This page is for people on SSI. If you are on SSDI, please ignore this page. There is no resource limit for SSDI.
SSI has a resource limit. This means if you have too much money or too much stuff, you won’t qualify for SSI. If you are already on SSI, it means your SSI will stop and you may owe some money back.
Many of the rules on this page will also apply to Medicaid. Please check the regulations for the Medicaid program you are in to confirm.
What Kind of Money and Stuff Counts?
Some stuff counts and some stuff doesn’t. Some money counts and some money doesn’t. If you are wondering if your money and stuff counts, check out: What Counts as a Resource for SSI?
How Much is Too Much?
The number will change depending on the circumstances. Here’s some more info on the How Do I Know if I’m Over the SSI Resource Limit?
Am I Allowed To Save Money?
🌷 If you stay under the resource limit, you can save money in any way you want. As long as you are under the resource limit, your savings will not affect your SSI.
🌷 If you go over the resource limit, your SSI check will stop. But wait! Money saved in certain ways will not count towards your resource limit! Here’s more info on: How Can I Save Money While on SSI?
Am I Allowed to Spend Money?
It depends if the money is income or resources.
🌷 Income is any money you receive this month. You can spend your income any way you want. It’s yours. Even though you can do whatever you want with your income, you probably want to start by spending it on food, rent/mortgage and utilities. If you don’t pay for these three things, or don’t pay the correct amount, your SSI check may be greatly reduced. Learn more about How Much Rent to Pay on SSI
🌷 Resources is any money you received last month (or any time earlier) and saved. Social Security has special rules about resources. You can spend your resources any way you want, but there are a few important things to know: How Can I Spend Money While on SSI?
🌷 You should not give away income or resources. This is called “transfer of resources” and can cause problems. More information on transferring resources is on this page
What Happens if I Have Too Many Resources?
🌷 If you are not yet on SSI, there is no point in applying right now. If at any point in the future, you are under the limit, you can apply then. If you are over the limit, make sure you do not give money away. Social Security will consider this “transfer of resources” and it may make you ineligible for up to three years.
🌷 If you are already on SSI, you may be cut off temporarily and/or you may owe some money back. You may also have some options. Learn more: Options If You Go Over the SSI Resource Limit
🌷 If you ever go over the resource limit, Social Security may want to check to make sure you did not give away the extra resources or try to hide them. If this happens, make sure to keep your receipts so that you can show them what you did with the money (in case they ask). If you get an overpayment notice, take a look here: How To Handle a Social Security Overpayment Notice
Avoid Trouble
You should also be careful before adding your name to anything that does not belong to you: Such as a business, house, bank account, or credit card. If you add your name, Social Security may consider that that resource now belongs to you.
Learn More
How to Stay Out of Hot Water with SSI – All SSI regs
How to Survive on SSI – Financial survival, life survival, the whole shebang
SSI Policy Manual on Resources – Long and confusing. Only read this if you really want to know all the nitty gritty.
How to Get On 
SSI is like being in prison and I tried working part time to have enough money to pay my electric bill and rent and have a few basic necessities, then they claimed the part time work I was doing was not the type of work that SSI classifies as “earned income” and everything I had earned was subtracted from my SSI benefit and past benefits and I was left in debt thousands of dollars owed in back payments to Social Security.
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Hope something here helps🌷🌺 💗
https://howtogeton.wordpress.com/2017/09/01/how-to-respond-when-social-security-tells-you-that-you-owe-money-back/
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Can someone assist SSI recipient to get mortgage as a co-signer? Or Can someone help to pay off the remaining outstanding mortgage payment? Thanks
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If you are even considering applying for SSI, do not! SSI is pure hell, there are rules you will not find out about until after you are receiving SSI, it is not worth it, it is like being in prison! I do not know who designed or developed the SSI program rules and income requirements, but being on SSI is insulting, humiliating, an invasion of privacy.You will waste a lot of time and your own money filling out form after form and sending things to the local field office which they will usually lose, the employees are usually untrained and rude and treat you like low income dirt. Just rob a bank, your prison sentence will be an improvement over being on SSI. I am just kidding about the bank robbery but believe me, SSI is a nightmare. SSI needs a complete change!
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Hello. I’m a rep payee for my adult son. We haven’t spent the last back pay check of 2560, and only have 2 more months to do it. And received 1200 stimulus check today. Can we spend the backpay on anything, travel, furniture, gifts for family members, appliances etc? And can I just withdraw that 2560 as cash? Also, can the stimulus be spent on anything as well and be saved? If saved, that would put him over the 2000 mark however. Or can the cash be saved? Thank you.
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Stimulus money will not count for 12 months after received.
Do not take it out as cash. No large gifts or cash gifts. Page above will give info on other options.
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Do you know more (or can point me in right direction) about rules with trusts and ABLE accounts counting resources towards the SSI $2000 limit? I’ve read things that say they don’t count and can be a safer way to save money. However I’ve read elsewhere that it could be seen as hiding resources. If I get an ABLE account and deposit $100 from my monthly SSI check will Social Security still count that $100 towards my $2000 limit? If so, it defeats the purpose of having an ABLE account.
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There are links to ABLE accounts on this page.
https://howtogeton.wordpress.com/how-can-i-save-money-while-on-ssi/
In my understanding, able accounts never count towards the SSI resource limit.
If someone is working, and places their work income in the able account, it will still count as income but will not count as savings.
If you’re just trying to put your SSI money in there, it will never be a problem. Hope it goes well for you.
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This website is the bomb with giving info about SSDI/SSI
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SSI recipient here. I just received $2,313 in backpay money, which put my checking account over $2,000…way over. Into the $5,000 bracket. I’ve never had over $2,000 at the end of any month & know you’re not ever supposed to, but the letter that came with the backpay says I have 9 months to spend it before it counts as a resource. These statements appear to be contradictory.
Which is it? Are they going to penalize me for having over $2,000 at the end of this month, or will they just ignore the backpay money for 9 months & count whatever else is in the checking account? I’m not confused about what I can spend it on & have no problem spending it in 9 months like I did my first backpay installment…I’m just worried about what happens if my bank account is over $2,000 total at the end of this month.
Kinda freaking out here, haha.
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Don’t freak out 🙂
Yes, you have nine months for each backpay installment. There is a special exception for backpay.
$5,000 is still a little over though. But maybe you still have some funds from the last installment… it’s kind of a moving target.
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Thank you for such helpful information! I have been receiving SSI for over five years. It was recently stopped because I had too much in savings. If I spend that money on things that are not considered resources, can my SSI and Medicaid start up again if I show that my bank accounts are $2000 and have receipts for my purchases ?
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If it has stopped for less than 12 months, I believe it can be restarted again without a delay.
More than 12 months requires a new application.
You are correct about saving receipts or showing how funds were spent 🙂
If you became disabled before age 26, funds can be placed in an ABLE account.
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hello I wanted to know if you can guide me, I have the interview with ssi, which is every 2 years I think, we are 3 my son who receives the ssi, my husband and I, only my husband works and we have 1 car, but 3 weeks ago my husband bought a car for $ 950.00 to be able to work and do errands, because the other car is the one that I use for school, appointments and therapies of my son, will the second car affect us?
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Hi Vilma,
It depends on if you have other savings or resources.
The second car will count as a resource. They will look at the fair market price for the second car.
For two married adults with one SSI child, your limit is $5,000.
Hope this helps.
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Ugg, that is very risky indeed then if they can change their minds about the decision. The entire reason I qualified for Medi-Cal back then was because I was listed as disabled, but I think the form was for temporary disability, even though the illness led to chronic health problems. I also tried to work a bit in 1997, and again in 2005/2006 and kept having to quit for being in too much pain. Can they use that brief work history to suddenly say it is now partially favorable today? I’d better go and consult with a disability attorney with all my records in hand from that time period before I do anything. I thought it would either be a “yes, we will put you under your father’s since the diagnosis was made back then” or a “sorry, but you don’t have enough proof and will have to remain on SSI”. I couldn’t bear facing another court hearing about whether I am disabled or not. I was a wreck for a month after that. It’s so scary being dependent on the empathy of a judge (who sat as jury as well).
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I don’t know more about the process. It’s rare for anyone to appeal their onset date, so I haven’t met many who have done it.
Technically in the rules it does say they reopen the original decision.
I can’t see any reason why working ten or twenty years ago would affect the decision of you being disabled today (I don’t know if it would affect the decision about being disabled before age 22)
I wonder if there is any possibility MediCal would still have your records from back then? Seems like a long shot, but it would be cool if they did 🙂
there’s some more info here:
https://www.disabilitysecrets.com/resources/disability/challenging-social-securitys-established-onset
https://www.disabilitysecrets.com/resources/disability/good-reasons-appeal-established-onset-date-dis
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Oh forgot to add the judge ruled my problems today are all “sequelae of (original illness)”. This was the wording I’m hoping will be my ticket in under my father’s SSDI.
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Good find. I hope that helps. Perhaps you can write that down on the form when you make your request to change onset date.
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Thank you for the above info. I didn’t know duplexes could be a single holding, so that is something to consider.
Thank you for asking. Yes, I was under 22, and thanks to this blog I learned I should be eligible under my father’s Social Security. He has passed away now, but that would make him so happy if he were still alive. I am in the process of looking into this, and collecting medical records from 30 years ago. I am thrilled as I have managed to obtain some medical records that confirm the “onset” of my disability from the county hospital I went to. I am trying to get a hold of the lab work, which wasn’t included for some reason, but the tests they were running are common tests of other illnesses that mimic the illness I actually had, and help to confirm I was suffering from the same symptoms I still suffer with today. It took nearly 2 years to diagnose what was wrong, but the wording the gov uses is “onset”, so I assume since I was disabled while they were trying to find out what was wrong they count this, because the diagnosis was made when I was 21, but the treatment went on for 5 years afterward, and one doctor later still wasn’t convinced even though I was referred to him with positive test results! Sorry, but I saw a lot of idiot egotistical doctors that couldn’t deal with me not improving. Very dark memories. In fact, I qualified for temporary disability for Medi-Cal at that time, because I was broke and so very sick. So I need to find out if the state still has documentation of that since they were paying for all the tests and treatment, as that would also supply more evidence. Do you know if I will lose my SSI while I am applying to see if they will honor me under my father? I also found out you can’t marry or be married if you claim under your parent. Another stupid and unfair condition. SSI – you can’t live in another country to make your pay stretch farther, or travel out of the USA for more than 30 days without losing your pay, but SSDI people can do both. Under your parents, now you can’t marry? I think I will be able to at least go see my family in the UK for more than a month though. Don’t know about you, but when you are sick it’s a big deal to travel, and I need to stay for a good chunk of time to make all the effort worth it. Ho hum. There’s really no sugar coating it. The gov punishes you for not putting in work time and earning YOUR own credits, even though you were too sick to do so.
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Hi Christine,
Great work looking into all of this.
Do you know what onset date Social Security has already given you? If it is before age 22, you don’t have to do anything else.
Yes, for adult disabled child benefits, you also cannot get married. I’m pretty sure you can live out of the country, though.
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Thank you 🙂
I didn’t think I qualified for anything, since I was always too ill to work, so I also didn’t know there was such a thing as SSI until recently. Then I applied in 2016, and I guess that is the onset date. My worker said I need evidence if I wish to try under my fathers. So trying to hunt down. Happy to see the Dr. who diagnosed me is still practicing at age 70! I just hope he kept my records.
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Hi Christine,
I have always wondered if there was a deadline to appeal onset date. I haven’t been able to find out any regulations about this. Do you know how long ago was your approval?
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I just got approved in January, but when I brought this up to my worker (about getting ill before 21) she didn’t say there was a deadline, and told me I would continue to get SSI while I wait for an answer. If this changes, I will let you know.
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You are doing a great job doing research to track down old records. Please let me know how it goes. I’d love to know.
One thing I want to mention: Some people choose not to appeal onset date, because it means they will reopen the original decision. I just wanted to warn you about this so you can make an informed decision about whether you want to pursue it.
If you were able to get this, that would solve all your problems with selling your house, which would be super! 🙂
If you have not already seen this, hope something here helps ❤ https://howtogeton.wordpress.com/2017/03/28/how-to-get-around-expired-work-credits/
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Thanks for the reply. I have also considered looking for a home, that has another small home area on the same property. Duplexes would definitely be a no no I think, but a property where someone built a nice “granny flat” in their yard, and isn’t zoned this way might work! A friend of mine lives in this type of home, and I believe she is on disability, and rents out the unit behind her for a whopping $1000, but I don’t think it’s the SSI version. SSI is like a punishment for being too sick to ever been able to work enough to get the credits you need for proper disability. I wish the gov would just punish us with the much lower monthly payment, and allow us the same rules as SSDI. It seems very harsh and unfair to me. Through no fault of my own, fate has punished me with illness at a very young age, and the punishments just seem to go on and on and on. 😦
I just found these 2 links which are very helpful, and everyone who owns any property and is on SSI or Medi-Cal or Medicaid needs to read them please!
For Californians only:
http://ask-roxy.blogspot.com/2016/07/great-news-for-medi-cal-recipients.html#more
For EVERYONE!
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/medicaid-repayment-of-nursing-home-estate-recovery-150497.htm
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Thank you Christine.
Why do you think duplexes would be a no-no?
I just looked up the regs for SSI and housing. These are the ones I found:
https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0501130100
A few things that might be helpful:
It is treated as one property if “it is recorded and treated as a single holding for tax assessment purposes”
Also:
a. Land – The home exclusion applies not only to the plot of land on which the home is located, but also to any adjoining land. Land that adjoins the home plot is land not completely separated from the home plot by land in which neither the individual nor his or her spouse has an ownership interest.
b. Buildings
The home exclusion applies to all buildings on excluded land.
Hope this helps ❤
p.s. were you under the age of 22 when you first became disabled?
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Thanks for your fantastic blog!!!!! I would be grateful if anyone knows an answer to this so I can brace myself. Before applying for SSI, I have LONG planned on selling my way too big home (which is too hard for me to maintain now that I am disabled) and using that money to buy 2 homes in a cheaper area. The plan was to live in one home myself, and put the 2nd home in my daughter’s name. Her and her husband are struggling financially and will never be able to buy a home, plus I need her to live near me, because she is my part-time caretaker. I see this as forwarding her inheritance to her early in life when she needs it most, I need her most, and we can both benefit. I will live in the other home, and it will be in my name. However, from what I gather after hours of reading, Medi-Cal is really a ”loan” (unless you live in Oregon where they do not use your home to reimburse state-funded medical care). In California, once I die the government will want my home to be used to refund ALL of my medical expenses (while low-income Obama-care recipients pay only $1 per month, and no liens are put against their homes!). Not only are we thinking of moving to Oregon over this, but obviously the gov is going to punish me financially for using half the money from the sale of my home, to buy my daughter a home near me. So in short, does anyone know how long am I going to lose my monthly SSI payments for doing this? 😦
P.S. How tragic the system is that our poverty “medical insurance” is really just a loan! For me reading on this, click on this link: http://ask-roxy.blogspot.com/2013/12/alert-go-on-obamacare-medi-calmedicaid.html#.WRZUIGjyuM8
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Thanks for your fantastic blog!!!!! I would be grateful if anyone knows an answer to this so I can brace myself. Before applying for SSI, I have LONG planned on selling my way too big home (which is too hard for me to maintain now that I am disabled) and using that money to buy 2 homes in a cheaper area. The plan was to live in one home myself, and put the 2nd home in my daughter’s name. Her and her husband are struggling financially and will never be able to buy a home, plus I need her to live near me, because she is my part-time caretaker. I see this as forwarding her inheritance to her early in life when she needs it most, I need her most, and we can both benefit. I will live in the other home, and it will be in my name. However, from what I gather after hours of reading, Medi-Cal is really a ”loan” (unless you live in Oregon where they do not use your home to reimburse state-funded medical care). In California, once I die the government will want my home to be used to refund ALL of my medical expenses (while low-income Obama-care recipients pay only $1 per month, and no liens are put against their homes!). Not only are we thinking of moving to Oregon over this, but obviously the gov is going to punish me financially for using half the money from the sale of my home, to buy my daughter a home near me. So in short, does anyone know how long am I going to lose my monthly SSI payments for doing this? 😦
P.S. How tragic the system is that our poverty “medical insurance” is really just a loan! For more reading on this, click on this link: http://ask-roxy.blogspot.com/2013/12/alert-go-on-obamacare-medi-calmedicaid.html#.WRZUIGjyuM8
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Hi Christine,
You raise some great points here.
Disclaimer: I am not an expert, so please double check anything I am writing. Please look for written policies, as info given out over the phone by SSA and medicaid is often incorrect. You may also wish to consult with a medicaid planner and/or a medicaid estate planning lawyer.
So, I have a few thoughts:
SELLING YOUR HOME
– yes you are allowed to sell your home and buy a new one that you yourself can live in without impacting medicaid or SSI. You have a limited number of months to complete the purchase.
– I believe some programs may have a dollar limit on how expensive the home can be.
– no. as far as I know, you cannot buy a home for your daughter. this is called “transfer of resources.” It would cut off SSI for up to three years, plus you would have to reapply and prove you are disabled all over again, which could take several more years.
– Here’s an idea: Maybe you could look into the regs for duplexes? I don’t know if they would consider that one home or two.
– If you could get a duplex, perhaps your daughter can live in one side and you can live in another?
– If a duplex isn’t possible, maybe look for a home that isn’t zoned as a duplex, but has two separate living areas so it feels like two homes?
MEDICAID/MEDI-CAL ESTATE RECOVERY
– Estate recovery is when medicaid takes your house after you die or when you go into a nursing home.
– I do not not know a lot in this area. My understanding is that estate recovery usually applies to “Medicaid Long Term Care” not regular medicaid health insurance. Long term care is a different form of medicaid that is used for nursing homes and institutional care.
– I have not heard of estate recovery being enforced based on regular medicaid health insurance, but like I said I’m not an expert and laws may vary by state. And, of course, there’s no way to know if you might one day go into a nursing home and need this kind of medicaid.
– As far as I know, all states have exceptions to the estate recovery rules. If your daughter is living with you and caring for you, I believe she can keep living in the home after you die.
– The rules I have read is she must be living there for at least two years before you die or enter a nursing home and she must be providing care for you.
– There are also hardship exceptions that might protect her from losing the home if she is low income.
– I could be wrong about this part, but I don’t think she can inherit the home through this exception, she can just live there. I don’t think she can sell it or leave it to her kids.
– By the way, in my understanding you don’t want to add your daughters name to the deed, that’s also “transfer of resources.”
Those are a few thoughts, hope this is helpful. ❤
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see below.
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