What is unearned income for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) purposes?
Unearned income is any income you have that is not earned from a job, business, or work. Some common types of unearned income include the value of food or shelter someone gives you; money given to you as a gift; government benefits such as Social Security, unemployment, workers’ compensation, or Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits; lottery winnings; proceeds from life insurance; child support; and alimony. To learn more about unearned income and how it can affect your SSI benefits, read the online publication about SSI at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/11000.html, or call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Are Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits only for people with disabilities? The answer is no. In addition to those who are blind and disabled, individuals who are 65 or older may qualify for SSI benefits provided that they have low income and limited resources. If you fall into one of these categories, you should find out more about SSI. Do so online by visiting the el
