Student Earned Income Exclusion for SSI

A blind or disabled child, who is a student regularly attending school, college, or university, or a course of vocational or technical training, can have limited earnings that are not counted against his or her Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. The maximum amount of the income exclusion applicable to a student in 2011 is $1,640 per month but not more than $6,600 in 2011.

Income Exclusion Amounts for 2012
For 2012, the student earned income exclusion amounts increase by 3.6 percent to $1,700 per month but not more than $6,840 in 2012.

Calculation method
Each of the monthly and yearly maximum amounts for 2012 is the corresponding unrounded amount for 2011 increased by the latest COLA. If the amount so calculated is not a multiple of $10, we round it to the nearest multiple of $10.

Calculation details for 2012
The unrounded monthly amount for 2011 is $1637.89. This amount is increased by 3.6 percent to $1696.85, which we then round to $1,700.

The unrounded yearly amount for 2011 is $6602.32. This amount is also increased by 3.6 percent to $6840.00, which we then round to $6,840.