20 CFR § 416.1170 - General.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t20/s416.1170"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "20 CFR § 416.1170 - General."
title_number: 20
title_name: "Employees' Benefits"
section_number: "416.1170"
section_name: "General."
chapter_name: "SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION"
part_number: "416"
part_name: "SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME FOR THE AGED, BLIND, AND DISABLED"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
cfr_part: "416"
---


# 416.1170 General.

(a) *What the alternative is.* If you are blind and meet the requirements in § 416.1171, we use one of two rules to see how much countable income you have. We use whichever of the following rules results in the lower amount of countable income:

(1) The SSI income exclusions in §§ 416.1112 and 416.1124; or

(2) The disregards that would have applied under the State plan for October 1972.

(b) *State plan.* As used in this subpart, *State plan for October 1972* means a State plan for providing assistance to the blind under title X or XVI (AABD) of the Social Security Act. That plan must have been approved under the provisions of 45 CFR chapter II as in effect for October 1972.