Most years the Supplemental Security Income maximum benefit increases. Supplemental Security Income benefits automatically increased in 2013 because there was an increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the third quarter of 2010 to the third quarter of 2012. As of January 1, 2013, the federal benefit rate is $710 for an individual and $1,066 for a couple.
Supplemental Security Income benefit amounts and state supplemental payment amounts vary based upon income, living arrangements, and other factors. The current living arrangement is another factor used to determine how much SSI a person can get. Supplemental Security Income benefits may vary depending on where you live such as a house, apartment, or mobile home, or in someone else’s household. Other possible living situations include group care or board, care facility or in an institution.
Social Security may reduce SSI benefits because of living arrangements in the following circumstances: If a person lives in another person’s house, apartment, or mobile home, and pays less than their fair share of food or housing costs; or live in your own house, apartment, or mobile home, and someone else pays for all or part of your food, rent, mortgage, or other things like electricity and heating fuel; or are in a hospital or nursing home for the whole month and Medicaid pays for over one half of the cost of your care; or are a minor child and private insurance and Medicaid together pay over half your bill; or are in a public or private medical treatment facility and Medicaid is paying for more than half the cost of your care. If you live in a funded facility for one whole month, your SSI benefit is limited to $30 (plus any supplementary state payment). Social Security may lower the benefit amount if you have other income.
If a person is homeless Social Security calculates the benefit amount the same as a person who lives in their own house, apartment, or mobile home. If a person lives in a homeless shelter or public shelter for a period of six out of nine months a person can receive up to the maximum SSI benefit payable in the state of Minnesota.
