Social Security

Maximum Federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment amounts increase with the cost-of-living increases that apply to Social Security benefits. The latest such increase, 1.7 percent, becomes effective January 2013.

SSI amounts for 2013
The monthly maximum Federal amounts for 2013 are $710 for an eligible individual, $1,066 for an eligible individual with an eligible spouse, and $356 for an essential person.

In general, monthly amounts for the next year are determined by increasing the unrounded annual amounts for the current year by the COLA effective for January of the next year. The new unrounded amounts are then each divided by 12 and the resulting amounts are rounded down to the next lower multiple of $1.

Payment reduction
The monthly amount is reduced by subtracting monthly countable income. In the case of an eligible individual with an eligible spouse, the amount payable is further divided equally between the two spouses. Some States supplement SSI benefits.