SSI Payment Amounts 2027: What You Will Receive

What SSI Will Pay in 2027

SSI payment amounts rise by the same cost-of-living adjustment applied to Social Security, and that figure is announced on 14 October 2026.

The 2026 federal SSI payment is $994 a month for an individual and $1,491 for a couple. Current projections put the 2027 adjustment at around 3.5% to 3.6%, which would take those figures to roughly $1,030 and $1,545.

Those are projections, not official amounts. The Senior Citizens League estimates 3.6% and AARP has projected about 3.5%, but the final number depends on September inflation data that has not been published yet.

When the New Amount Arrives

The increase applies from January 2027. In practice, SSI recipients usually see it a few days earlier than everyone else.

SSI payments are issued on the first of the month. When the first falls on a weekend or a federal holiday, the payment moves to the previous business day. Because 1 January is a federal holiday, the January SSI payment is normally issued at the end of December.

That means your first payment at the new rate typically arrives in late December 2026, not January.

The Federal Amount Is Not the Whole Picture

This is the part that trips people up. The federal SSI payment is the same everywhere in the country. What you actually receive usually is not.

State supplements

Most states add a supplement on top of the federal payment, and the amounts differ enormously. Some states add a small amount to everyone. Others pay considerably more, but only to people in particular living arrangements such as residential care. A few states add nothing at all.

State supplements are usually adjusted separately from the federal COLA, and not always at the same time. Our SSI benefits guide covers what each state adds.

Living arrangement reductions

If someone else pays for your food or housing, the SSA may reduce your payment under what it calls in-kind support and maintenance. The reduction can be up to a third of the federal benefit rate.

This catches people who move in with family after a hardship. The arrangement feels like help; the SSA treats part of it as income.

Countable income

SSI is needs-based, so other income reduces your payment. Not all of it counts, and the exclusions matter: the first $20 of most monthly income is disregarded, along with the first $65 of earned income and half of anything above that.

The effect is that part-time work reduces SSI by considerably less than people expect.

Resource Limits Do Not Move With the COLA

The SSI resource limits are $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple. Those figures are set in statute rather than indexed to inflation, so they do not rise with the annual adjustment. They have been at those levels for decades.

Not everything counts toward the limit. The home you live in is excluded, as is one vehicle, household goods and personal effects, and certain burial funds. ABLE accounts also allow people with disabilities to save beyond the limit without losing eligibility.

Going over the resource limit is one of the most common reasons SSI stops, and it is usually avoidable with planning.

Medicare and Medicaid

In most states, SSI eligibility automatically qualifies you for Medicaid, often without a separate application.

If you also receive Medicare, the Part B premium matters. The 2026 standard premium is $202.90 a month, up from $185.00 in 2025. For people receiving both SSI and Medicare, Medicare Savings Programs can pay that premium in full. These are significantly underclaimed, and the income limits are higher than most people assume.

Our Medicaid guide covers how the programs interact.

SSI and SSDI Together

Receiving SSDI does not rule out SSI. If your SSDI payment is low enough and your resources are within the limits, you can receive both at the same time. It is called concurrent benefits.

Plenty of people who qualify never apply, because they assume the two programs are alternatives. Our comparison of SSI and SSDI explains how the two work together.

What Else to Apply For

Receiving SSI opens the door to several other programs, and the enrolment usually counts as automatic qualification rather than requiring a separate income test.

• SNAP. In most states SSI recipients qualify. Households where everyone receives SSI often have a simplified application. See our SNAP eligibility guide.
• Lifeline. SSI qualifies you automatically for a $9.25 monthly discount on phone or internet service. See our Lifeline guide.
• LIHEAP. Help with heating and cooling bills, with priority in most states for households containing an older or disabled person. Funding is limited and stops when it runs out, so apply early. See our LIHEAP guide.
• Housing assistance. Section 8 uses Area Median Income rather than the federal poverty level, so limits are local. See our Section 8 income limits guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much will SSI pay in 2027?

The official amount is announced on 14 October 2026. At the current 3.6% projection, the federal payment would rise from $994 to roughly $1,030 for an individual and from $1,491 to about $1,545 for a couple.

When will the new SSI amount start?

January 2027. Because 1 January is a federal holiday, the January payment is normally issued on the last business day of December 2026.

Does SSI get the same COLA as Social Security?

Yes. The same percentage applies to SSI, retirement, SSDI, survivor and spousal benefits.

Will my state supplement go up too?

Not necessarily at the same time or by the same amount. State supplements are set by each state and adjusted on their own schedule.

Do the SSI resource limits increase with the COLA?

No. The $2,000 and $3,000 limits are set in law rather than indexed to inflation, so they stay the same regardless of the annual adjustment.

Why is my SSI payment lower than the federal amount?

Usually countable income, or a living arrangement reduction if someone else pays for your food or housing. The SSA reduces the federal rate by up to a third in some living situations.

Can I get SSI and SSDI at the same time?

Yes, if your SSDI payment is low enough and your resources are within the SSI limits. It is called concurrent benefits and it is more common than people realise.

This Page Updates on 14 October

The calculator above runs on the current projection. As soon as the SSA confirms the official 2027 adjustment, we update the figure and every amount recalculates against it.

If you are on SSI and want to see what else you might qualify for, our free eligibility checker takes about two minutes.