How to Calculate Ssi Rate

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SSI Monthly Payment Calculator (2024)

Individual ($943/mo) Couple ($1,415/mo)
Social Security benefits, interest, or gifts.
Money earned from a job or self-employment.

Calculation Results

How to Calculate SSI Rate: A Detailed Guide

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal program designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people who have little or no income. Understanding how the Social Security Administration (SSA) calculates your monthly rate is essential for financial planning.

The Basic SSI Formula

The calculation follows a specific hierarchy of exclusions and deductions. The general formula is:

Estimated Payment = Federal Benefit Rate (FBR) – Countable Income

1. Federal Benefit Rates (2024)

  • Individual: $943 per month
  • Couple: $1,415 per month

Step-by-Step Calculation Logic

Not all the money you receive counts against your SSI payment. The SSA applies "disregards" to your income:

  1. Unearned Income Calculation: First, take your unearned income (like SSDI or private pensions) and subtract the $20 general income exclusion.
  2. Earned Income Calculation: If you work, the SSA excludes the first $65 of your monthly gross wages. If you didn't use the $20 general exclusion on unearned income, the remainder is applied here. Then, the SSA divides the remaining amount by 2. Only half of your remaining wages count against your SSI.
  3. Total Countable Income: Add the countable unearned income and countable earned income together.
  4. Final Rate: Subtract the total countable income from the 2024 Federal Benefit Rate.

Example Calculation

Suppose you are an individual receiving $100 in unearned income and $500 in monthly gross wages:

  • Unearned: $100 – $20 exclusion = $80 countable.
  • Earned: $500 – $65 exclusion = $435. Divide by 2 = $217.50 countable.
  • Total Countable: $80 + $217.50 = $297.50.
  • SSI Payment: $943 (FBR) – $297.50 = $645.50.
function calculateSSIRate() { var fbr = parseFloat(document.getElementById('filingStatus').value); var unearned = parseFloat(document.getElementById('unearnedIncome').value) || 0; var earned = parseFloat(document.getElementById('earnedIncome').value) || 0; // 1. General Income Exclusion ($20) // Applies to unearned income first var generalExclusion = 20; var countableUnearned = 0; var remainingGeneralExclusion = 0; if (unearned >= generalExclusion) { countableUnearned = unearned – generalExclusion; remainingGeneralExclusion = 0; } else { countableUnearned = 0; remainingGeneralExclusion = generalExclusion – unearned; } // 2. Earned Income Exclusion ($65 + any remaining general exclusion) var earnedExclusion = 65 + remainingGeneralExclusion; var countableEarned = 0; if (earned > earnedExclusion) { countableEarned = (earned – earnedExclusion) / 2; } else { countableEarned = 0; } // 3. Total Countable Income var totalCountable = countableUnearned + countableEarned; // 4. Final SSI Payment var ssiPayment = fbr – totalCountable; if (ssiPayment < 0) { ssiPayment = 0; } // Display Results var resultDiv = document.getElementById('ssiResult'); var totalCountableText = document.getElementById('totalCountableText'); var finalPaymentText = document.getElementById('finalPaymentText'); resultDiv.style.display = 'block'; totalCountableText.innerHTML = 'Total Countable Income: $' + totalCountable.toFixed(2); finalPaymentText.innerHTML = 'Estimated Monthly SSI Payment: $' + ssiPayment.toFixed(2); // Scroll to result resultDiv.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', block: 'nearest' }); }

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