SSI and SSP in California

Written by: Jeneli Almonte; Lead Care Manager
Last updated: October 10, 2026
Read time: 5 min

Key points

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and California's State Supplementary Payment (SSP) are paid together. In 2026, they pay up to $1,233.94 a month for one person 65 or older living on their own. For a couple, it's $2,098.83.
If you get SSI in California, you get Medi-Cal automatically, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) says.
People on SSI in California have been able to get CalFresh food benefits since June 1, 2019.
The Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) pays the same amounts to some immigrants who can't get SSI because of their status. You apply at your county.

California adds its own money, the SSP, to the federal SSI check. When rent takes most of your check, that extra money helps. How much you get depends on where you live and your other income.

If you're new to SSI, start with how SSI works for people 65 and older.

You may qualify if

You are 65 or older and live in California.
Your income, after the first $20 and other amounts that don't count, is under the amount for where you live. For one person on their own in 2026, that's $1,233.94 a month.
What you own that counts is worth less than $2,000, or $3,000 for a couple. Your home and one car don't count.

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.

How much SSI and SSP pay in California in 2026

Where you live	One person, 65 or older	Couple
On your own, with a kitchen	$1,233.94	$2,098.83
On your own, with no place to cook	$1,362.81	$2,356.57
In a licensed board and care home	$1,626.07	$3,252.14
In someone else's home, not paying your share of rent	$907.87	$1,609.70
In a nursing home, with Medi-Cal paying over half	$62	$124

These are the most you can get in 2026, from Social Security and the state. Social Security subtracts your other income, after the first $20. In a board and care home, the home can charge up to $1,444.07 of your $1,626.07. You keep at least $182 for personal needs, the state's licensing office says.

Can I get Medi-Cal with SSI?

Yes, you get Medi-Cal automatically, with no separate form, if you're eligible for SSI and SSP, CDSS says. With Medi-Cal and Medicare, the state pays the $202.90 a month Medicare costs you, usually taken out of your Social Security check. Medi-Cal can also lead to In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), paid help at home.

If SSI turns you down because of savings, you may still get Medi-Cal. Its 2026 savings limit is $130,000 for one person. Apply at BenefitsCal.com or your county office, and see Medicare and Medi-Cal together.

Can I get CalFresh if I get SSI?

Yes, you can get CalFresh, the state's food stamp program, with SSI, and it doesn't lower your SSI. Before June 2019, people on SSI here couldn't get it. A state law, Assembly Bill 1811, changed that starting June 1, 2019.

You can also apply at a Social Security office if all of these are true:

You get SSI or are applying for it.
You live alone, or everyone in your home gets or is applying for SSI.
You don't get CalFresh now and haven't applied in the last 60 days.

Or apply at BenefitsCal.com, and see CalFresh for seniors.

What is CAPI?

CAPI is paid for by the state. It's for people 65 and older, or blind or disabled, who can't get SSI only because of their immigration status. CAPI pays the same amounts as SSI and SSP, CDSS says: $1,233.94 a month in 2026 for one person on their own.

You apply at your county social services office, not Social Security, with form SOC 814. You can turn it in by phone, in person, or by mail, fax or email. The county may ask for your immigration papers, rental agreement and bank statements. You renew every 12 months and report changes within 10 days. Ask the county to check you for Medi-Cal at the same time.

How to apply for SSI in California

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. One application covers SSI and SSP.
Bring your papers, like proof of age and citizenship or immigration status, bank statements, award letters and your lease. Bring originals, not photocopies.
Tell them where you live, because your amount changes if you have no kitchen or live in a board and care home.
Watch for your Medi-Cal card. If it doesn't come, call your county or the Medi-Cal helpline at 1-800-541-5555.
Get free help from the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP), California's Medicare counseling service, at 1-800-434-0222. Its counselors answer Medicare and Medi-Cal questions.

If you are turned down

For SSI, you have 60 days to appeal to Social Security in writing. For Medi-Cal, IHSS or CalFresh, ask for a state hearing within 90 days at 1-800-743-8525. For CAPI, your county notice tells you how to appeal.

What a Pair Team advocate does

People in California who call us about SSI are often behind on rent, or waiting on a Medi-Cal card. Here's what we do:

Check in one call if you may get SSI, CAPI or Medi-Cal.
Set up the Social Security appointment with you, or fill out the CAPI form (SOC 814). Then follow up until you hear back.
Help you apply for CalFresh and set up IHSS help at home.
Help with what usually comes with it: 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

Why is SSI higher in California than in most states?

SSI is higher in California because the state adds SSP to every SSI check. For one person on their own in 2026, SSP adds about $240 to the $994 federal amount. Even so, it may not cover rent. CDSS puts the fair market rent for a Los Angeles County studio at $1,863 a month.

Is SSP a separate check?

SSP is not a separate check, because in California, Social Security pays SSI and SSP together and decides who gets both. You report changes to Social Security, not the county.

Ask your county social services office about CAPI, which is for people who can't get SSI only because of their status.

Do I get Extra Help with drug costs too?

Yes, with SSI and Medicare you get Extra Help without a form. In 2026, you pay no more than $5.10 for a generic drug.

Can I get IHSS if I get SSI?

Yes, you can get IHSS if you live at home, because SSI brings Medi-Cal, which IHSS requires. IHSS does not pay for help in a board and care home, but SSI and SSP pay more there.

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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