Resource Limit

The resource limit is the cap on countable assets an SSI recipient may own: $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple. These limits are set by statute and, unlike most SSA figures, have not been adjusted for inflation in decades. Countable resources include cash, bank accounts, stocks, and additional vehicles or real estate.

Important assets are excluded, including the home you live in, one vehicle used for transportation, household goods, burial plots, and certain burial funds. Funds in an ABLE account, available to people disabled before age 46, are also largely excluded. Exceeding the limit even briefly can suspend benefits, so recipients expecting a back-pay award or inheritance should get advice about spend-down rules and protected accounts.