The 2026 SSI Resource Limits
| Household Type | Resource Limit |
|---|
| Individual | $2,000 |
| Married Couple | $3,000 |
These limits have not changed since 1989. Adjusted for inflation, the $2,000 limit would be over $5,000 today. Congress has proposed raising the limits (see below), but no increase has been enacted as of June 2026.
What Counts as a Countable Resource
These assets are counted toward your resource limit:
Cash and bank accounts. All money you can access counts. This includes checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposit, and cash on hand. The full balance counts, not just the portion you plan to use.
Second (and additional) vehicles. You are allowed one vehicle regardless of its value. Any additional vehicle you own counts at its current market value, even if it does not run.
Real property you do not live on. A second home, vacation property, rental property, or vacant land all count at their market value. Only your primary residence is excluded.
Life insurance with cash surrender value above $1,500. Whole life and universal life policies that have built up cash value count toward the limit. Specifically, if the combined cash surrender value of all your life insurance policies exceeds $1,500, the amount above $1,500 counts as a countable resource.
Stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. These count at their current market value.
Promissory notes and loans you made to others. If someone owes you money and you have a written agreement, SSA generally counts the value of that loan as your resource.
Non-liquid assets you could sell. Jewelry beyond personal effects (other than wedding and engagement rings), collectibles, and similar items with significant resale value can count.
What Does NOT Count: Excluded Resources
SSA excludes many common assets from the resource calculation. These do not count toward the $2,000 limit no matter their value.
Your Primary Home
Your home and the land it sits on are completely excluded as long as you live there or intend to return. There is no value cap on this exclusion. A $500,000 home does not count at all. If you move into a nursing facility, the home remains excluded for a limited period if you intend to return or a spouse or dependent relative lives there.
One Vehicle
One vehicle per household is excluded in full, regardless of value. It does not have to be used for medical transport or have any special purpose. A pickup truck worth $40,000 counts as zero if it is the household's only vehicle.
Household Goods and Personal Effects
Furniture, appliances, clothing, and similar personal property are excluded entirely. Wedding and engagement rings are specifically protected regardless of their value.
Burial-Related Exclusions
Two burial exclusions apply. First, burial plots for you and your immediate family members are excluded with no dollar limit. Second, up to $1,500 per person can be set aside specifically for burial expenses in a designated burial fund. If you and your spouse each have $1,500 designated for burial costs, that is $3,000 excluded from total resources.
Life Insurance with No Cash Value
Term life insurance policies do not build cash value and are excluded entirely. The policy's face amount does not matter.
ABLE Accounts (Up to $100,000)
Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts allow people with disabilities to save money without it counting as a resource for SSI purposes, up to $100,000. If your ABLE account balance exceeds $100,000, SSI payments are suspended (not terminated) until the balance drops below that threshold. ABLE accounts are available to individuals who became disabled before age 26.
Contributions to an ABLE account in 2026 are limited to $18,000 per year from all sources. Working SSI recipients may be able to contribute additional amounts above that cap under the ABLE to Work provision.
Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS)
A PASS is an SSA-approved plan that lets you set aside income or resources to pursue a work goal, such as starting a business or completing education or training. Money and assets set aside under an approved PASS are excluded from countable resources. This is one of the most powerful tools available to SSI recipients who want to build savings without losing benefits.
Special Needs Trusts
Assets held in a properly structured special needs trust (also called a supplemental needs trust) are not counted as your resources. These trusts are typically established for individuals with disabilities to hold funds without affecting SSI or Medicaid eligibility. The trust must meet specific legal requirements, and you generally cannot revoke it or direct distributions to yourself for basic support.
SSI Back Payments
When SSA owes you retroactive SSI payments, the lump sum is excluded from resources for nine months after you receive it. After nine months, any remaining amount counts as a resource. This gives you time to spend the back payment on excluded items without losing eligibility immediately.
Other Excluded Resources
Additional exclusions include:
- Earned Income Tax Credit payments: excluded for nine months after receipt
- Child Tax Credit payments: excluded for nine months after receipt
- Certain disaster relief payments
- Funds from the sale of an excluded resource if you intend to use the proceeds to purchase another excluded resource within three months
Resource Limits and Married Couples
For a married couple where both spouses receive SSI, the combined limit is $3,000. SSA counts resources owned by either spouse, resources jointly owned, and in some cases resources owned by a spouse who does not receive SSI. If your spouse is ineligible for SSI, SSA may still "deem" some of their resources as yours when determining your eligibility.
The One-Third Reduction and In-Kind Support
Resources and income are separate calculations. Receiving free food or housing from someone else (in-kind support and maintenance) can reduce your SSI payment amount by up to one-third. This is an income rule, not a resource rule, but it is commonly confused with resource limits.
Pending Legislation: Proposed Increases to the Resource Limit
As of June 2026, the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act (introduced in Congress as part of several SSI reform proposals) would raise the individual resource limit to $10,000 and the couple limit to $20,000, with future adjustments indexed to inflation. The legislation has not passed as of this writing. If it passes, it would be the first increase to SSI resource limits in more than 35 years.
What Happens If You Go Over the Resource Limit
If your countable resources exceed the limit on the first of the month, SSA suspends your SSI payment for that month. You do not lose eligibility permanently. Once your resources drop below the limit again, payments resume the following month.
SSA also reviews your resources periodically through continuing disability reviews and eligibility redeterminations. If you were over the limit during past months but did not report it, SSA can require repayment of any SSI you received while ineligible. Reporting changes promptly protects you from overpayment.
How to Check Your Countable Resources
To determine whether you are below the limit:
- List every asset you own: bank accounts, vehicles, property, investments, life insurance policies.
- Subtract any excluded assets (your home, one vehicle, household goods, burial funds, ABLE account, PASS funds, etc.).
- Add up what remains. That is your countable resource total.
- Compare to $2,000 (individual) or $3,000 (couple).
If you are close to the limit, consider whether any purchases of excluded items, contributions to an ABLE account, or establishment of a PASS would help you stay eligible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a 401(k) or IRA count as a resource for SSI?
Generally yes, if you can access the funds. If you have an IRA or 401(k) that you can withdraw from, SSA typically counts the value (or the accessible portion) as a resource. Funds you cannot access without penalty may be treated differently. Rules vary depending on your specific plan type and whether distributions are available to you.
Does money in a savings account count?
Yes. Every dollar in a savings account counts toward your resource limit unless it falls under a specific exclusion, such as burial funds up to $1,500.
Can I have a checking and savings account?
Yes, you can have both. The balances of all accounts are added together and counted as a single resource total. Having multiple accounts does not create additional exclusions.
Do gifts count as resources?
Gifts received in a month count as income in that month. If you do not spend them, any remaining amount becomes a resource the following month and counts toward your limit.
Does my car count if I use it to get to medical appointments?
One vehicle is excluded entirely regardless of its use. You do not need to use it for medical transport. If you own a second vehicle, that one counts at market value.
What happens to my SSI if I inherit money?
An inheritance counts as income in the month you receive it and becomes a resource the following month if you retain it. If the inheritance pushes you over the $2,000 limit, you lose SSI for that month. You can spend down to below the limit by purchasing excluded items or paying ordinary expenses.
Can a special needs trust protect my inheritance?
Yes. If an inheritance is placed into a properly structured special needs trust, it is excluded from your countable resources. This typically must be done quickly, before the end of the month following the month you receive the funds. Consult a disability attorney before acting.
Is my home excluded even if I move to a nursing home?
Your home remains excluded for SSI purposes if you have a spouse or dependent relative living there, or if you intend to return home. If neither condition applies, the home may become a countable resource after you have been away for an extended period.
What is the difference between countable income and countable resources?
Income is money you receive during a month (wages, Social Security benefits, gifts). Resources are what you own at the start of the month. SSI has separate rules and limits for each. You can be ineligible due to excess resources even if your income is low enough to qualify.
Where can I learn more about my SSI eligibility?
Use the free Benefits Navigator screener at benefitsusa.org/screener to check your estimated SSI eligibility in minutes based on your income, resources, and household size.
The $2,000 resource limit is one of the strictest asset tests in any federal assistance program. Knowing which assets SSA excludes gives you the tools to plan ahead, protect your benefits, and avoid accidental overpayments. If your situation is complex, a Social Security attorney or benefits counselor can review your specific assets and recommend strategies to stay within the limit.
