SSI for People 65 and Older

Written by: Jeneli Almonte; Lead Care Manager
Last updated: October 10, 2026
Read time: 6 min

Key points

In 2026, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) pays up to $994 a month for one person and $1,491 for a couple. Some states, like California and New York, add more.
At 65 or older, you can get SSI with less than $2,000 in savings, or $3,000 for a couple. Your home and one car don't count.
In most states, SSI brings Medicaid, and with Medicare you also get Extra Help with drug costs.
Since September 30, 2024, food that family, friends or a food bank give you does not lower your SSI.

SSI, or Supplemental Security Income, is a monthly check for people 65 and older who have very little money. If your money runs out before the month does, SSI may help. People who are blind or disabled can get it too, and you don't need a work history.

You may qualify if

You are 65 or older, live in the United States, and are a citizen or have an immigration status that counts.
Your income is under $994 a month, or $1,491 for a couple, after Social Security takes off the first $20. States that add money have higher limits.
What you own that counts is worth less than $2,000, or $3,000 for a couple.

Not sure you qualify? Apply anyway, because Social Security makes the call and some of your income may not count. If you would rather not do it alone, a Pair Team advocate can help you apply.

What comes with SSI

Benefit	How SSI helps you get it	What it pays for
SSI check	You apply with Social Security	Up to $994 a month for one person, $1,491 for a couple (2026). Paid on the first of the month
Medicaid	In most states, your SSI application is also your Medicaid application	Copays at the doctor and the hospital, and care Medicare does not cover. Your state also pays the $202.90 a month Medicare costs you, usually taken out of your Social Security check
Extra Help	Automatic if you have SSI and Medicare	Most of your drug plan cost. In 2026 you pay no more than $5.10 for a generic and $12.65 for a brand-name drug
Food benefits	If everyone at home gets SSI, Social Security can help you fill out the form	Money for groceries each month from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), once called food stamps. SNAP does not lower your SSI

See Medicare and Medicaid together and Extra Help with prescription costs.

SSI is based on need, while Social Security is based on the work you did. SSI is paid from general tax money, not the taxes taken from your pay, Social Security says.

Many people get both, and then Social Security subtracts your Social Security check, minus $20, from the SSI amount. If you get $700 a month from Social Security, SSI could add up to $314, for $1,014 in all.

What counts as income and savings?

Income includes Social Security, a pension and cash from family. SNAP, help with heating bills and tax refunds don't count. Savings include cash, bank accounts, stocks and land other than your home, but these don't count:

The home you live in, and one car
Furniture and other things in your home
Burial plots, and up to $1,500 set aside for burial

What has changed for SSI since 2024?

Food help no longer counts. Food others give you hasn't counted since September 30, 2024, and Social Security's 2026 rules still say so. Help with rent or utilities still counts and can lower your SSI by up to $351.33 a month in 2026.
Living with someone on SNAP can help. If someone you live with gets SNAP, Social Security won't cut your SSI by a third for living in their home. This also started September 30, 2024.
Paper checks are ending. Federal benefits must be paid electronically since September 30, 2025. With no bank account, you can use a Direct Express card (1-800-967-6857). If you can't get paid electronically, ask the Treasury for a waiver at 1-877-874-6347.
SSI got a 2.8% raise. It went from $967 to $994 for one person in January 2026. Social Security sets each new amount in the fall, and it starts in January.

How to apply

Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and ask for an SSI appointment. Lines are less busy early in the day.
Keep the appointment, because Social Security may count the day you called as the day you applied.
Gather your papers for the interview. Bring originals or certified copies, not photocopies:
- Proof of age and of citizenship or immigration status
- Bank statements for every account
- Award letters for Social Security or a pension
- Your lease or rent receipt
Do the interview by phone or in person. A family member can make the call or help you, so you don't have to do it alone.
Wait for a letter. If you qualify, SSI starts the month after you apply.

You have 60 days from the letter to appeal in writing, online or with form SSA-561. If your SSI is being cut and you appeal within 10 days, your payment can stay the same while you wait.

What a Pair Team advocate does

People who call us about SSI are often short on rent or food that same month. Many are also waiting on a Medicaid card. Here's what we do:

Check in one call if you may get SSI, Medicaid, a Medicare Savings Program or Extra Help.
Set up the Social Security appointment with you, gather your papers, and follow up until you get a letter.
Help you report a move or a new roommate on time, so you don't owe money back.
Help with what usually comes with it: SNAP and meals, rides, utility bills and housing.

An advocate is covered by Medicare if you qualify. It takes two minutes to find out.

Check if you qualify for a Pair Team advocate

Frequently asked questions

Can I get SSI if I live with my children?

Yes, you can get SSI while living with your children. If you pay your share of the rent and bills, your SSI doesn't change. If you don't, it can go down by up to a third.

Will SSI take my house?

SSI won't take your house, since the home you live in doesn't count toward the $2,000 limit, whatever it's worth.

Can I get SSI if I am not a citizen?

Some noncitizens can get SSI, like some green card holders with 10 years of work and some veterans. In California, people who can't get SSI because of their status may get the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI). Ask Social Security if your status counts.

What happens if I go into a nursing home?

For a nursing home stay of 90 days or less, you may keep your regular SSI. Otherwise, if Medicaid pays over half the cost for a whole month, SSI drops to $30 a month, plus any state amount.

What changes do I have to report?

You have to report changes in income, savings, where you live or who lives with you. Report them by the 10th of the next month, because late reports can cost $25 to $100 each.

Find the rules for your state

California: SSI and the state's payment add up to $1,233.94 a month for one person living on their own in 2026.
New York: New York adds $87 a month for one person living alone in 2026, for $1,081 in all.
Nevada: Nevada adds $36.40 a month for one person 65 or older living on their own in 2026, for $1,030.40 in all.

Everywhere else, ask Social Security what your state adds. For free help with Medicare and Medicaid, call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at 1-877-839-2675 or visit shiphelp.org.

Sources

About the author

Jeneli Almonte

Lead Care Manager

Jeneli Almonte is a Lead Care Manager at Pair Team. Since 2022, she has helped patients with benefits, housing and food.

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