Washington SSI Income Limit 2026 — How Earnings Reduce Your Benefit

2026 Federal Benefit Rate

The maximum SSI payment for an individual in 2026 is $994 per month. Washington adds a state supplement of $33 per month, bringing the potential total to $1,027 for someone with no other income and no in-kind support.

This is the starting point. Every dollar of countable income reduces the SSI check according to specific formulas — different ones for earned and unearned income.

How Unearned Income Reduces SSI

Unearned income includes Social Security benefits (including DAC), pensions, annuities, gifts, and in-kind support. The formula is straightforward:

Countable unearned income = max(0, Gross unearned income − $20 (general exclusion))

The SSI check is reduced dollar-for-dollar by countable unearned income. So if someone receives $300 per month in DAC benefits, their SSI is reduced by $280 ($300 minus the $20 exclusion), leaving $714 in federal SSI and $1,014 in combined federal SSI and DAC income before any state supplement.

How Earned Income Reduces SSI

Earned income from employment gets more favorable treatment. SSA wants to encourage work, so the formula excludes more:

Countable earned income = max(0, Gross earned income − $65 − any unused portion of the $20 general exclusion) ÷ 2

The $20 general exclusion applies to unearned income first. If no unearned income uses it, it reduces earned income before the $65 earned income exclusion. Then half of the remainder counts against SSI.

This means working results in higher total monthly income than not working. An SSI recipient earning $500 per month from a part-time job has $207.50 in countable earned income, so the federal SSI payment falls to $786.50. Total federal cash income becomes $1,286.50, an increase of $292.50 before any state supplement.

Student Earned Income Exclusion

For SSI recipients under age 22 who are regularly attending school or vocational training, the Student Earned Income Exclusion provides substantial additional protection. In 2026, an eligible student can exclude up to $2,410 per month in earned income, with a calendar-year maximum of $9,730, before any SSI reduction calculation begins.

This means a student working part-time could earn over $2,000 per month and keep their full SSI check. The SEIE applies before the standard earned income formula, so it stacks: the first $2,410 is excluded entirely, and anything above that gets the half-income calculation.

In-Kind Support and Maintenance

SSI treats free shelter as unearned income called "in-kind support and maintenance." Under current rules, SSA no longer includes food in this calculation. The most common scenario: an adult child living rent-free in the parental home.

If the individual receives shelter for free, SSA can apply the Presumed Maximum Value rule — reducing the SSI benefit by one-third of the federal benefit rate. In 2026, that's about $331 per month, dropping the check from $994 to roughly $663.

The way to prevent this reduction: a written room-and-board agreement where the adult child pays their pro-rata share of household shelter costs (rent or mortgage, property taxes, utilities, and water/sewer/garbage) from their SSI. The agreement must be in place before the SSI interview and should reflect the actual living arrangement. Keep records of any payments and changes.

The Resource Limit

Beyond income, SSI enforces a $2,000 individual resource limit. Countable resources include bank accounts, cash, stocks, and bonds. Excluded: the primary residence, one vehicle, personal effects, and — critically — the first $100,000 in a WA ABLE account.

SSA checks countable resources on the first of each month. If they exceed $2,000 on that date, the SSI payment for that month can be lost and may result in an overpayment. For recipients who receive back pay, a lump sum settlement, or a direct inheritance, immediate action is needed to move or protect excess funds through an eligible ABLE account or special needs trust.

Section 1619(b) Threshold

When a working SSI recipient earns enough that their SSI cash benefit drops to zero, Section 1619(b) protects their Apple Health coverage. In 2026, Washington's 1619(b) threshold is $73,897 in annual gross earnings. Below that, Medicaid continues without a premium.

If earnings exceed the threshold but the individual has unusually high medical or attendant care expenses, SSA can calculate an individualized threshold to preserve coverage.

The Washington SSI at 18 & Adult Disability Benefits Guide includes income calculation worksheets and a CARE assessment prep guide for families managing the intersection of SSI, employment, and DDA services.

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