The first Supplemental Security Income payment of 2024, worth up to $943 for individual filers, went out to recipients on Thursday.
The payment comes as the first payment of the year because of a scheduling quirk in the Social Security Administration’s calendar, which saw two payments in December and none in January.
The maximum amount each person can receive through this program depends on how each recipient filed for the payment. There are three categories when filing: individual, joint, or as an essential person. The essential person category is for those who live with people receiving SSI payments and provide them with necessary care.
This year, individual filers receive up to $943 each month, eligible couples receive up to $1,415, and essential persons get up to $472 each month, according to the SSA. These amounts are an increase of 3.2% from 2023.
Not every recipient will receive the maximum payment, and filers can see a personalized estimate through the SSA’s calculator.
To qualify for SSI, a person has to receive limited income and be totally or partially blind or have a “physical or mental condition(s) that seriously limits their daily activities for a period of 12 months or more, or may be expected to result in death.”
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The SSI program was created in 1974 and seeks to provide extra assistance to vulnerable people, including the elderly, blind people, and people with other debilitating disabilities.
The payments are given on top of regular Social Security benefits, providing monthly payments to adults and children with blindness or another disability and limited income.
