Understanding Supplemental Security Income SSI Resources -- 2026 Edition

SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI) RESOURCES


WHAT ARE RESOURCES?

Resources are things you own such as:

    small blue and black arrowCash;

    small blue and black arrowBank accounts;

    small blue and black arrowStocks, mutual funds, and U.S. savings bonds;

    small blue and black arrowDigital currencies and money held in digital wallets;

    small blue and black arrowLand;

    small blue and black arrowLife insurance;

    small blue and black arrowPersonal property;

    small blue and black arrowVehicles;

    small blue and black arrowAnything else you own which could be changed to cash and used for food or shelter; and

    small blue and black arrowDeemed resources.

WHAT ARE DEEMED RESOURCES?

Sometimes, we “deem” a portion of the resources of a spouse, parent, parent’s spouse, sponsor of a noncitizen, or sponsor’s spouse as belonging to the person who applies for SSI.  We call this process the deeming of resources.  If a child under age 18 lives with one parent, $2,000 of the parent's total countable resources does not count.  If the child lives with 2 parents, $3,000 does not count.  We count amounts over the parents’ limits as part of the child's $2,000 resource limit.

WHY ARE RESOURCES IMPORTANT IN THE SSI PROGRAM?

The value of your resources is one of the factors that determines whether you are eligible for SSI benefits.  However, not all resources count for SSI.  If the value of your resources that we count is over the allowable limit at the beginning of the month, you cannot receive SSI for that month.  If you decide to sell the excess resources for what they are worth, you may receive SSI beginning the month after you sell the excess resources. You may even be able to receive benefits while you try to sell the excess resources in certain situations.

NOTE See the SSI Spotlight on Getting SSI Benefits While You Try to Sell Excess Resources.

WHAT IS THE RESOURCE LIMIT?

The limit for countable resources is $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple.

WHAT RESOURCES DO NOT COUNT FOR SSI?

For SSI, we do not count:

    small blue ballThe home you live in and the land it is on.

    small blue ballHousehold goods and personal effects (e.g., your wedding and engagement rings).

    small blue ballLife insurance policies when the combined face value is $1,500 or less.

    small blue ballOne vehicle, regardless of value, if you or a member of your household use it for transportation.

    small blue ballBurial spaces for you or your immediate family.

    small blue ballBurial funds for you and your spouse, each valued at $1,500 or less (see the SSI Spotlight on Burial Funds).

    small blue ballProperty you or your spouse use in a trade or business, or on your job if you work for someone else Property You Need for Self-Support).

    small blue ballIf you are blind or have a qualifying disability, any money or property you have set aside under a Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) (see the Spotlight on PASS).

    small blue ballUp to $100,000 of funds in an Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account established through a State ABLE program (see the SSI Spotlight on ABLE).

WHAT OTHER RESOURCES DO NOT COUNT FOR SSI?

    small blue ballRetroactive SSI or Social Security benefits for up to nine months after you receive them (including payments received in installments).

    small blue ballGrants, scholarships, fellowships, or gifts set aside to pay educational expenses for nine months after receipt.

    small blue ballMoney saved in an Individual Development Account (IDA) (See the SSI Spotlight on IDAs);

    small blue ballSupport and maintenance assistance and home energy assistance that we do not count as income.

    small blue ballCash received for medical or social services that we do not count as income is not a resource for one month.

    EXCEPTION: Cash reimbursements of expenses already paid for by the person are evaluated under the regular income and resources rules.

    small blue ballHealth flexible spending arrangements (FSAs).

    small blue ballState or local relocation assistance payments are not counted for nine months.

    small blue ballCrime victim’s assistance is not counted for nine months.

    small blue ballEarned income tax credit payments are not counted for 12 months.

    small blue ballDedicated accounts for children who are blind or have disabilities (see Deeming Eligibility Chart for Children);

    small blue ballDisaster relief assistance that we do not count as income.

    small blue ballCash received for the purpose of replacing an excluded resource (for example, a house) that is lost, damaged, or stolen is not counted for nine months.

    small blue ballAll Federal tax refunds and advanced tax credits received on or after January 1, 2010 are not counted for 12 months.

    small blue ballThe first $2,000 of compensation received per calendar year for participating in certain clinical trials.

    small blue ballSome trusts (See the SSI Spotlight on Trusts).

WHAT IF I WANT TO SELL A RESOURCE?

If you are trying to sell real property or other resources that put you over the resource limit, you may be able to get SSI while you are trying to sell them.  When you sell the resource, you must pay back the SSI benefits you received for the period in which you were trying to sell the property or other resource.  We call these "conditional benefits".  You must sign the "Agreement to Sell Property" form and we must accept that agreement before conditional payments can begin.  You can get the form from your local Social Security office.

NOTE See the SSI Spotlight on Getting SSI Benefits While You Try to Sell Excess Resources.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I GIVE AWAY OR SELL A RESOURCE?

If you, your spouse, or a co–owner give away a resource or sell it for less than it is worth, you may be ineligible for SSI benefits for up to 36 months. How long you are ineligible for SSI benefits depends on the value of the resource you transferred.

NOTE See the SSI Spotlight on Transfers of Resources.

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