Updated as of February 26, 2024.
What and Why?
The Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE) is a work incentive administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA). By using the SEIE, the SSA will exclude (ignore) a portion (or all) of a qualifying student’s earned income from SSI income calculations. This allows qualifying SSI students to earn income without losing SSI benefits (or losing fewer of them).
Who?
SEIE is only available to SSI recipients and to individuals age 22 and younger who “regularly attend school.” “Regularly attend school” does not mean full-time enrollment. In fact, attendance requirements are met in the following circumstances:
What About Breaks – When School Is Out?
SSI recipients may use the SEIE when they are on break from school and if they are enrolled in school part-time. There are also special rules for individuals who home school because of a disability – including home schooling for high school, college, or other government agency.
The SEIE is designed to incentivize work, especially during school breaks. To do so, the SEIE has a high monthly cap compared to the yearly limit.
How Does the SEIE Work?
The SEIE works in conjunction with other work incentives, however, it is used BEFORE any of the other exclusions are. This means that it can get used up rather quickly, and other exclusions (like Blind Work Expenses) might not be able to be used in a given month. Unfortunately, you do not have the chance to refuse the SEIE; if you qualify for the SEIE, it will be used. Here are some examples of how the SEIE works:
Example #1: Gross earned income = $12,000 ($1,000 each month; BWE = $100 each month)
January through September
Gross income: $1,000
Minus SEIE: $1,000
Net countable income: $0
No impact on SSI payment: Stays at $943
Net total income (SSI plus earned income minus BWE paid): $943 + $900 = $1,843
October
Gross income: $1,000
Minus SEIE: $230
Minus General Income Exclusion: $20
Minus Earned Income Exclusion: $65
Net income after SEIE, GE, and EIE: $1,000 – $230 – $20 – $65 = $685
Under BWE Rules, take 50% of $685 = $342.50
Minus BWE: $100
Net countable income: $242.50
SSI payment goes down by $242.50 to $700.50
Net total income (SSI plus earned income minus BWE paid): $700.50 + $900 = $1,600.50
November and December
Gross income: $1,000
Minus General Income Exclusion: $20
Minus Earned Income Exclusion: $65
Net income after GE and EIE: $1,000 – $20 – $65 = $915
Under BWE Rules, take 50% of $915 = $457.50
Minus BWE: $100
Net countable income: $357.50
SSI payment goes down by $357.50 to $585.50
Net total income (SSI plus earned income minus BWE paid): $585.50 + $900 = $1,485.50
Example #1: Total Net SSI and Earned Income, after BWE paid = $21,158.50
If no SEIE available, total income would have been $17826 — $3,332.50 less
Example #2: Gross earned income = $12,000 ($3,000 in each of four months: May, June, July, and August; BWE = $300 per month)
January through April
SSI = $943
Net total income: $943
May
Gross income: $3,000
Minus SEIE: $2,290
Net countable income: $710
Minus General Income Exclusion: $20
Minus Earned Income Exclusion: $65
Net income after SEIE, GE, and EIE: $3,000 – $2,290 – $20 – $65 = $625
Under BWE Rules, take 50% of $625 = $312.50
Minus BWE: $3002
Net countable income: $12.50
SSI payment goes down by $12.50 to $930.50
Net total income (SSI plus earned income minus BWE paid): $930.50 + $2,700 = $3,630.50
June
Gross income: $3,000
Minus SEIE: $2,290
Net countable income: $710
Minus General Income Exclusion: $20
Minus Earned Income Exclusion: $65
Net income after SEIE, GE, and EIE: $3,000 – $2,290 – $20 – $65 = $625
Under BWE Rules, take 50% of $625 = $312.50
Minus BWE: $300
Net countable income: $12.50
SSI payment goes down by $12.50 to $930.50
Net total income (SSI plus earned income minus BWE paid): $930.50 + $2,700 = $3,630.50
July
Gross income: $3,000
Minus SEIE: $2,290
Net countable income: $710
Minus General Income Exclusion: $20
Minus Earned Income Exclusion: $65
Net income after SEIE, GE, and EIE: $3,000 – $2,290 – $20 – $65 = $625
Under BWE Rules, take 50% of $625 = $312.50
Minus BWE: $300
Net countable income: $12.50
SSI payment goes down by $12.50 to $930.50
Net total income (SSI plus earned income minus BWE paid): $930.50 + $2,700 = $3,630.50
August
Gross income: $3,000
Minus SEIE: $2,290
Net countable income: $710
Minus General Income Exclusion: $20
Minus Earned Income Exclusion: $65
Net income after SEIE, GE, and EIE: $3,000 – $2,290 – $20 – $65 = $625
Under BWE Rules, take 50% of $625 = $312.50
Minus BWE: $300
Net countable income: $12.50
SSI payment goes down by $12.50 to $930.50
Net total income (SSI plus earned income minus BWE paid): $930.50 + $2,700 = $3,630.50
September through December
SSI = $943
Net total income: $943
Example #2: Total Net SSI and Earned Income, after BWE paid = $22,066
If no SEIE available, would have LOST ALL SSI payments in May, June, July, and August, and total income would have been $18,344 — $3,722 less
Contact the Bridges Helpdesk for More Information
Email: Helpdesk@imagemd.org
Text: Send to: (410) 357-1546
Voice mail: Call (410) 357-1546, leave a voice mail message, and we will return your call
This unique project is being coordinated through The IMAGE Center of Maryland, a center for independent living in Towson, and it is funded by a grant from the Maryland Department of Education Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services.