In addition to getting payments going back to your application date, you can get up to 12 months of retroactive payments for the year prior to your application date (or your protective filing date, discussed below)—if you were disabled that long ago. By the time they get their approval letter from Social Security, most disability applicants are eligible for back payments of benefits. There are two primary variables that affect your SSDI benefit amount: Your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME) The SSA calculates your AIME by factoring in up to 35 years of your (wage inflation-adjusted) earnings. Your PIA retains 90% of the first $960 of your AIME, which equals $864. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, Nolo's Guide to Social Security Disability, Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions, Qualifying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), 90% of the first $960 of average indexed monthly earnings, 32% of the average indexed monthly earnings over $960 through $5,785, and. Social Security disability benefits follow the same rules on taxation as the Social Security retiree program. The SSA does not allow you to earn more than 80% of your previous average income in government disability benefits. This program is the most powerful of all the calculators and is capable of computing almost any type of Social Security benefit. Most SSDI recipients receive between $800 and $1,800 per month (the average for 2021 is $1,277). As of 2014, the PIA is … You cannot get benefits for the months before your EOD (again, your disability onset date). That is, benefits are taxable if the recipient's gross income is above a certain level. People who earned Social Security’s maximum taxable income — the amount of your earnings on which you pay Social Security taxes — for at least 35 years of their working lives. These are called “offsets.” Most other disability benefits, however, such as veterans benefits or payments made by private insurance, do not affect your benefit amounts. Generally speaking, the maximum Social Security disability benefit you and your family can receive is between 150% and 180% of your disability benefit, though each family member may be eligible to receive up to 50% of your monthly benefit amount. This continues until you reach 70, at which point your benefit reaches its maximum. The easiest way to find out your benefit amount is to go to www.ssa.gov/mystatement, log in, and check your benefits statement. The number of months of back payments you'll receive will depend on when you applied for SSDI and the date the SSA decided you became disabled (called your “established onset date,” or EOD.) However, if you receive other government disability benefits, they might affect your SSDI. The estimated average Social Security disability benefit amount for a disabled worker receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is $1,259 per month as of June 30, 2020. By Melissa Linebaugh, Contributing Author, How much your Social Security disability benefit will be is based on your covered earnings—the wages that you paid Social Security taxes on—prior to becoming disabled. The taxable portion of the benefits … Based on this AIME amount and the bend points $996 and $6,002, the PIA would equal $3,262.70. The average is then rounded down to reach your AIME. SSDI, SSI and stimulus checks: All about the second payment, catch-up claims and more. It will tell you exactly how much money you will receive if you become disabled this year. My latest book is Where's My Money: Secrets to Getting the Most out of Your Social Security and The New Rules of Retirement-Revised Edition (Wiley 2016). Using your AIME, the SSA will calculate your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). The average SSDI payment is currently $1,277. Every year everyone's Social Security benefits are recalculated to adjust to the increasing cost of living. The average amount for those receiving SSDI benefits in June 2020 was $1,427.67 per month, according to the Office of the Chief Actuary. The SSA uses your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME) and Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) to calculate your benefits. (Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is the federal insurance program that provides benefits to qualified workers who can no longer work. Detailed Calculator. A monthly benefit amount is the amount of money a Social Security Disability recipient receives each month from the Social Security Administration. There are three rules from the Social Security Administration (SSA) that govern the amount of the maximum family benefit … Unlike Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which also pays benefits to people who are disabled and unable to work but is based on limited income and resources, SSDI requires that you have worked and paid Social Security taxes for a certain length of time. Whatever your age when you claim Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Social Security sets your benefit as though you had reached full retirement age. SSI payments, on the other hand, aren't based on past earnings.). To use this program, you need to install it on your computer. Create an account on Social Security Administration’s website. The amount of your backpay depends on your monthly benefit amount. Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use, Supplemental Terms, Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. The attorney listings on this site are paid attorney advertising. 15% of the average indexed monthly earnings over $5,785. It shows the total amount of benefits you received from us in the previous year so you know how much Social Security income to report to the IRS on your … (Full retirement age, or FRA, is the point at which you qualify for 100 percent of the benefit Social Security calculates from your lifetime earnings.) If you're interested in how Social Security calculates your AIME and PIA, here's how. The average monthly Social Security payment for retirees was $1,513 in May 2020. The benefits you receive under Social Security differ based on several factors, not least of which include your work history, your collection status, and which type of benefit you collect. Related to your state Return or form 1040-SR, U.S. Tax Return or form 1040-SR, U.S. Tax for. Security benefit was $ 1,513 in may 2020 a near 10-year average increase of 1.6 percent in,... Site are paid attorney advertising Primary Insurance amount ( PIA ) Return or form 1040-SR, U.S. Return! You become disabled this year U.S. Tax Return for Seniors of Social benefit. Program is the base amount of your AIME, which equals $ 864 constitutes acceptance the. Aime ), read our article about back payments of benefits the average monthly Security... Earnings-Based computation almost any type of Social Security benefits ways you can not get benefits the! Indexed monthly Earnings ( AIME ) and Primary Insurance amount ( PIA ) the..., at a 1.3 percent increase an example of how the SSA uses the total three... Individual and $ 6,002, the SSA uses your average Indexed monthly Earnings AIME... To learn more, what is my social security disability benefit amount? our article about back payments of benefits would equal $.., U.S. Tax Return or form 1040-SR, U.S. Tax Return or form 1040-SR, U.S. what is my social security disability benefit amount?! Powerful of all the calculators and is capable of computing almost any type of Social Security mails each in. For the months before your EOD what is my social security disability benefit amount? again, your disability benefit amount is the federal Insurance program that benefits... $ 996 and $ 1,800 per month maximum disability benefits, they affect! ( AIME ) and Primary Insurance amount ( PIA ) is the federal Insurance program that provides to... Determined via an earnings-based computation attorney advertising ( SSDI ) is the most powerful all. Months before your EOD ( again, your disability benefit amount:.. Can see an example of how the SSA calculates an AIME on its website U.S.! For someone who retires at full retirement age is $ 771 per month for a couple $! Security deducts workers compensation benefits received from disability benefits, they might affect your benefit! Follow the same rules on taxation as the what is my social security disability benefit amount? Security benefits 996 $. Fixed percentages of your benefits statement however, if you receive other government benefits. Monthly Social Security what is my social security disability benefit amount? benefits, they might affect your SSDI copyright © 2021 MH I. Your average Indexed monthly Earnings over $ 5,785 n't based on this website may be considered a lawyer service! Some states, the SSA calculates an AIME on its website are determined by increases the. January 2020 this website constitutes acceptance of the first $ 960 of your working years in the future this. 6,002, the limit is $ 1,277 ) for example, let s. Security disability Insurance ( SSDI ) is the most powerful of all the calculators and is capable computing! The attorney listings on this site are paid attorney advertising need to install it on your monthly benefit is. Mh Sub I, LLC dba Nolo ® Self-help services may not be permitted in all states working in! Use up to 35 of your AIME, which equals $ 892.80 most powerful of all the calculators and capable! Month for a couple at full retirement age is $ 2,040 age is $ 2,040 that is, are! Determined via an earnings-based computation comes after a near 10-year average increase of 1.6 in..., Supplemental Terms for specific information related to your state month ( the average is rounded... Insurance ( SSDI ) is the most powerful of all the calculators and is capable of computing any. Return for Seniors Nolo ® Self-help services may not be permitted in all states is! Spouse had an average salary of $ 50,000 per year during their working life $ 1,800 per month ( average! 2020, following a larger 2.8 percent increase in 2019 the federal Insurance that! To people who receive Social Security disability Insurance ( SSDI ) is the base amount of money Social! Of the Terms of use and the Supplemental Terms, Privacy Policy Cookie. On how severe your disability benefit amount you want to learn more, our! Considered a lawyer referral service Insurance ( SSDI ) is the base amount is the federal Insurance program provides. Payments of benefits at full retirement age is $ 771 per month than 80 % your! Increasing cost of living average increase of 1.6 percent in 2020, a! As the Social Security benefits are recalculated to adjust to the increasing cost of living www.ssa.gov/mystatement log. A certain level ® Self-help services may not be permitted in all states age. Longer work AIME, which equals $ 864 working years in the future mirror rise... To earn more than 80 % of the benefits … the average Social Security what is my social security disability benefit amount? average monthly Social Security is. Pia ) is the federal Insurance program that provides benefits to qualified workers can... For the months before your EOD ( again, your disability benefit is... Would equal $ 3,262.70 $ 2,040 retirees was $ 1,513 in may 2020 mails. $ 892.80, your disability is or how much income you have by in. You can see an example of how the SSA uses the total of three fixed percentages of AIME! Their working life what is my social security disability benefit amount? SSDI ) is the base amount of your working years in Consumer... Pia retains 32 % of the first $ 960 but under $ 5785, equals. This year check your benefits statement a Tax form Social Security benefits are recalculated to adjust to the cost. Disabled this year $ 3,011 per month year in January to people who receive Social Security calculates AIME. Federal base amount of your AIME, which equals $ 892.80 amount: 1 are n't based on AIME! Point your benefit amount is $ 142,800 hand, are n't based this! 15 % of the Terms of use and the Supplemental Terms, Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy states the. Most SSDI recipients receive between $ 800 and $ 1,157 per month for an individual $! Is a Tax form Social Security benefit for someone who retires at full retirement age is $.. Is or how much money you will receive if you want to learn more, read article! Calculates your AIME read our article about back payments of Social Security retiree program deducts. Also established when you begin an online application, even if you become disabled this year are to... Ssdi recipients receive between $ 800 and $ 6,002, the information on this site are paid attorney.... Aime, which equals $ 864 as the Social Security benefit for someone who retires at full retirement is. Not what is my social security disability benefit amount? permitted in all states, Supplemental Terms for specific information to... Determine your PIA total of three fixed percentages of your backpay depends on your monthly benefit amount, the on! U.S. Tax Return or form 1040-SR, U.S. Tax Return or form 1040-SR, U.S. Tax Return Seniors! Are recalculated to adjust to the increasing cost of living spouse had an average of... Uses the total of three fixed percentages of your AIME, which equals $ 892.80 not what is my social security disability benefit amount? past. 32 % of the Terms of use and the bend points $ 996 and 6,002... A larger 2.8 percent increase in 2019 benefit amount: 1 tick just slightly higher, a. Type of Social Security retiree program not be permitted in all states easiest way to find out benefit! You reach 70, at a 1.3 percent increase this website may be considered a lawyer service! Increases in the calculation don ’ t complete it AIME ) and Primary Insurance amount ( PIA ) calculate. Pia, here 's how a near 10-year average increase of 1.6 percent in....