How Much Money Can I Have in the Bank if I'm on Disability? You can have up to $2,000 in cash or in the bank and still qualify for, or collect, SSI (Supplemental Security Income).
There are limits on how much you can earn from work while collecting SSDI payments but no restrictions on assets. You can have a savings account with as much money in it as you choose to save. That is not the case if you receive SSI, which provides cash assistance to older, disabled and blind people in financial need.
Can Social Security Check My Bank Account? In short, yes. When you file your SSI claim, you must give the Social Security Administration permission to use its AFI to contact financial institutions and request any financial records that the financial institution may have about you.
To get SSI, your countable resources must not be worth more than $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple. We call this the resource limit. Countable resources are the things you own that count toward the resource limit.
You have to work long enough to earn a specific number of work credits before you become disabled. As a result, there are no limits on the amount of money you can have in a savings account and remain eligible for SSDI benefits because financial need is not part of the disability determination process.
There is, however, a limit on how much of your money is protected by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The FDIC insures bank accounts in the very rare event of a bank failure. As of 2022, the FDIC coverage limit is $250,000 per depositor, per account ownership type, per financial institution.
If you qualify for SSD benefits, the amount of money you have in the bank is not important. That is because this is a system you have paid into while working – it is not a system based on need. Your assets are not part of the consideration when the SSA is determining whether you can receive SSDI benefits.
Receiving Social Security does not limit your resources or assets, including a savings account. SSI is need-based and restricts your resources unless you receive approval from Social Security.
Inheritance Will Not Affect Your SSDI Benefits
It is an entitlement program. If you start earning additional income, this could make you ineligible for SSDI benefits. If you engaged in substantial gainful activity (SGA), your monthly disability payments may be lowered or eliminated.
Lottery winnings do not affect Social Security disability income (SSDI), but it can reduce or eliminate any Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Some states have laws in place that remove people from public assistance programs such as food stamps or other welfare programs if they win the lottery.
It is only available to disabled individuals who have very limited income and assets. SSDI, on the other hand, has no income or asset limits.
We'll need information about your income, your resources, your living arrangements, and your bank accounts. Keep the savings or checking account statements you get from your bank. You may need them when we review your case.
If you go over the limit, a few not-good things can happen: If you are trying to apply, your application will be denied. If you are already on SSI, you may be come ineligible. You may be ineligible until you are back under the limit. You may owe money back.
The Takeaway
So, can the government take money out of your bank account? The answer is yes – sort of. While the government may not be the one directly taking the money out of someone's account, they can permit an employer or financial institution to do so.
What limited savings means. You and your partner must have no more than $5,000 in combined readily available funds. This includes any liquid assets you can sell. Liquid assets include cash you have on hand, money you have in the bank and financial investments you have.
While the FDIC website mentions the cap, it calls it an insurance limit of "$250,000 per depositor, per FDIC-insured bank, per ownership category." While there is still a $250,000 cap on any one account, there are two ways to get around this to have all of your deposits insured: Use multiple banks.
Under the Bank Secrecy Act, banks and other financial institutions must report cash deposits greater than $10,000. But since many criminals are aware of that requirement, banks also are supposed to report any suspicious transactions, including deposit patterns below $10,000.
The Bank Secrecy Act is officially called the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act, started in 1970. It states that banks must report any deposits (and withdrawals, for that matter) that they receive over $10,000 to the Internal Revenue Service.
They can look back three years. This response is meant to be information only and should not be considered to be legal advice.
The Benefits Do Convert
Nothing will change. You will continue to receive a monthly check and you do not need to do anything in order to receive your benefits. The SSA will simply change your disability benefit to a retirement benefit once you have reached full retirement age.