SSI Calculator (2026 Supplemental Security Income)
Estimate your 2026 SSI payment: applies the $20 and $65 income exclusions, living arrangement rules and the resource limit to the $994 federal rate.
Estimate a 2026 federal SSI payment for an otherwise eligible adult or eligible couple. The model applies ordinary income exclusions, a living-arrangement adjustment and a countable-resource limit. It assumes stable monthly income and excludes state supplements, deeming and special work incentives.
How to use this tool
- Choose individual or eligible couple; both spouses must qualify for couple mode.
- Enter gross wages and other income, including gross Social Security.
- Choose the living arrangement and enter shelter support only after applicable exemptions.
- Enter countable resources and review the payment breakdown.
Formula
Countable unearned income = max(0, unearned income including countable shelter help − $20)
Countable earnings = max(0, wages − unused general exclusion − $65) ÷ 2
SSI = max(0, applicable federal rate − total countable income)
The 2026 federal rate is $994 individual or $1,491 couple. A full month receiving all meals and shelter in another household, without an exemption, invokes the one-third reduction: $331.33 or $497. Otherwise countable shelter help is capped at $351.33 or $517. Income is not rounded at intermediate steps. Couples split the amount before each payment rounds up to cents. The ordinary resource limits are $2,000 and $3,000.
Example
An individual with $500 monthly Social Security, no wages and resources within the limit has $480 countable income. SSI is $994 − $480 = $514, bringing cash income to $1,014. With $1,000 wages instead and no unearned income, countable earnings are (1,000 − 20 − 65) ÷ 2 = $457.50, so SSI is $536.50.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I earn before this model reaches zero?
For an individual paying their own shelter costs with no other income, wages of $2,073 use the full rate. This is a cash-payment threshold, not a decision on Medicaid, work incentives or continued eligibility.
Does all help with housing count?
No. Public-assistance households, qualifying rental arrangements and other exemptions can remove shelter support from income. Enter the countable value after those rules. Food is excluded from in-kind support valuation.
What resources are usually excluded?
A home, one vehicle, household goods and burial plots generally do not count. Special resource exceptions and conditional payments are outside this ordinary test.
Which other rules are omitted?
Initial-month proration, retrospective budgeting, state supplements, ineligible-spouse or parent deeming, student earnings exclusions, impairment-related work expenses and PASS plans require separate assessment.
Sources
This tool gives an estimate for general information only. It is not financial, tax, legal or medical advice — check with a qualified professional before you rely on the result.
Last updated: 2026