What Counts Toward the SSI Asset Limit?
- Purple
- Sep 21
- 3 min read
If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the Social Security Administration (SSA) limits how much you can have in assets. Go over the limit—even briefly—and you risk losing your monthly benefits and Medicaid coverage.
But the rules aren’t always clear.
What counts toward the $2,000 asset limit? What doesn’t? What if you get a tax refund or someone sends you a gift?
In this article, we’ll break down:
The 2025 SSI asset limits
What the SSA considers a “countable resource”
Which assets are excluded from the limit
Common mistakes that put benefits at risk
How Purple helps you stay under the limit automatically
1. What Is the 2025 SSI Asset Limit?
As of 2025, the federal resource limit for SSI is:
$2,000 for an individual
$3,000 for a married couple
This includes money in checking or savings accounts, and most other assets that could be converted into cash.
2. What Counts Toward the SSI Limit?
SSA uses the term countable resources to determine your eligibility.
Here are common examples of assets that count toward the limit:
💵 Cash (even if it’s just in a drawer)
🏦 Bank account balances (checking, savings, credit union)
📉 Stocks, bonds, mutual funds
💰 Prepaid debit card balances
🪙 Cryptocurrency holdings
💎 Valuable personal items (like a second car, collectibles, or jewelry that can be sold)
📝 Life insurance with cash value over $1,500
🏠 Real estate other than your primary home
If you can convert it into cash and use it for food or shelter, SSA likely counts it.
3. What Assets Are Not Counted?
Some assets are excluded, meaning they don’t count toward your SSI limit:
🏡 Your home (if you live in it)
🚗 One vehicle (used for transportation)
🛏️ Basic household goods and personal effects
🏦 ABLE account balances (up to $100,000)
💼 Burial funds (up to $1,500 if set aside properly)
🧾 Refunds from tax credits (excluded for 12 months)
⚖️ Special Needs Trust (SNT) assets
🧒 Dedicated accounts for minor SSI backpay
Be careful—how you title and manage these accounts matters. The wrong setup can still trigger a penalty.
4. Common Mistakes That Lead to Benefit Loss
Even with good intentions, many people accidentally go over the limit. Some of the most common pitfalls include:
✅ Unspent backpay sitting in the main checking account
✅ Tax refunds not moved out within 12 months
✅ Mixing SNT, SSI, and wages in a single account
✅ Gifts from family received in cash or check
✅ Automatic transfers into savings accounts or apps
✅ Using prepaid cards that accumulate balances
✅ Holding crypto or digital assets in wallets
SSA conducts redeterminations and reviews—often without warning. If they see your account go over $2,000, they can suspend your benefits and demand repayment.
5. How Purple Helps You Stay Below the Limit
Purple was designed to help families stay SSI-compliant—without the spreadsheets and guesswork.
Here’s how we help:
📊 Balance alerts when you’re nearing the $2,000 limit
🏦 Ability to open multiple accounts for rep payee, backpay, or personal use
📂 Built-in Vault to track deposits, letters, and SSA paperwork
📉 Easy integration with future ABLE accounts (coming soon)
🔒 Transparent tracking of every deposit and transaction
🚫 No surprise savings automations that push you over the limit
Don’t lose your benefits over a technicality.
With Purple, you get tools built to protect your income, Medicaid access, and peace of mind.