Do COVID-19 stimulus checks affect SSI benefits?

According to a 2023 investigation by KFF Health News and Cox Media Group, some SSI recipients say they have been ordered to repay past benefits because saving the stimulus money put them over the asset limit. The SSA initiated what it called a “top-to-bottom” review of its process for recouping overpayments and in March 2024 announced several changes designed to reduce the burden on beneficiaries hit with big bills over past payment errors.

Among them, the SSA no longer cuts off monthly payments to beneficiaries who fail to respond to an overpayment notice. Now, the agency withholds no more than 10 percent of benefits to put toward repayment.

If you filed a claim for SSI during the pandemic and were denied because of COVID-19 financial assistance, or you believe a stimulus payment, special payment or Recovery Rebate Credit resulted in you receiving an overpayment notice, contact your local Social Security office or call the SSA's national help line at 800-772-1213. You can appeal an overpayment claim by submitting Form SSA-561-U2 to the SSA within 60 days of receiving the notice, or request a waiver of repayment at any time, using Form SSA 632-BK.

Income, assets capped

To qualify for SSI, your income must not exceed strict caps the SSA sets and adjusts annually for inflation. The rules encompass both work earnings and money from other sources, such as government benefits or help from family members. If you are above the limit, you cannot get SSI in most cases. If you're below, you may qualify for SSI, but your monthly payment may be reduced by a portion of your income.

In addition, you cannot have financial resources such as savings, investments or property valued at more than $2,000 ($3,000 for a married couple who are both SSI-eligible).

Not all income or financial resources count, however. The SSA exempts a share of earnings from employment and some types of government aid from the income limits. And some assets, such as the house you live in and a car you rely on for transportation, don’t count toward the resource limits.

In 2021, when the last set of stimulus payments was issued, the limits on income that counted toward SSI eligibility were $794 a month for an individual SSI recipient and $1,191 for a married couple when both spouses are eligible. These also were the maximum monthly federal SSI payments to beneficiaries. The 2025 figures are $967 for an individual and $1,450 for a couple.

Keep in mind

Pandemic financial aid has no bearing on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), the other benefit the SSA provides for people with disabilities. Income can affect SSDI eligibility, but only income that comes from work.