Supplemental Security Income pays a federal base amount to every eligible recipient across the country. But your monthly check may be higher depending on where you live. Most states and the District of Columbia add their own cash payment on top of the federal benefit, called an Optional State Supplement (OSS) or State Supplementary Payment (SSP). These add-ons range from a few dollars to several hundred dollars each month depending on the state and your living situation.
The 2025 federal SSI base rate is $967 per month for an individual and $1,450 per month for an eligible couple. The 2026 rate increased to $994 for individuals and $1,491 for couples following a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment. If your state provides a supplement, your total monthly payment equals the federal base plus the state add-on, minus any countable income.
This guide covers which states pay supplements, how much each pays, and how to find out what you may qualify for.
How State SSI Supplements Work
The federal government sets the base SSI payment and funds it entirely. States can then choose to add their own supplemental payment on top. This is entirely voluntary, and the rules differ significantly from state to state.
There are two ways states deliver supplements:
SSA-administered supplements: Some states contract with the Social Security Administration to handle their supplement program. SSA calculates and sends a combined payment (federal + state) in a single monthly check. States in this group include California, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont (plus the District of Columbia).
State-administered supplements: Other states run their own programs and send a separate check or direct deposit. You apply to the state agency rather than SSA. States in this category include New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Colorado, and many others.
Your supplement amount depends on:
- Your living arrangement (own home, someone else's home, assisted living, nursing facility)
- Your countable monthly income
- Your household composition (individual vs. couple)
- Whether you are aged, blind, or disabled
State SSI Supplement Amounts: 2025 Data
The table below shows supplement ranges and averages for states with published data. Many state-administered programs do not publish flat amounts because the benefit varies based on income and living situation.
| State | Supplement Range (Individual) | Notes |
|---|
| Alabama | $56 to $120/month | State-administered |
| Alaska | Up to $362/month | State-administered |
| California | $240 to $632/month | SSA-administered; depends on living arrangement |
| Colorado | Up to $663/month | State-administered |
| Connecticut | Varies by income/living situation | State-administered |
| Delaware | Avg. $134/month | SSA-administered |
| District of Columbia | $76 to $788/month | SSA-administered |
| Florida | $184 to $345/month | State-administered |
| Georgia | $20/month | For Medicaid facility residents only |
| Hawaii | Avg. $484/month | SSA-administered |
| Idaho | Up to $53/month | State-administered |
| Illinois | Varies | State-administered |
| Indiana | Up to $52/month | State-administered |
| Iowa | Varies | SSA-administered |
| Kansas | Up to $20/month | State-administered |
| Louisiana | $1 to $15/month | For long-term care residents only |
| Maine | $10/month | State-administered |
| Maryland | $52 to $666/month | State-administered; assisted living rates higher |
| Massachusetts | Varies significantly | State-administered; blind individuals may receive over $1,000 combined |
| Michigan | Avg. $114/month | SSA-administered |
| Minnesota | Varies | State-administered |
| Missouri | $156 to $390/month | State-administered |
| Montana | Avg. $85/month | SSA-administered |
| Nebraska | Varies | State-administered |
| Nevada | Avg. $40/month | SSA-administered |
| New Hampshire | Varies | State-administered |
| New Jersey | Avg. $37/month | SSA-administered |
| New Mexico | Up to $100/month | State-administered |
| New York | $23 to $694/month | State-administered; higher for assisted living |
| North Carolina | Up to $70/month | State-administered |
| Ohio | Varies | State-administered |
| Oklahoma | Varies | State-administered |
| Oregon | Varies | State-administered |
| Pennsylvania | $15 to $639/month (avg. $370) | SSA-administered; assisted living rates higher |
| Rhode Island | $45 to $332/month (avg. $280) | SSA-administered |
| South Carolina | Up to $810/month | Primarily for assisted living residents |
| South Dakota | $15/month | State-administered |
| Texas | $45/month | For Medicaid facility residents only |
| Utah | Varies | State-administered |
| Vermont | Avg. $54/month | SSA-administered |
| Virginia | Up to $115/month | State-administered |
| Washington | $36 to $70/month | State-administered |
| Wisconsin | Varies | State-administered |
| Wyoming | $20/month | State-administered |
States With No SSI Supplement
Six states and one territory offer no state supplement at all. If you live in one of these, your SSI payment equals the federal base rate only:
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Mississippi
- North Dakota
- Tennessee
- West Virginia
- Northern Mariana Islands
If you live in one of these states and your income is very low, you rely entirely on the federal SSI base amount plus any other programs you qualify for such as SNAP, LIHEAP, or Medicaid.
States With the Highest SSI Supplements
If you live in a high-supplement state and qualify for SSI, your total monthly benefit can be substantially higher than the national base.
District of Columbia ranks at the top for individual recipients with supplements reaching $788/month above the federal base. Combined with the federal amount, DC residents in certain living situations can receive over $1,700/month total.
Hawaii pays the highest average supplement among SSA-administered states at roughly $484/month. The high cost of living in Hawaii partly explains why the state sets supplement amounts above the national average.
Pennsylvania pays an average supplement of around $370/month for SSA-administered recipients. For those in assisted living or personal care homes, the supplement runs up to $639/month.
Colorado supplements can reach approximately $663/month for qualifying recipients in certain living situations.
California supplements range from about $240/month for individuals living independently to $632/month for those in residential care facilities. California's program is one of the oldest and largest in the country.
South Carolina offers up to $810/month but almost exclusively for residents of licensed assisted living facilities. Most community-dwelling recipients do not qualify for this amount.
How Living Arrangement Affects Your Supplement
Your living situation is the single biggest factor in determining your state supplement amount, even more than income in many cases. Most states set different payment levels for:
Living in your own home or apartment: Standard supplement rates. This is the baseline for most community-dwelling recipients.
Living in someone else's home: Federal SSI already reduces your payment by one-third if you are receiving free food and shelter from someone else. Some states mirror this reduction in their supplement formula.
Assisted living or personal care facility: Many states pay substantially higher supplements for recipients in licensed assisted living. New York pays up to $694/month for enhanced residential care. South Carolina pays up to $810/month. Pennsylvania pays up to $639/month.
Nursing home or long-term care facility: Rules here are complex. If Medicaid is paying for your nursing home care, your SSI payment is typically reduced to $30/month (the personal needs allowance). Some states pay a small additional amount on top.
Adult foster care or group homes: Some states have specific rates for certified adult foster care. Colorado's higher supplement rates apply partially to this category.
How to Find Your Exact State Supplement Amount
The supplement amounts shown in this article reflect 2024 to 2025 data from SSA publications and state program documents. For your personal supplement amount, contact:
SSA-administered states (California, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, DC): Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or visit ssa.gov. SSA calculates your combined payment and sends it in one check.
State-administered programs: Contact your state's human services or social services agency directly. Look for the state Department of Social Services, Department of Human Services, or Department of Health and Human Services.
You can also check your state's My Benefits portal or login to your my Social Security account at ssa.gov to see your current payment breakdown.
SSI Supplement and Medicaid Connection
In most states, SSI recipients automatically qualify for Medicaid. This link is important: if your state supplement pushes your income above Medicaid's income limit, it could theoretically affect your Medicaid. In practice, SSI recipients are almost universally protected under what is called the 209(b) states or automatic categorical eligibility, depending on your state's rules.
However, if you live in one of the 11 "209(b) states" (Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Virginia), Medicaid eligibility is not fully automatic for all SSI recipients. In these states, you apply for Medicaid separately and must meet the state's own Medicaid rules, which may differ from SSI rules.
Applying for State SSI Supplements
If SSA administers your state's supplement, you do not apply separately. When you apply for federal SSI, SSA automatically evaluates you for the state supplement. Your combined payment comes in one check.
If your state administers its own supplement:
- Apply for federal SSI first through SSA (online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or at your local SSA office).
- Once approved for federal SSI, contact your state agency to apply for the state supplement. In some states this happens automatically; in others you file a separate application.
- Provide documentation of your living situation, income, and household composition. Living arrangement verification is typically required.
- Wait for a determination. Processing times vary by state but typically take 30 to 90 days for state supplements.
To check all the programs you may qualify for including SSI, SNAP, Medicaid, and energy assistance, use the free Benefits Navigator screener to see your eligibility in minutes.
Changes and COLA Adjustments
State supplements are not automatically tied to the federal cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The federal SSI base increases each January based on the Consumer Price Index. State supplements increase only if the state legislature or state agency approves an adjustment.
Some states (like California) have their supplement amounts adjusted periodically. Others (like Wyoming at $20/month) have not changed in many years. When you see state supplement amounts listed online, verify the year the data was collected, since some published tables are outdated by a year or more.
The federal SSI base rates:
- 2024: $943/month individual, $1,415/month couple
- 2025: $967/month individual, $1,450/month couple
- 2026: $994/month individual, $1,491/month couple
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between federal SSI and a state SSI supplement?
Federal SSI is a nationally uniform cash benefit funded entirely by the federal government. The maximum is the same in every state: $967/month for individuals in 2025. A state SSI supplement is an additional cash payment funded by the state and added on top of the federal amount. Not every state offers one, and the amounts vary widely.
Do I have to apply separately for the state supplement?
It depends on your state. If SSA administers your state's supplement (California, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, DC), you apply only once through SSA and receive a combined payment. If your state runs its own program, you may need a separate state application after being approved for federal SSI. Check with your state human services agency.
Which state has the highest SSI supplement?
The District of Columbia pays the highest supplements for individuals, with amounts reaching $788/month above the federal base. Hawaii, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and California also pay some of the highest average supplement amounts. For assisted living residents, South Carolina pays up to $810/month.
Which states pay no SSI supplement at all?
Arizona, Arkansas, Mississippi, North Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, and the Northern Mariana Islands pay no state supplement. Recipients in these states receive only the federal SSI base.
Does the state supplement count as income for other programs?
SSI payments, including state supplements, are generally excluded from income calculations for SNAP (food stamps) in most states. However, state supplement treatment varies for other programs. Contact your local human services agency to confirm how your supplement is treated for other benefits you receive.
Can I lose my state supplement if I move within the state?
Your supplement amount can change if your living situation changes, since living arrangement is a key factor in setting the supplement level. Moving from living alone to living in someone else's home or into an assisted living facility will typically change your supplement amount. Always report changes in your living situation to SSA or your state agency promptly.
Does getting married affect my state supplement?
Yes. Marriage changes your SSI eligibility category from individual to couple. The couple rate for both federal SSI and state supplements is higher than one individual's rate but lower than two individual rates combined. If both spouses qualify for SSI, you would receive the couple rate rather than two individual payments. The exact couple supplement amounts vary by state.
How often are state supplement amounts updated?
There is no fixed schedule. States update their supplement amounts at their own discretion, which means some states adjust every year while others go many years without a change. The federal SSI base adjusts annually each January based on COLA. Check your state agency's website or call your local office for the current year's amounts.
