Social Security, while mainly associated with retirement benefits, also provides Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). SSI provides monthly payments to adults and children with a disability, blindness or seniors 65 and older with limited resources. It is possible to qualify for SSI payments even if you are already receiving SSDI or retirement benefits.

SSDI benefits cater to working Americans who have been employed in jobs covered by Social Security and have a medical condition meeting Social Security’s disability definition. SSDI benefits are typically awarded to those unable to work for a year or more due to disability. These benefits often continue until the recipient can consistently work again.

SSI and SSDI payments are constant across the United States, determined by income and other criteria. However, the value of these payments can greatly vary by state due to cost-of-living differences. Though it’s usually not sufficient to live comfortably on SSI or SSDI payments alone, one’s financial position can be significantly better in a more affordable state.

An analysis by Kiplinger identified three states where SSDI covers at least half of living expenses - Wyoming ranking first at around 52%. There are six states where SSDI benefits would cover less than 40% of living expenses, with Washington, D.C., at the bottom where SSDI covers only 30% of living costs.

SSI benefits also vary across states as a percentage of livable wages. Here are the top 10 states where SSI benefits cover the highest percentage of livable wages:

  1. South Dakota
  2. Wyoming
  3. North Dakota
  4. Tennessee
  5. West Virginia
  6. Kentucky
  7. Arkansas
  8. Ohio
  9. Mississippi
  10. Oklahoma

Meanwhile, the District of Columbia ranks last, providing SSI benefits at merely 21% of a livable wage. The states with the lowest SSI benefits as a percentage of livable wage are:

  1. New York
  2. Hawaii
  3. Massachusetts
  4. California
  5. New Jersey.