There is a book about social security - I cannot find mine - but your husband should have one or pick one up at the local social security office - it explains the rules and guidelines to social security - not sure if it will help - but I would start there

Yes, there is a limit on the TOTAL income that a household can receive on SSI. Under normal circumstances, the person on SSI, if they qualify regarding disability, will be given the maximum amount that is given in their state. This means that any other income that comes into the house, regardless of who's it is, will count against that monthly amount. That said, are you sure that your husband has SSI (supplemental security income) and not SSDI (social security disability income)? The reason I ask, is because they don't give SSI payments that high. The maximum payment for SSI for an individual is $674, the max for a couple is 1011, well under what your husband is getting. (per the ssa website COLA page :http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/COLA/SSIamts.html If you don't qualify for SSDI (this is based on your work history) and your husband's benefit doesn't include you, then you won't qualify for SSI, since his income would be included. One of the qualifications for SSDI is work history. You need a certain amount of work history, depending on your age at disability. You can review a general table of information here: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10029.html#part2 Not knowing your work history, it's hard to say one way or another. The first thing you need to do, assuming you haven't already, is get a copy of your benefits statement from Social Security. You can go to their website and have one sent to you. This will tell you how much you have earned over the years. Another thing you might need to consider, especially if you have worked.... Did your disability begin earlier, but you didn't 'realize' it, or weren't diagnosed at that time? For example... let's say you stopped working in 2000, because you were having phyical problems. In 2006, your doctor finally figured out what was wrong with you, but according to Social security, you've passed the 'time frame' so you don't qualify. If, IF, you can prove with your medical history that you were disabled before the 2006 date, even though your doctor didn't know what the cause was (but you still couldn't work) then that changes the "date of onset" and thus might make you still eligible. The main thing is to have as much documentation as absolutely possible. Another question to ask, why don't you qualify for SSDI? With regard to the lawyer you spoke to... are they a firm who specializes in social security? If not, run!! You should have a lawyer, but you need one who ONLY deals with this stuff, as they have the best fighting chance of helping. Not to mention that they only take on cases that they can win, so they can make money. Since they don't get paid unless you do (and if they work different...run!) they work hard to get you approved.] I hope this is something to help you begin. I'm happy to help further if you need to. Good luck!