How much is SSI in 2026? The SSI amount 2026 tops out at $994 a month for an individual and $1,491 a month for a couple. Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, is the monthly payment for people with little or no income and few resources who are aged, blind or disabled. Most people do not get the maximum — what you actually receive depends on your other income, where you live and whether someone helps with your food or housing.
Who qualifies for SSI?
SSI is different from Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, and the difference matters. SSDI is based on your work history: you paid into the system through payroll taxes, and your benefit depends on what you earned. SSI does not need a work history at all. It is a needs-based program run by the Social Security Administration for people aged 65 or older, or people of any age who are blind or disabled, who have very low income and limited assets. In general, you must also be a US citizen or a qualifying non-citizen, and you must live in the United States. The asset limits are strict — $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple — and your home and one car usually do not count.
How much will you get?
The federal maximums for 2026 are $994 a month for an individual and $1,491 for a couple. From January 2027 those rise to $1,029 and $1,544, because SSI gets the same 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment as Social Security — see our Social Security COLA 2027 article for how that is worked out. Your own payment is the maximum minus the income that counts against you, so many people receive less than the headline figure. Some states also add a small supplement on top of the federal amount, and that supplement varies a lot from state to state, so two people with the same circumstances can end up with different checks depending on where they live.
When is SSI paid?
SSI is normally paid on the first of the month. If the first falls on a weekend or a federal holiday, the payment comes on the last working day before it — which is why some months bring two SSI payments and the next month brings none, even though the money adds up the same over the year. Payments are made by direct deposit or onto a Direct Express debit card, and the Social Security Administration publishes the schedule in advance. If your payment is late, check your bank or card first, then contact the SSA. And if you think you might qualify but have never applied, it is worth applying: the SSA can tell you whether you meet the income and asset limits, and claims can be backdated in some cases.
Frequently asked questions about the SSI amount 2026
How much is SSI in 2026?
The maximum federal SSI payment in 2026 is $994 a month for an individual and $1,491 a month for a couple. Most people receive less, because other income counts against the maximum and state supplements vary.
How much will SSI be in 2027?
The maximums rise to $1,029 a month for an individual and $1,544 for a couple from January 2027, after the 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment.
What is the difference between SSI and SSDI?
SSDI is based on your work history and the payroll taxes you paid. SSI is needs-based and does not require any work history — it is for people with very low income and limited assets who are 65 or older, blind or disabled.
When is SSI paid each month?
Normally on the first of the month. If the first is a weekend or a federal holiday, the payment arrives on the last working day before it, so some months have two payments and the following month has none.
Do I qualify for SSI?
You may qualify if you are 65 or older, blind or disabled, have very low income, and hold no more than $2,000 in countable assets ($3,000 for a couple). Your home and one car usually do not count. The SSA can confirm whether you meet the limits.