Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) helps people who are unable to work due to a disability. The amount of money you receive each month is based on how much you earned during your working years, not how severe your condition is.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) covers people in need of disability benefits. SSDI recipients receive a monthly paycheck based on their lifetime earnings, not based on the severity of their condition. A monthly benefit is awarded to recipients. Monthly SSDI benefits given to recipients may be up to $4,018 per month in 2025. Monthly SSDI benefit payments may also vary if you are receiving money for disability from another source.
Do you think you qualify? Get a free evaluation from Advocator Advantage today.
The amount of your monthly SSDI benefit is based on your lifetime average earnings covered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and is reduced if you receive other government benefits, such as workers’ compensation – including Black Lung payments – or public disability benefits.
Your monthly income for retirement and disability benefits takes into consideration the amount of money you have paid in Social Security taxes. The Social Security taxes are referred to as your “covered earnings,” and the average amount of covered earnings over a period of time is referred to as average indexed monthly earnings (AIME).
AIME is a formula that uses your monthly wages, adjusted for inflation, to determine your primary insurance amount (PIA), and it is unique to each individual. The PIA is the base figure the SSA will use when determining the amount of money you will receive. This formula uses fixed percentages of various amounts of income (bend points), which change each year. The precision of the SSDI calculation depends on accurate earnings records.
To check over your Social Security earnings, you can look at your yearly Social Security Statement. People over the age of 60 will receive a statement every year, while those not receiving benefits will get printed statements every five years. We encourage you to view your statement online by visiting www.ssa.gov/mystatement/. The SSA also has an online SSDI benefit calculator so you can enter salary information; you will automatically receive a record of your earnings and an estimate of future earnings, but you can also track earnings yourself through www.socialsecurity.gov/planners/benefitcalculators.html or have a Social Security representative help you figure out your future earnings.
Certain monetary benefits from other sources may affect your Social Security payments. SSI and VA benefits will not affect your SSDI benefits. If you are granted benefits from a private long-term disability insurance policy, your SSDI benefits will not be lowered (however, your long-term disability benefits may be).
On the other hand, payments from government-regulated disability benefits, such as workers’ compensation or temporary state disability benefits, will affect how much you can earn monthly. Normally, the amount you receive in benefits cannot be more than 80% of the average amount you earned before you became disabled. In some states, your SSDI award will be reduced if you receive more than 80% of your past earnings, while in other states, the other benefit, such as workers’ compensation, will be reduced instead.
Your monthly SSDI benefit will determine the amount you receive in back pay. The number of months of back pay you receive will be based on when your disability started or when you filed an application for benefits. It is important to file your application soon after becoming disabled to avoid losing back pay to which you may be entitled. If you had applied for disability previously, you may have a chance of earning back pay from the first date of applying for SSDI.
Can I receive SSDI benefits for my dependent children?
Yes. Children up to 18, or those who have not graduated from high school, may be entitled to benefits if you become disabled. Generally, dependent children receive 50% of the amount of your monthly SSDI benefit, which is divided equally among all eligible dependents.
Will SSDI benefits also help me obtain health insurance coverage?
Yes. You will become entitled to health insurance through Medicare 24 months after the date that SSA determines that you first became eligible for SSDI cash benefits. When you become eligible for Medicare, Aevo Insurance Services, a subsidiary of Advocator Advantage, can assist you with your health plan selection and enrollment process.
When will my monthly benefits begin?
If your application is approved, your first SSDI monthly benefit will be paid for the sixth full month after the date that SSA determined that you became disabled (Disability Onset Date). For example, if SSA finds that your disability began on June 15, 2021, your first monthly benefit would be paid for the month of December 2021. Social Security benefits are paid in the month following the month for which they come due, so the benefit due for December would actually be paid to you in January.
What is Supplemental Security Income? Should I apply for that too?
Unlike SSDI, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a welfare program. SSI is a Federal income supplement program that is funded not by Social Security taxes but by general tax revenues. The program is designed to help aged, blind, and disabled individuals who have little or no income and provides cash benefits to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter. If you have limited income and resources, you should also consider applying for SSI.
I am receiving long-term disability (LTD) insurance benefits. Will I automatically qualify for SSDI benefits?
No. Receipt of private LTD benefits does not impact your claim for SSDI benefits. Likewise, if at some point your LTD benefits are terminated, the fact that you no longer receive LTD benefits would not have a negative impact on your SSDI claim.
How will my benefits be calculated, i.e., how much will I get?
The amount of your monthly benefit is based on your lifetime average earnings covered by Social Security and is reduced if you receive other government benefits, such as workers’ compensation – including Black Lung payments – or public disability benefits.
How much will it cost to have Advocator Advantage help me?
Our fees are statutorily capped by SSA. Generally, we receive a percentage of your retroactive, lump-sum award, up to a maximum amount established by SSA. There are no hidden fees or costs associated with our services. We only earn a fee if we help you obtain an award, so you can be sure that we are working as hard as we can to get your claim approved.
How long will it take to get my first check after I am awarded?
It can take up to 60 days to receive your first check after you have been awarded. Processing time is generally faster at the initial claim and reconsideration levels, while it tends to take longer for clients who are awarded at the hearing level.
SSA can delay the processing of a claim for many different reasons and will not release any benefits until all necessary documentation is in order. This may include a copy of your birth certificate, citizenship papers, representation payee documents, or proof of other public payments such as state disability or workers’ compensation. We will help you provide these documents to SSA in a timely fashion to avoid unnecessary delays in processing your monthly payments
How long will it take for SSA to process my application?
Unfortunately, the process of applying for and being awarded SSDI benefits can be extremely long. Depending on the number of appeals needed to get your case awarded, the process can take anywhere from six months to three or four years.
If I am awarded SSDI benefits, how long will I continue to receive them?
You will continue to receive SSDI benefits as long as you continue to meet SSA’s definition of disability. SSA may find that you are no longer disabled due to medical improvement or if you return to work at a Substantial Gainful Activity level.
You are required to inform Advocator Advantage and/or SSA of changes in your work status or if your health improves. This is necessary to avoid incurring an overpayment to SSA.
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Read MoreAdvocator Advantage can help you better understand and take advantage of the many benefits of Social Security Disability to help maximize your financial well-being during your period of disability.
Even if you started the application process on your own or with a different advocate, we can help.
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