes money you earn from work, benefits, gifts, or support from others. Some other types of income are excluded when calculating your eligibility for SSI benefits.
Common SSI Income Exclusions
- The first $20 of any monthly income
- The first $65 of earned income, plus half of the rest
- SNAP (food stamps)
- Tax refunds
- Government housing assistance
- Help from nonprofit groups
- Certain work expenses for people with disabilities
- Help from others for food (starting late 2024, food help is no longer counted)
These exclusions allow many people to earn income and still qualify for SSI.
Calculating Your SSI Benefits Amount
After subtracting non-countable amounts from your total income, you are left with your countable income. The SSA then subtracts your countable income from the FBR to figure out your monthly SSI benefits.
Need help figuring out your countable income or potential benefit amount? Contact our SSI lawyers today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
SSI Asset Limits: How Many Resources Can You Have?
In 2025, the asset limit for SSI is $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples. These limits apply to things you own, not money you earn.
| Household Type | 2025 SSI Asset Limit |
|---|---|
| Individual | $2,000 |
| Couple | $3,000 |
What Counts as an Asset?
- Cash
- Bank accounts
- Stocks or bonds
- Land (not where you live)
What Doesn’t Count?
- Your home (if you live in it)
- 1 vehicle (any additional vehicles you own may count as assets)
- Household items
- Burial plots and life insurance under certain limits
Even though there’s no SSI asset limit increase in 2025, legislation is being proposed to raise it in future years. For now, having your total countable resources stay under these amounts is key to qualifying for or keeping your SSI benefits.
California SSI Income Limits
California adds a state supplement to the federal SSI payment. This means eligible recipients may receive a slightly higher monthly benefit than in other states, thanks to the State Supplementary Payment (SSP). Amounts vary based on your living arrangement, marital status, and other factors.
SSI Household and Family Income Limits
Your eligibility for SSI is not based solely on your individual income. The SSA may also consider the income of people you live with, especially a spouse or parent. This is known as deeming, and it plays a significant role in SSI household income limits and SSI family income limits.
SSI Child Disability Income Limits
Children with disabilities may be eligible for SSI, but the rules are slightly different from those for adults. In most cases, the SSA considers the parents’ income and resources when determining a child’s eligibility. This process is called parental deeming.
Key points about SSI for children:
- The child must be blind or have another qualifying disability that severely limits daily activities.
- The household’s total income, including the parents’, must fall below the SSI limit after applying exclusions.
- The SSI child disability income limits depend on family size, parental earnings, and other factors.
In California, children who qualify for SSI may also be eligible for additional state benefits through Medi-Cal or other support programs. If your child is under 18 and you’re unsure if they qualify, it’s worth reviewing your income and assets with a knowledgeable SSI attorney.
SSI Income Limits for Married Couples
If both spouses are eligible for SSI, they are treated as a unit and receive a combined benefit ($1,450 in 2025) that will be lower than what 2 individuals would receive separately. This is because the SSA assumes shared living expenses.
Even if only 1 spouse qualifies, the other spouse’s income may still be deemed to the applicant. If you’re married, be sure to speak with a disability attorney to understand how your spouse’s earnings could impact your benefits.
Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE) in 2025
If you’re under age 22 and regularly attending school, the SSA won’t count some of your earned income. This special exclusion is designed to encourage students with disabilities to gain work experience without immediately losing their SSI benefits. In 2025, there are clear monthly and yearly limits that define how much income can be excluded.
| Limit Type | 2025 Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly Limit | $2,350 |
| Yearly Limit | $9,460 |
New for 2025: Food Help No Longer Reduces SSI
As of late 2024, free food from friends, family, or charities will no longer reduce your SSI benefits. This change helps more people keep their full SSI check, especially in California, where food prices are high. However, if someone helps pay your rent or utility bills, that still counts and could reduce your benefits.
Get Help Understanding Your SSI Eligibility in California
Understanding SSI income and asset limits can feel overwhelming. But you don’t have to figure it out alone. At The Law Offices of Dr. Bill LaTour, we help people across California apply for and keep their SSI benefits. Whether you’re applying for the first time or appealing a denial, we can guide you every step of the way.
Contact us today for a free consultation. Getting legal help early on can save you time, stress, and help protect your benefits. Let us help you move forward with confidence.
