What Happens If I’m Over the Asset Limit for SSI But Receive VA Benefits?
- Purple
- Aug 7
- 3 min read
How to protect your Supplemental Security Income while receiving VA disability or pension payments
Introduction: Why Veterans on SSI Need to Be Extra Careful
If you’re receiving VA benefits and also qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you may be at risk of going over the SSI asset limit — even without realizing it.
Unlike VA disability compensation, which is not needs-based, SSI has strict limits on how much you can own in assets like cash, savings, or personal property.
In this post, we’ll explain:
✅ What the SSI asset limit is in 2025
✅ How VA payments can accidentally cause an overage
✅ What happens if you go over
✅ How Purple helps you stay compliant
1. What Is the Asset Limit for SSI in 2025?
To stay eligible for SSI, you must keep your countable resources below:
$2,000 if you’re single
$3,000 if you’re married
✅ This includes:
Cash
Bank accounts
Investments
Certain life insurance policies
Any other assets that can be converted to cash
❌ It does not include:
One primary home
One vehicle
Burial plots or some personal belongings
2. How VA Benefits Affect Your SSI Assets
VA monthly payments — such as VA disability compensation or VA pension — are considered income for SSI purposes.
Here’s where it gets tricky:
If you don’t spend your VA benefit right away, it may begin to count as an asset in the next month
Even a few unspent deposits can push you over the limit, especially if your checking or savings balance builds up over time
⚠️ For example:
If your VA payment is $1,000/month and you leave it sitting in your account for 3 months, you may now have $3,000 in assets — putting you over the $2,000 SSI limit.
3. What Happens If I Go Over the Asset Limit?
If your assets exceed the limit, even temporarily, SSA may:
Suspend or terminate your SSI benefits
Send you an overpayment notice, requiring you to repay months of benefits
Investigate your account for compliance
And you may not even realize it’s happening.
💬 We’ve heard from veterans who kept a few thousand in their account “just to be safe,” only to get hit with months of overpayments later.
4. How to Stay Below the Limit and Keep SSI
Here are some ways to manage your VA and SSI benefits safely:
✅ Track balances regularly
Use tools (like Purple) that alert you when your account is getting close to the limit.
✅ Spend VA benefits on qualifying expenses
Rent, food, utilities, and medical needs are all valid.
✅ Consider an ABLE Account
If you have a qualifying disability, you may be able to move funds into an ABLE account without it counting against your SSI limit (up to $19,000 in 2025).
✅ Keep SSA updated
Always report income changes or large deposits — even if they come from another federal agency.
How Purple Helps Veterans Avoid SSI Overages
💜 Balance Monitoring with Alerts
Get notified if your balance is approaching the SSI asset limit.
💜 Spending Insights
Track where your money is going and make smarter decisions.
💜 Dedicated Accounts
Use multiple Purple accounts to separate VA funds from SSI payments.
💜 Companion AI Support
Ask:
“Am I over the SSI asset limit?”
“Should I move money into savings?”
“Will this VA deposit affect my SSI?”
FAQs About SSI and VA Benefits
⚠️ Do VA disability payments count as assets?
Yes — if unspent, they can count as assets in future months.
⚠️ What happens if I accidentally go over the limit?
SSA may suspend your SSI and require repayment of past benefits.
⚠️ Can I use an ABLE account to avoid this?
Yes — if you’re eligible, ABLE savings do not count against the SSI asset limit (up to $19,000 in 2025).
Conclusion: Know the Rules to Keep the Benefits You Deserve
✅ VA benefits can unintentionally affect your SSI eligibility
✅ The SSI asset limit in 2025 is still $2,000
✅ Stay under the limit by spending wisely and tracking your funds
✅ Purple gives you the tools to manage both VA and SSI safely
💜 Open a Purple account today and take control of your finances with confidence.