Examples of payments/services the SSI program will not count as income include:  

• The first $20 of most income received in a month; 
• The first $65 of earnings and one–half of earnings over $65 received in a month; 
• The value of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamp) benefits received; 
• Federal income tax refunds; 
• Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) benefits; 
• Assistance based on need funded by a State or local government, or an Indian tribe; 
• Small amounts of income received irregularly or infrequently; 
• Grants, scholarships, fellowships or gifts used for tuition and educational expenses; 
• Food or shelter based on need provided by nonprofit agencies; 
• Loans to you (cash or in–kind) that you have to repay; 
• Money someone else spends to pay your expenses for items other than food or shelter (for example, someone pays your telephone or medical bills); 
• Income set aside under an approved Plan to Achieve Self–Support (PASS);  
• Earnings up to $1,870 per month to a maximum of $7,550 per year (effective January 2019) for a student under age 22;  
• Cost of impairment–related work expenses for items or services that an SSI beneficiary needs in order to work;  
• The cost of work expenses that an individual who is blind in order to work; 
• Disaster assistance; and 
• Certain exclusions on Indian trust fund payments paid to American Indians who are members of a federally recognized tribe.