SSI and Income

• To qualify to receive SSI benefits, you must show the Social Security Administration that you have low income and few resources. Resources are the things you own, such as cash, bank accounts, bonds and stocks. Most earned income you receive counts to decide whether or not you are eligible. If your income exceeds the limits set by your state Social Security office, you are not eligible to receive these benefits. As of 2011, income higher than $1,000 per month is generally considered substantial.
  
  

Items Counted as Income

• Most of your earned income counts for determining your eligibility to receive SSI benefits. Your housing expenses are not deducted from the measurement of your income. According to the Social Security Administration's publication "What You Need To Know When You Get Supplemental Security Income (SSI)," countable income consists of job-related income; net earnings from your personal business; food, shelter or money to pay for these items that someone gives you; Department of Veterans Affairs benefits; railroad retirement and railroad unemployment benefits; annuities and pensions; workers' compensation; unemployment insurance benefits; other Social Security benefits; prizes; settlements and awards; child support and alimony payments; rental income; and other benefits from unions.
  
  

Deductions and Exceptions

• Although the Social Security Administration analyzes your earned income to determine your eligibility to receive SSI benefits, a part of your income is deducted, and some income you receive does not count for SSI purposes. However, your housing expenses are not deducted from your income. For example, if your income is $900 and your housing expenses are $650, the Social Security Administration counts your entire income, which is $900, not $250. Some of your income is deducted when determining your eligibility: the first $20 that you receive from any type of income does not count, the first $65 you receive from job-related income does not count and half of the amount of your job-related income after the first $65 does not count either.
  
  

Items Not Counted

• Some types of income you receive are not considered income by the Social Security Administration. According to the Social Security Administration publication "What You Need To Know When You Get Supplemental Security Income (SSI)," examples include medical care and services; social services; money from the sale, exchange or replacement of your resources; most types of interest and dividend income; income tax refunds; Earned Income Tax Credit payments; life or disability insurance; proceeds of a loan; bills that are not your food, clothing or shelter that someone else paid for you; and replacement of lost or stolen income.