How Much in Social Security Disability Benefits Will I Receive?

You may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits if you meet the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) definition of disability and satisfy other vocational requirements. The SSA defines disability as the inability to do the work you did before and to adjust to new work, and your disability has to have lasted or be expected to last for a minimum of one year or result in death. According to this definition, partial and short-term disabilities are not eligible for SSDI benefits. To learn whether you might be eligible for Social Security benefits, take our Disability Quiz now.

Social Security Disability Benefits

In 2021, recipients of Social Security disability benefits typically receive an average of $1,277 per month, with benefits ranging from $100 to $3,148 per month. The monthly benefit amount is not based on the severity of your disability, but rather your average lifetime earnings before your disability began. Additionally, the SSDI benefit amount awarded on a monthly basis varies from person to person due to the intricate formula utilized by the SSA to calculate disability compensation for each recipient.

How to Calculate Your Monthly Payment

Your benefit amount, which is called your primary insurance amount (PIA), is calculated by applying a formula to your average indexed monthly earnings (AIME), which is essentially an average of the amount of income you have paid in Social Security taxes over a period of specified time. For 2021, the formula is:

PIA = (90% of the first $996 of your AIME) + (32% of your AIME ranging from $996-$6,002) + (15% of your AIME that is over $6,002)

How Other Disability Payments Affect Your Benefit

If you are a recipient of government-regulated disability benefits such as workers’ compensation benefits or temporary state disability benefits, you cannot receive more than 80% of the average income you earned before becoming disabled. If you do receive more than 80%, your SSDI or other benefits will be decreased. However, if you receive disability benefits from a private, long-term disability insurance, your veterans’ disability benefits and SSDI benefits will not be affected.

If you believe you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits, have questions about the application process, or feel that your claim has been unfairly denied, contact Jan Dils, Attorneys at Law, today to schedule a free consultation.