If I receive SSI payments, can I work?

How your earnings affect your SSI payments:

The amount of your SSI payments is based on how much other income you have. When your other income goes up, your SSI payments usually go down. So when you earn more than the SSI limit, your payments will stop for those months. But, your payments will automatically start again for any month your income drops to less than the SSI limits. Just tell us if your earnings are reduced, or if you stop working.

If your only income besides SSI is the money you make from your job, then we do not count the first $85 of your monthly earnings. We deduct from your SSI payments 50 cents of every dollar you earn after the $85 deduction.

Example:

You work and earn $1,000 in a month. You receive no other income besides your earnings and your SSI.

$1000.00 - $85.00 = $915, divided by 2 = $457.50

We would deduct $457.50 from your SSI payment. You are still earning more by working than by just receiving SSI benefits alone.

You may be eligible for a "plan to achieve self-support" which allows you to use money and resources for a specific work goal. These funds do not count when we figure out how your current income and resources affect your benefit amount.

How long your Medicaid will continue:

In general, your Medicaid coverage will continue, even after your SSI payments stop, until your income reaches a certain level. However, if your health care costs are higher than this level, you can have more income and keep your Medicaid. In most states, for your Medicaid to continue, you must: