SSI and CalFresh | CalFresh Food (2024)

FAQs

Is SSI countable income for CalFresh? ›

Will SSI/SSP income be counted? SSI/SSP income will count in our CalFresh budgets as unearned income for determining benefits. There is no cap on shelter expenses such as rent and mortgage for these households. Medical deductions paid out-of-pocket can be used to offset income in the budget.

If you get SSI, you can usually get federal benefits like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and state benefits like Medicaid. SNAP helps pay for food, and Medicaid helps pay doctor and hospital bills. Help from these programs won't affect your SSI payment.

SSI provides monthly payments to adults and children with a disability or blindness, and to adults aged 65 and older, who have limited income and resources. SSI benefits help pay for basic needs like rent, food, clothing, and medicine.

As of June 1, 2019 SSI recipients may be eligible for CalFresh Food benefits.

MYTH: If I am receiving Social Security Retirement or Disability benefits, I am not eligible for CalFresh. FACT: Both Social Security (SSA) benefit and Disability (SSDI and SDI) benefit recipients may be eligible for CalFresh.

Some of what you make or own won't count toward SSI limits. For SSI, income is money you get, such as wages, Social Security benefits, and pensions. Income can also include food and housing. Resources are things you own that have value, such as a second vehicle or money in a bank account.

Exception: Therapeutic diets and Pregnancy Special Need payments count as unearned income in the CalFresh budget. All work study payments are excluded as income. Earned income received from the Census Bureau for temporary employment related to United States Decennial Census.

Answer: Social security benefits include monthly retirement, survivor and disability benefits. They don't include supplemental security income (SSI) payments, which aren't taxable.

The maximum monthly SSI payment for 2024 is $943 for an individual and $1,415 for a couple. Your amount may be lower based on your income, certain family members' income, your living situation, and other factors.

There is a limit on how much food and shelter we may count. The limit is one–third of the maximum Federal SSI amount payable for a month, plus $20. We do not consider items you receive that you cannot use for food or shelter as income.

What is the new SSI rule for 2024? ›

For 2024, the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) FBR is $943 per month for an eligible individual and $1,415 per month for an eligible couple. For 2024, the amount of earnings that will have no effect on eligibility or benefits for SSI beneficiaries who are students under age 22 is $9,230 a year.

Basic Requirements Aged 65, blind or disabled. Citizenship U.S. citizen, U.S. national or resident alien. Countable Resources $2,000 for individuals/$3,000 for married couples. Income Countable income can't exceed the federal benefit rate.

The $900 grocery stimulus for seniors is only a rumor that has its roots in a petition that was initiated in 2022 by the Senior Citizens League. The petition requested a one-time $1,400 lump-sum stimulus payment to help seniors cope with rising inflation.

Food benefits for one person range from $15-$192 per month, with an average for older adults and people with disabilities around $105-110 per month. Food benefits are delivered on an EBT debit card accepted at grocery stores, farmers markets' and other approved CalFresh locations statewide.

In-Kind Income is food, shelter, or both that you get for free or for less than its fair market value. Deemed Income is the part of the income of your spouse with whom you live, your parent(s) with whom you live, or your sponsor (if you are a noncitizen), which we use to compute your SSI benefit amount.

You must pay taxes on up to 85% of your Social Security benefits if you file a: Federal tax return as an “individual” and your “combined income” exceeds $25,000. Joint return, and you and your spouse have “combined income” of more than $32,000.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Grants are not considered as income or assets.