Applicants for SSI must show that they are impoverished. An individual must have $2,000 or less in “countable” resources ($3,000 for a couple). Some assets are excluded from this cap, including:
The home where you live
One vehicle per household
A life insurance policy with a face value of $1,500 or less
Burial plots for you and immediate family members
Irreversible burial funds of up to $1,500 for you and up to $1,500 for your spouse
Food stamps
Income tax refunds
Grants, scholarships, or gifts used for tuition and educational expenses
Disaster assistance