Understanding Supplemental Security Income
SSI Benefits2012 Edition

Generally, the maximum Federal SSI benefit changes yearly.  SSI benefits will automatically increase in 2012 because there was an increase in the Consumer Price Index from the third quarter of 2009 to the third quarter of 2011.  Effective January 1, 2012, the Federal benefit rate is $698 for an individual and $1,048 for a couple.

Some States supplement the Federal SSI benefit with additional payments. This makes the total SSI benefit levels higher in those States. SSI benefit amounts and State supplemental payment amounts vary based upon your income, living arrangements, and other factors.

NO STATE SUPPLEMENT

The following States or territories do not pay a supplement to people who receive SSI:

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTERED SUPPLEMENT

We administer the State supplement for the following States. You may contact us about your total benefit amount.

*	Dual administration State.  In these States, Social Security administers some categories of State supplement payments, while the State administers other categories of supplemental payments.

STATE ADMINISTERED SUPPLEMENT

The following States pay and administer their own supplemental payments and you may contact the State for payment information.

See the publication titled, “State Assistance Programs for SSI Recipient, January 2011” on our website at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/policy/docs/progdesc/ssi_st_asst/ for more information.

See the SSI FOR CHILDREN chapter for more information on States that supplement Federal SSI benefits to children.