To qualify for Supplemental Security Income in Wyoming in 2026, your countable monthly income must be below $994 if you are single or $1,491 if you are a married couple where both spouses qualify, and your countable resources must stay under $2,000 (individual) or $3,000 (couple). You also have to be age 65 or older, blind, or disabled under Social Security's definition. Wyoming adds a $20 monthly state supplement for SSI recipients whose only income is their SSI check, and because Wyoming is a Section 1634 state, an SSI approval automatically enrolls you in Wyoming Medicaid with no separate application.
That is the short version. The rest of this guide walks through how the numbers actually work, since "countable" income is not the same as the money that hits your bank account, and most people who assume they earn too much are wrong.
Wyoming SSI Payment Amounts for 2026
Social Security applied a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment for 2026. The federal benefit rate, which is both the maximum payment and the income cutoff, rose accordingly.
| Category | 2025 Federal Rate | 2026 Federal Rate | Wyoming Supplement | 2026 Wyoming Total |
|---|
| Individual | $967 | $994 | $20 | $1,014 |
| Couple (both eligible) | $1,450 | $1,491 | $20 per person | Up to $1,531 |
| Essential person | $484 | $498 | Not applicable | $498 |
The Wyoming State Supplemental Payment is $20 per person per month. It is a small amount, but it is automatic if you qualify, and it does not require you to fill out a separate form. Wyoming administers the supplement itself through the Wyoming Employment System rather than having Social Security fold it into your federal check. Payments are deposited into the same account where your SSI lands, or mailed as a check if you do not have a bank account.
Two conditions have to be true to get the Wyoming supplement:
- SSI is your sole source of income. If you receive Social Security retirement, SSDI, a pension, VA benefits, or wages on top of SSI, you do not qualify for the state supplement.
- You are a Wyoming resident.
That "sole source of income" rule is stricter than most states, and it is the reason many Wyoming SSI recipients get $994 rather than $1,014.
Wyoming SSI Income Limits 2026
The $994 figure is a countable income limit, not a gross income limit. Social Security ignores a large chunk of what you bring in before it does the math.
The standard exclusions for 2026:
- General income exclusion: the first $20 of almost any income each month
- Earned income exclusion: the first $65 of wages each month, plus half of everything above that
- Not counted at all: SNAP benefits, most home energy assistance, tax refunds, the value of your home, and certain need-based state assistance
Here is what that means in practice. Your SSI payment equals $994 minus your countable income.
| Gross Monthly Wages | Countable Earned Income | 2026 SSI Payment (Individual) |
|---|
| $0 | $0 | $994 |
| $300 | $107.50 | $886.50 |
| $600 | $257.50 | $736.50 |
| $1,000 | $457.50 | $536.50 |
| $1,500 | $707.50 | $286.50 |
| $2,100 | $1,007.50 | $0 |
The math on the $1,000 row: $1,000 minus the $20 general exclusion minus the $65 earned income exclusion leaves $915. Half of $915 is $457.50. That is your countable income, and $994 minus $457.50 leaves an SSI payment of $536.50.
The practical takeaway: a single person in Wyoming can earn roughly $2,100 a month in wages before SSI eligibility ends entirely. Unearned income is treated much more harshly. A $500 monthly pension knocks $480 off your SSI check, dollar for dollar after the $20 exclusion.
One caveat at the application stage. When Social Security first decides whether you are disabled, it applies the substantial gainful activity test. For 2026, that is $1,690 per month for non-blind applicants and $2,830 per month for blind applicants. If you are working above that level when you apply, Social Security will generally find you are not disabled, regardless of the SSI income formula. The SGA test screens you in at the front door; the income formula sizes your check afterward.
Wyoming SSI Resource Limits 2026
Resource limits have not moved since 1989 and did not change for 2026:
| Household | Countable Resource Limit |
|---|
| Individual | $2,000 |
| Couple | $3,000 |
Resources are things you own that could be converted to cash: bank accounts, stocks, second vehicles, land you do not live on.
What Wyoming SSI does NOT count:
- The home you live in and the land it sits on, regardless of value
- One vehicle, regardless of value, if it is used for transportation by you or a household member
- Household goods and personal effects
- Burial plots for you and immediate family, plus up to $1,500 in burial funds
- ABLE account balances up to $100,000
- Life insurance with a combined face value of $1,500 or less
- Retroactive SSI or Social Security back payments, for nine months after you receive them
Wyoming's rural geography makes the vehicle exclusion matter. A single reliable truck does not count against you, no matter what it is worth. A second vehicle does, at its equity value.
Living Arrangements and the One-Third Reduction
Where you live changes your SSI payment. Social Security tracks four living arrangement categories, and Wyoming uses the same codes for its supplement:
- Own household: you pay your share of rent, mortgage, food, and utilities. Full federal rate applies.
- Another person's household: if someone gives you free food and shelter, Social Security applies the value of the one-third reduction rule and cuts your federal payment by roughly one-third, to about $662.67 for an individual in 2026.
- Parent's household (child cases): a portion of the parents' income is deemed to the child.
- Medicaid institution: if Medicaid pays more than half the cost of your care in a nursing home or similar facility, your federal SSI payment drops to $30 per month.
If you live with family and pay a fair share of household expenses, document it. A simple written rent or expense-sharing agreement protects your full payment. People lose about $330 a month for lack of a piece of paper.
Wyoming SSI and Medicaid
Wyoming is one of the states with a Section 1634 agreement with Social Security. When SSI is approved, Wyoming Medicaid coverage follows automatically. You do not file a separate Medicaid application, and you do not go through a separate disability review.
This matters more in Wyoming than in most states because Wyoming has not adopted Medicaid expansion. There is no adult coverage pathway based on income alone. For many low-income adults with disabilities in Wyoming, SSI approval is the primary route to health coverage.
If you later start working and your earnings push your SSI payment to $0, Section 1619(b) keeps your Medicaid in place. Wyoming's 2026 threshold under that rule is $51,244 in annual gross earnings. Below that, you keep Medicaid even with no SSI check. That is a significant protection and one of the most commonly missed work incentives in the program.
How to Apply for SSI in Wyoming
Step 1: Confirm you meet the non-financial requirements. You must be a U.S. citizen or a qualified non-citizen, live in one of the 50 states, and be age 65+, blind, or have a medical condition expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.
Step 2: Gather your documents. Social Security number, birth certificate, proof of citizenship or immigration status, proof of Wyoming residence, bank statements for the last several months, pay stubs, information about anything you own, and the names, addresses, and phone numbers of every doctor, clinic, and hospital that has treated you.
Step 3: Start the application. Adults age 18 to 64 applying on the basis of disability can start online at ssa.gov/apply. Applicants 65 or older, blind applicants, and applications for children must be completed by phone or in person.
Step 4: Call or visit a Wyoming Social Security office. The national line is 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Wyoming has field offices in Casper, Cheyenne, Riverton, Rock Springs, and Sheridan, and Social Security also serves parts of the state through offices in neighboring states. Rural applicants can complete the entire process by phone.
Step 5: Complete the disability paperwork. If you apply based on disability, your file goes to Wyoming Disability Determination Services, which requests your medical records. If the records are thin, DDS will schedule a consultative exam at no cost to you.
Step 6: Wait, and respond fast to any request. Initial disability decisions typically take five to eight months. The single most common cause of delay is a missed request for information. Answer everything within the deadline.
Step 7: Appeal if you are denied. Most initial disability applications are denied nationwide. You have 60 days to request reconsideration. Wyoming does use the reconsideration step, so the appeal ladder runs reconsideration, then an administrative law judge hearing, then the Appeals Council, then federal court. A high share of applicants who lose at the initial stage win at the hearing level. Do not restart a new application instead of appealing, since that resets your protective filing date and can cost you back pay.
Explore other Wyoming programs at /states/wyoming.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum SSI payment in Wyoming for 2026?
$994 per month for an individual and $1,491 for an eligible couple from the federal government. Wyoming adds $20 per person if SSI is your only income, bringing the individual maximum to $1,014.
Does Wyoming add a state supplement to SSI?
Yes, $20 per month per person. To qualify, you must be a Wyoming resident and SSI must be your sole source of income. The state pays it directly rather than routing it through Social Security.
How much can I earn and still get SSI in Wyoming?
Roughly $2,100 per month in wages before your payment reaches zero, because Social Security excludes $20, then $65, then half of the rest. At the application stage, though, earning above $1,690 per month ($2,830 if blind) will usually cause a finding that you are not disabled.
Do I get Medicaid automatically with SSI in Wyoming?
Yes. Wyoming has a Section 1634 agreement, so an SSI approval enrolls you in Wyoming Medicaid without a separate application.
Can I get both SSI and SSDI in Wyoming?
Yes, this is called a concurrent benefit. If your SSDI payment is below $974 (that is $994 minus the $20 general income exclusion), SSI can top you up to the federal rate. You would not receive the Wyoming state supplement in that case, since SSI would not be your sole income source.
What happens to my SSI if I move out of Wyoming?
Your federal SSI payment continues, but the $20 Wyoming supplement stops and your new state's supplement rules apply. Report the move to Social Security within 10 days.
Does owning a home disqualify me from SSI in Wyoming?
No. The home you live in and the land it sits on are excluded entirely, regardless of value. Land or property you do not live on counts toward the $2,000 or $3,000 resource limit.
How long does SSI approval take in Wyoming?
Age-based applications (65+) with no disability determination can be processed in a few weeks. Disability-based applications typically take five to eight months for an initial decision, and appeals add many months on top of that.
