Editing Supplemental Security Income (section)

=== Amounts ===
The SSI program (or Title XVI of the Social Security Act 1611) provides monthly federal cash assistance of up to $914 for an individual and $1,371 for a couple (as of 2020)<ref name="ssa.gov">{{cite web|title=SSI Federal Payment Amounts for 2018|url=http://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/SSI.html|last=SueKunkel|website=www.ssa.gov}}</ref> to help meet the costs of basic needs of food, shelter, and clothing.

In most states, SSI eligibility usually assures concurrent access to important medical coverage under the various state [[Medicaid]] programs and sometimes access to [[Section 8 (housing)|Section 8]] housing benefits. In some states, supplemental payments are made by the state, increasing the cash assistance available through SSI. For example, the state of California (through its State Supplementation Program or SSP) increases the cash assistance, making the total 2020 SSI benefit for an individual $943.72 per month.<ref>{{Cite web|title=DB101 California - Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Frequently Asked Questions|url=https://ca.db101.org/ca/programs/income_support/ssi/faqs.htm|website=ca.db101.org|language=en|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref>

'''Amount calculation'''

SSI takes the income and resources of the applicant or recipient into consideration when calculating their benefit amount. Resources are determined at the first of the month. If an individual reduces their countable resources below the limit through investing in excluded resources, they will remain eligible.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Understanding SSI - SSI Resources|url=https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-resources-ussi.htm|last=ORDP|first=OISP|website=www.ssa.gov|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref> Excluded resources are resources such as: household goods, personal effects, up to one vehicle, and the home the applicant lives in.<ref name=":0" />

An individual's monthly benefit will be calculated by subtracting their "countable income" from the maximum benefit amount.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SSI Federal Payment Amounts for 2020|url=https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/SSI.html|website=www.ssa.gov|language=en|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref> "Countable income" is an individual's income after applying any appropriate exclusions.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Countable Income for SSI Program|url=https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/countableincome.html|last=SueKunkel|website=www.ssa.gov|language=en|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref> It includes earned, unearned, in-kind, and deemed income.
*'''Earned Income''': This is a worker's gross income. It includes amounts that have been withheld by employers to pay taxes, health insurance or other payments.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SSA - POMS: HI 03020.025 - How to Count Earned Income - 06/09/2011|url=https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0603020025|website=secure.ssa.gov|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref> Therefore, this may be larger than the amount the individual actually takes home as pay.
*'''Unearned Income''': All income that is not earned income.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SSA - POMS: HI 03020.035 - What is Unearned Income - 08/07/2009|url=https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0603020035|website=secure.ssa.gov|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=SSA - POMS: SI 00830.001 - General Information on Unearned Income - 05/25/2000|url=https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0500830001|website=secure.ssa.gov|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref> However, some types of [[unearned income]] (e.g., SSI retroactive payments, [[Earned income tax credit|EITC]] payments, and state relocation assistance) can be excluded.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SSA - POMS: SI 00830.050 - Overview of Unearned Income Exclusions - 09/27/2010|url=https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0500830050|website=secure.ssa.gov|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref>
**'''Lump Sums & Court Awards''': A lump sum award or a court award, such as from a settlement, are considered unearned income for SSI purposes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SSA - POMS: SI 00830.515 - Awards - 04/14/1999|url=https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0500830515|website=secure.ssa.gov|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref><ref>Frerks v. Shalala, 52 F.3d 412 (2d Cir. 1995)(holding that settlement proceeds from medical malpractice suit were resources rendering recipient no longer eligible for SSI)</ref> Individuals on SSI must report receiving a lump sum or court award to the [[Social Security Administration]] by at least 10 days after the month in which the award was received.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SSA - POMS: SI 02301.005 - SSI Posteligibility - Recipient Reporting - 09/30/2016|url=https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0502301005|website=secure.ssa.gov|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref> Any lump sum or court award will reduce the individual's benefit award amount correspondingly in the month received. If the award remains unspent, it will count as resources in the following month, impacting eligibility.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Types of unearned income.|url=https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/416/416-1121.htm|last=SSA|first=ORDP|website=www.ssa.gov|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref><ref>20 CFR §416.1121(f)</ref>
*'''In-Kind Income''': Non-cash items such as: real property (including shelter), food, or non-cash wages (e.g., room and board as compensation for employment).<ref>{{Cite web|title=SSA - POMS: SI 00810.020 - Forms and Amounts of Income - 10/27/2011|url=https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0500810020|website=secure.ssa.gov|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref>
*'''Deemed Income''': When an eligible individual resides in the same household as his/her ineligible spouse or, if a child, with ineligible parent(s), the income of such spouse or parent is considered in determining the individual's eligibility and payment amount.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SSA - POMS: SI 01320.001 - Deeming of Income - Background - 01/07/1999|url=https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0501320001|website=secure.ssa.gov|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref>