SSI Income Limitations for Children

The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to low-income elderly or disabled individuals with insufficient work history to qualify for full Social Security benefits. Children who receive SSI must meet household income requirements to continue receiving payments. In order to qualify, a child must be both disabled and low-income and must complete an application either online at ssa.gov or at the local SSA office.

Sources

• Household income is used to determine eligibility for SSI. Income from parents, caregivers and anyone else in the home is considered when determining eligibility. An exact threshold is not provided by SSA, since it depends on a variety of factors, including the types of income sources (earned vs. unearned income, child support, etc) and whether another individual in the home is disabled or retired and receiving benefits. Contact SSA at 800-772-1213 to obtain an exact threshold for your circumstances.

Child Support

• One-third of the average monthly child support payment amount plus $20 is subtracted from the total income level used to determine the SSI payment.

Child's Earnings

• If a child is age 15 or older and establishes a Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) with SSA, the child's income is not considered when calculating the SSI payment. If a PASS is not established, most of a child's earnings are typically not counted, especially if the child is a student. PASS allows the child to earn additional income and provides the child with an opportunity to learn useful job skills.