How much money can i earn being on SSI?

How Much Money Can I Earn While Drawing SSI?

• Answer:

  Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, is a federal income assistance program administered by the Social Security Administration. Eligible recipients must be at least 65 years of age, or legally blind or disabled. Eligibility is also based on financial need, where recipients have only limited income and other financial resources. Some earned income is allowed, but it can affect the amount of the SSI benefit payment. Countable Income Most types of income received are counted in relation to SSI, with certain exclusions allowed. Such countable income can be from earnings, non-earned income such as interest income and other government benefit payments, plus monetary and material gifts or charity received. A certain part of income from a spouse or parent who resides with the recipient is also countable. In-kind income, such as receiving food or shelter instead of wages, is countable as well. Earned income includes all kinds of wages, salary and commissions. Earned Income Exclusions SSI allows some income to be excluded and thus not countable regarding eligibility. The first $20 of any income received in a month is excluded. The first $65 of earned income, and one half of earnings over $65 received in a month, are also excluded. Gross wages are used to determine earned income, but only net income is used for self-employment earnings. The total of excluded earned income is subtracted from countable income. The amount left is deducted from the monthly SSI benefit payment. Special PASS Exclusion SSI has a Plans to Achieve Self–Support program, called PASS, that allows recipients to have special increased exclusions of income, both earned and unearned. This program encourages SSI recipients to become financially self-sufficient and to not need benefits anymore. Recipients' PASS plans must show their employment or business goals and how they will achieve them. This can include training, education and professional services. If a PASS plan is approved by the SSA, then all income used by the recipient to pay for the the plan's provisions will be excluded for SSI eligibility. Special Student Exclusion Recipients who are qualified students under the age of 22 years also receive a special increased exclusion of earned income. Qualified students are those who are attending college or university courses for at least eight hours per week, or attending classes in grades seven through 12 for at least 12 hours per week, or attending vocational training classes for at least 12 hours per week. Students being home schooled per local regulations for at least 12 hours per week are also eligible. Earned income for such qualified students is excluded up to $1,640 dollars per month, with an annual limit of $6,600.