Annual Statistical Supplement, 2020

Program Provisions and SSA Administrative Data

Other Programs

Supplemental Security Income

Table 2.B1 Federal benefit rates, by living arrangement, 1974–2020
Act Effective date Amount a (dollars)
Individual Couple
  Own household b
1972 January 1, 1974 c 130.00 195.00
1973 January 1, 1974 140.00 210.00
1973 July 1, 1974 146.00 219.00
1974 d July 1, 1975 157.70 236.60
July 1, 1976 167.80 251.80
July 1, 1977 177.70 266.70
July 1, 1978 189.40 284.10
July 1, 1979 208.20 312.30
July 1, 1980 238.00 357.00
July 1, 1981 264.70 397.00
July 1, 1982 284.30 426.40
1983 July 1, 1983 e 304.30 456.40
January 1, 1984 314.00 472.00
January 1, 1985 325.00 488.00
January 1, 1986 336.00 504.00
January 1, 1987 340.00 510.00
January 1, 1988 354.00 532.00
January 1, 1989 368.00 553.00
January 1, 1990 386.00 579.00
January 1, 1991 407.00 610.00
January 1, 1992 422.00 633.00
January 1, 1993 434.00 652.00
January 1, 1994 446.00 669.00
January 1, 1995 458.00 687.00
January 1, 1996 470.00 705.00
January 1, 1997 484.00 726.00
January 1, 1998 494.00 741.00
January 1, 1999 500.00 751.00
January 1, 2000 f 513.00 769.00
January 1, 2001 f 531.00 796.00
January 1, 2002 545.00 817.00
January 1, 2003 552.00 829.00
January 1, 2004 564.00 846.00
January 1, 2005 579.00 869.00
January 1, 2006 603.00 904.00
January 1, 2007 623.00 934.00
January 1, 2008 637.00 956.00
January 1, 2009 674.00 1,011.00
January 1, 2010 674.00 1,011.00
January 1, 2011 674.00 1,011.00
January 1, 2012 698.00 1,048.00
January 1, 2013 710.00 1,066.00
January 1, 2014 721.00 1,082.00
January 1, 2015 733.00 1,100.00
January 1, 2016 733.00 1,100.00
January 1, 2017 735.00 1,103.00
January 1, 2018 750.00 1,125.00
January 1, 2019 771.00 1,157.00
January 1, 2020 783.00 1,175.00
  Receiving institutional care covered by Medicaid g
1972 January 1, 1974 25.00 50.00
1987 July 1, 1988 30.00 60.00
SOURCES: Social Security Act of 1935 (the Act), as amended through December 31, 2019; regulations issued under the Act; and precedential case decisions (rulings). Social Security Administration, Office of the Chief Actuary, "SSI Federal Payment Amounts," https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/COLA/SSIamts.html. See the Social Security Program Rules page (https://www.ssa.gov/regulations/index.htm) for specific laws, regulations, rulings, legislation, and a link to the Federal Register.
NOTE: For those in another person's household receiving support and maintenance there, the federal benefit rate is reduced by one-third.
a. For those without countable income. These payments are reduced by the amount of countable income of the individual or couple.
b. Includes persons in private institutions whose care is not provided by Medicaid.
c. Superseded by the provision of 1973.
d. Mechanism established for providing cost-of-living adjustments.
e. General benefit increase.
f. Benefits originally paid in 2000 and through July 2001 were based on federal benefit rates of $512 and $530, respectively. Pursuant to Public Law 106-554, monthly payments beginning in August 2001 were effectively based on the higher $531 amount. Lump-sum compensation payments were made on the basis of an adjusted benefit rate for months prior to August 2001.
g. Must be receiving more than 50 percent of the cost of the care from Medicaid (Title XIX of the Social Security Act).
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.