Here is an example of a person who receives SSI only and has no Unearned Income.  This person finds a job and earns $685 per month in Gross Income.  This example shows how Social Security would calculate the adjusted SSI check based on the Earned Income. You can see from this example that a person with SSI only and earned income will have more money to spend at the end of the month even though the SSI check has been reduced.  Step  Calculation  Unearned Income  0   General Income Exclusion (GIE)  0  Countable Unearned Income  0      Gross Earned Income (per month) $685   Student Earned Income Exclusion - 0   Remainder  $685  GIE (if not used above) - 20   Remainder $665   Earned Income Exclusion - 65   Remainder $600   Impairment Related Work Expenses - 0   Remainder  $600  Divide by 2 $300   Blind Work Expenses (BWE) - 0   Total Countable Earned Income $300       Total Countable Unearned Income  0  Total Countable Earned Income $300   PASS Deduction  0  Total Countable Income $300       Base SSI Rate 2008 $674   Total Countable Income  $300  Adjusted SSI Check  $374  Gross Earned Income  $685        Adjusted SSI Check  $374   New Monthly Income Amount  $1,059