The short answer
On Supplemental Security Income, Social Security does not count the first $20 of most monthly income, the first $65 of earnings after that, and half of the earnings above $65. For someone whose only income is wages, the first $85 is ignored and the check falls by $1 for every $2 earned after that, so SSI stops at about $2,073 in monthly earnings in 2026 when the federal rate is $994. Beneficiaries under 22 who regularly attend school can exclude up to $2,410 a month and $9,730 a year in 2026. Medicaid can continue after the cash payment stops under Section 1619(b), if earnings stay below a state threshold. Impairment-related work expenses, a Plan to Achieve Self-Support and Ticket to Work add more help, and expedited reinstatement can restore benefits within five years of a work-related stop. Report all earnings to avoid an overpayment.
How earnings reduce the check
SSI is for people with limited income and resources. A job reduces the payment, but not dollar for dollar. Social Security first ignores the first $20 of income in a month, which it applies to other income before earnings. It then ignores the first $65 of earnings, and half of what is left. What remains is countable income, and it is subtracted from the federal benefit rate, which is $994 a month for an individual in 2026.
For a person whose only income is wages, that means the first $85 is ignored, and the check falls by $1 for every $2 earned after that.
Swipe sideways to see the whole table.
| Monthly earnings | Countable income | Monthly SSI payment | Total with SSI |
|---|---|---|---|
| $85 | $0 | $994 | $1,079 |
| $285 | $100 | $894 | $1,179 |
| $585 | $250 | $744 | $1,329 |
| $985 | $450 | $544 | $1,529 |
| $2,073 | $994 | $0 | $2,073 |
The table shows the federal rate only. Some states add a payment, which moves the numbers, and other income such as Social Security benefits reduces the check dollar for dollar after a $20 exclusion. Our guide to SSI income and resource limits explains how other income counts.
Wages, self-employment and the disability test
Wages are counted before taxes. Self-employment is counted differently: Social Security looks at your net earnings after business expenses, so keep records of costs. Either way, report every source.
Work also touches the disability test. At the start, an adult earning more than the substantial gainful activity amount, $1,690 a month in 2026 and $2,830 if blind, is generally found not disabled for SSI. After approval, a rule called Section 1619(a) lets cash payments continue while earnings are above that amount, provided your condition is still disabling and your countable income is below the limit. In practice, high earnings alone do not end SSI. Ask Social Security how it treats yours, since a medical review can be affected by work.
Keeping Medicaid: Section 1619(b)
In most states, SSI comes with Medicaid, and losing it can matter more than losing the cash. Section 1619(b) protects it. When earnings are high enough that the cash payment drops to zero, a person can keep Medicaid if they still meet the disability rules, received an SSI payment at least once, need Medicaid to work and have earnings below a threshold set for their state. The threshold is based on the earnings at which SSI stops and the state's average Medicaid cost, so it varies.
Ask Social Security or a benefits counselor for your state's threshold before you accept a job or a raise. A move that ends the cash but keeps Medicaid is very different from one that ends both.
Other work incentives
- Impairment-related work expenses. Costs you pay to work because of your disability, such as a wheelchair accessible vehicle, a service animal or medical devices, can be subtracted from your earnings when Social Security figures your payment, which can raise it.
- Student earned income exclusion. A recipient under 22 who regularly attends school can exclude up to $2,410 a month and $9,730 a year of earnings in 2026, before the other exclusions apply.
- Plan to Achieve Self-Support. A written plan to save for a work goal, such as school, training or a business, lets you set aside income and resources without losing SSI. It has to be approved in advance.
- Expedited reinstatement. If your SSI stopped because of work and you stop working because of your disability, you can ask within five years to restart benefits without a new application, with up to six months of temporary payments while Social Security reviews your case.
- Ticket to Work. A free program that connects beneficiaries to job training and employment help. See our guide to the Ticket to Work program.
Savings and reporting
The resource limit is $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple. Savings above it can end eligibility, which is why many working recipients use an ABLE account. An ABLE account lets people with disabilities save for disability-related expenses without the funds counting against SSI up to a limit, and the rules and limits are in the account's terms.
Other programs count your pay as well. SNAP and housing assistance look at your earnings, so report a new job to each one. You must report earnings and other changes to Social Security, and the deadline is short: generally by the 10th day of the month after the month the change happened. Keep your pay stubs and report even small amounts, since the payment is recalculated from them. A late or missed report is a common cause of an overpayment. Our guide to reporting changes lists how to report, and our guide to overpayment waivers and appeals explains what to do if one arrives.
What to do in common situations
- Your first month at work: report the job and your pay stubs, and expect the check to change in a month or two.
- A raise or more hours: estimate the new payment first, and ask about your state's Medicaid threshold before accepting the change.
- The job ends: report it. Your payment goes back up after a short lag, and if SSI had stopped because of earnings, ask about reinstatement.
- SSI stopped because of earnings: your eligibility generally remains for up to 12 months in a row, and you can restart it during that time if your income falls. After that it ends, though expedited reinstatement can restore it within five years if you stop working because of your disability.
Keep one folder with pay stubs, reports you made and every notice from Social Security. If the agency says you were overpaid, the folder is what lets you check the math and request a waiver or an appeal.
A student's first job
Example (hypothetical): a 19-year-old in school
A 19-year-old who attends school and receives SSI works 20 hours a week at $15 an hour, which is about $1,200 a month during the school year. Under the student earned income exclusion, up to $2,410 a month and $9,730 a year of those earnings is ignored first. Over eight school months she earns $9,600, which is under the yearly cap, so none of it reduces her SSI. Once the cap is reached, the usual $20, $65 and half rules apply to the rest.
The exclusion ends at 22, and it only applies while the person regularly attends school, so the paperwork from the school matters. Social Security often asks for proof of enrollment each term.
If your earnings change
Work income is rarely steady, and SSI is figured month by month. A busy month lowers the payment and a slow one raises it, often with a delay of a month or two. Social Security generally bases a payment on what you earned a couple of months earlier, so a change in pay shows up in your check later, and the agency can adjust or ask you to repay if a report was late.
If your earnings are high and steady, you may also be eligible for or switch to other programs. Someone with enough work credits may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance, and our guide to SSI and SSDI explains the difference and the rules for each.
Example (hypothetical): a part-time job and Medicaid
A woman on SSI takes a job paying $585 a month. Social Security ignores the first $85 and half of the rest, counting $250 as income, so her SSI check falls from $994 to $744 and her total income rises to $1,329. She reports her pay stubs each month by the 10th. When she is offered more hours and her earnings reach $2,100, her cash payment stops. She asks about Section 1619(b) before accepting, learns her state's threshold is higher than her pay and keeps Medicaid.
Questions about working on SSI
Will working make me lose SSI?
Not right away. For someone with only earnings, SSI stops at roughly $2,073 a month in 2026 under the federal rate. Medicaid can often continue after that under Section 1619(b).
Do I have to report small amounts of pay?
Yes. Report all earnings, even small or irregular amounts, by the 10th of the following month. Unreported income is a common cause of SSI overpayments.
Can I work while my SSI application is pending?
You can, but at application an adult earning above the substantial gainful activity amount, $1,690 a month in 2026, is generally found not disabled. Part-time work below it does not stop an application, but report it.
Does a job affect my Medicaid right away?
Not usually. Medicaid is tied to SSI eligibility and to Section 1619(b), so ask about your state's rules before changing hours.
Can I get SSI benefits back if I lose the job?
Often yes. You can request expedited reinstatement within five years of the month your benefits stopped, if you stop working because of your disability and your condition is the same or related.
What decides your case
Amounts, state supplements and Medicaid thresholds differ, and Social Security decides each case. This is general information and not legal advice. A Work Incentives Planning and Assistance counselor, available through Social Security's Ticket to Work program, can run the numbers for free.
Official sources
Before you take the job
Estimate how the pay would change your check with the SSI calculator, ask Social Security for your state's Medicaid threshold and set a reminder to report your pay by the 10th of every month. If the numbers are close, a free work incentives counselor can help.
