How to Calculate SSI Benefits

Supplemental Security Income benefits are commonly referred to as SSI benefits. These benefits are given in monthly installments to anyone who meets income qualifications and has a temporary or permanent disability or has reached retirement age. The amount of SSI benefits that are received are dependent on the amount of income in the household.

1. Determine if the applicant is homeless or resides with a family member that pays for the living expenses of the residence. If no rent or shelter costs are paid, the maximum monthly amount should be divided by 0.66 to subtract the amount that would normally be allocated for living expenses. 


2. Figure out the amount of monthly income in the household. You will need to add up the amount of earned income and the amount of unearned income separately so that you have a total for unearned income, earned income and a combined monthly income total.


3. Add up the total of the unearned income that is received in the household for the month and then subtract $20 from the unearned income total.


4. Add up the total monthly amount of earned income that comes into the household of the applicant and subtract $65 from the earned income total.


5. Subtract the amount of unearned income that is received each month from the maximum SSI monthly payment amount of $678. For example, if you have $100 a month in unearned income then you would subtract $20 from this amount making the new amount $80. You would then subtract $80 from $678 for a total of $598.


6. Divide the amount of earned income that you have minus the $65 deduction by two to come up with the figure that should be subtracted from the maximum benefit amount to determine the monthly payment amount. For example, if you have $300 a month in earned income you will need to take the total figure from step 5 and subtract half of $300 from it, which is $150. $598 - $150 = $448, this would be the monthly benefit amount for SSI payments based off of the example.