How Much Will My SSDI Payments Be?

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) provides payments to qualifying individuals who can no longer work because of a disability. The amount of your monthly SSDI payment will depend on your earnings prior to your disability and any other public disability benefits you receive.

The Phoenix social security disability attorneys of Dayes Law Firm PC have helped many clients secure benefits for their disability. Schedule a free consultation with us today to discuss your claim and determine if you are receiving the benefits you are eligible for.

How Disability Payments Are Calculated

Unlike other types of disability benefits, SSDI payments do not depend on how disabled you are. The Social Security Administration (SSA) calculates each person’s SSDI payment based on the income the individual has paid Social Security taxes on over a certain number of years, also called covered earnings.

To determine the amount you will receive, the SSA first calculates your average indexed monthly earnings (AIME), which is the average of your indexed covered earnings. It then applies a formula to your AIME to determine the amount of benefits you will receive, also known as your primary insurance amount.

Your annual Social Security statement will show your complete earnings history. The statement is mailed every five years, or is available online.

You can also get an estimate of the amount of benefits you should receive online or by using the SSA’s benefits calculators.

In 2017, the average SSDI payment is $1,171, with a maximum benefit of $2,687.

Payments That May Reduce Your Benefits

Receiving certain government benefits for disability may affect the amount of SSDI benefits you are paid.

This is because the total amount of benefits you receive from SSDI and other government disability programs cannot exceed 80 percent of your average earnings prior to becoming disabled. Any excess will be deducted from your SSDI benefits until you reach full retirement age.

The types of benefits that may reduce your SSDI payment include:

• Workers’ compensation
• Temporary disability benefits from your state
• Civil service disability benefits
• Retirement benefits based on disability from a state or local government

The following benefits will not impact the amount of SSDI you receive:

• Payments from private disability insurance
• Veterans Administration benefits
• Supplemental Security Income
• Benefits from a state or local government, as long as Social Security taxes were withheld

Backpay for Social Security Disability

When your SSDI claim is approved, you may be given backpay, which is payment for the time it took to process your disability claim.

The amount of backpay you will receive is determined based on your SSDI monthly benefits amount. The SSA considers your SSDI application date as well as the date your disability began to determine how many months’ worth of backpay you will receive. All backpay payments are made as a lump sum to recipients.

If you applied for SSDI in the past, it is possible that you could be awarded backpay dating to your first application. Reopening your older claim for a related or overlapping condition may allow you to access additional backpay.

Contact Our Social Security Disability Lawyers Now

If you plan to apply for Social Security Disability benefits, consider working with a skilled disability lawyer who can assist with your claim. The disability benefits attorneys of Dayes Law Firm PC work to gather the needed evidence to support your claim, while informing you of the options that may be available in your situation.

Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with us today. We work on a contingency basis, so you only owe legal fees if your claim is approved.

Call 1-800-503-2000 or complete our Free Case Review form now.