What Will SSI Checks Be In 2022?
What Will SSI Checks Be In 2022?
If you are among the more than 5.1 million people who rely upon benefits received through the Supplemental Security Income program, expect to see an increase in the amount of your SSI checks in 2022. The rate of inflation caused the Social Security Administration to add 5.9% as a cost-of-living adjustment to SSI benefit payments in 2022.
The maximum monthly payment from SSI is $841 for one person and $1,261 if you have a spouse who also qualifies for SSI benefits. These are, however, the maximum federal payments. They do not include supplemental payments that you may be eligible to receive from your state and do not include deductions for the income you receive from work or other sources.
The following information should give you a better understanding of what will your SSI checks be in 2022. However, a consultation with an SSI lawyer at MJ Ellis Disability Law is an ideal source for advice, guidance, and skilled representation for all matters pertaining to Social Security disability.
A need-based program providing a financial safety net
SSI pays monthly benefits to adults and children with limited income and resources who are disabled or blind and to non-disabled or blind adults who are 65 years of age or older. Social Security Disability Insurance or SSDI also pays benefits when a disability prevents you from working, but you must have worked at jobs or through self-employment and paid into the Social Security system through the taxes paid on the income that you earned. An SSDI lawyer is your best source of information about eligibility for benefits.
The amount of the monthly benefit payment that you receive through SSDI is based on your lifetime earnings from work, so it differs from one person to another. On the other hand, federal law sets the SSI benefit for individuals in 2022 at $841 with married couples where both spouses are eligible for benefits receiving $1,261. What you actually get through SSI may, however, be subject to deductions for other income that you receive.
How other income may affect your monthly SSI checks
Income that you receive from sources other than SSI affects the amount of your monthly SSD benefits. Unearned income, which generally means income from sources other than wages, cannot exceed $861for you or $1,281 for you and an eligible spouse in 2022. SSI allows you to exclude some sources of unearned income, including:
- The first $20 of monthly unearned income.
- State or locally funded need-based assistance.
- Rent subsidies through HUD programs.
- Supplemental nutrition assistance, formerly known as food stamps.
Monthly income earned as wages cannot exceed $1,767 for an individual and $2,607 for eligible married couples. The following exclusions apply to monthly earnings:
- The first $65 and, unless it was already used, the $20 exclusion for unearned income.
- One-half of the remaining balance of earned income after deducting the $65 and $20 exclusions.
- Work expenses related to your disability, such as counseling and transportation.
An example may help make it clearer about how earned and unearned income affects the amount of your SSI checks in 2022.
If you have $755 in monthly wages from a job and $30 in unearned income, the $20 monthly exclusion reduces the unearned income to $10, which reduces your monthly SSI benefit to $831. Applying the $65 exclusion to the $755 in wages reduces it to $690. Deducting the exclusion of one-half of the remaining wages results in a balance of $345, which reduces your SSI benefit for the month to $486.
While on the topic of wages and how they affect what will your SSI checks be in 2022, do not forget about the special exclusion that applies to students. You may be able to exclude as much as $2,040 in monthly wages in 2022 provided you meet all of the following guidelines:
- You must be disabled or blind.
- You must be younger than 22 years of age.
- You must regularly attend school, college, or vocational training.
If you meet the guidelines for the student earned income exclusion, you may exclude up to $2,040 a month in wages without it affecting your monthly SSD benefits through SSI. There is an annual maximum exclusion in 2022 of $8,230.
Speak with an experienced SSI Lawyer
When you have questions and concerns about SSDI and SSI benefits, look to an SSD lawyer at MJ Ellis Disability Law for answers and solutions. Our unsurpassed knowledge of Social Security disability law and regulations coupled with years of experience make us the trusted source for information and representation from initial applications through the complex process of appealing application denials or termination of benefits. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.