What You Receive Each Month From SSDI or SSI in Illinois

The amount you receive depends on which program you are in — Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) — and your personal earnings history or household resources. SSDI payments are based on how much you paid into Social Security through payroll taxes before you became unable to work. SSI payments are based on financial need and are the same for everyone in Illinois, regardless of work history.

As of 2024, the average SSDI payment is around $1,550 per month, but yours could be higher or lower depending on your earnings record. The maximum SSDI payment is $3,822 per month. SSI payments in Illinois are $943 per month for an individual living alone, or $1,415 per month for a couple. These amounts change each January based on a cost-of-living adjustment, so the figures you see this year will be different next year.

Your actual payment amount is calculated by the Social Security Administration (SSA) using your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is a formula based on your 35 highest-earning years. If you have not worked 35 years, SSA counts zeros for the missing years, which lowers your payment. If you worked more than 35 years, SSA drops your lowest-earning years and uses only the highest 35.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI payments in Illinois average around $1,550 per month but vary based on your lifetime earnings record, with a maximum of $3,822 per month.
  • SSI payments in Illinois are $943 per month for a single person or $1,415 for a couple, and do not depend on work history but on financial need.
  • Your exact payment amount is calculated using your 35 highest-earning years, so gaps in work history lower your monthly amount.
  • Both SSDI and SSI payments increase each January by a cost-of-living adjustment, which varies year to year.
  • If you receive both SSDI and SSI, your total payment is capped at the SSI maximum for your household size.

How SSDI Payment Amounts Are Calculated

Your SSDI payment is based on your earnings record — the wages you reported to Social Security over your working years. SSA looks at your 35 highest-earning years and calculates an average monthly income from those years. This average is then run through a formula that produces your Primary Insurance Amount, or PIA. The formula is weighted so that people who earned less during their careers receive a higher percentage of their average earnings as a benefit, while higher earners receive a lower percentage.

If you have worked fewer than 35 years, SSA counts zero-income years to fill out the 35-year period. This significantly reduces your payment. For example, if you worked only 20 years before becoming unable to work, SSA counts 15 years of zero earnings, which pulls down your average and lowers your monthly benefit. You can view your earnings record by creating an account on ssa.gov and checking your Social Security Statement.

Once SSA calculates your PIA, that becomes your full retirement age benefit amount. If you are under full retirement age when you begin receiving SSDI, your payment is reduced by a percentage. If you are over full retirement age, your payment may be increased. However, SSDI does not have an earnings limit once you are approved — you can work and earn as much as you want without losing your benefit, though you must report work activity to SSA.

How SSI Payment Amounts Are Determined

SSI payments are not based on work history. Instead, they are based on financial need. SSA sets a monthly payment amount for Illinois, and everyone who meets the income and resource limits receives that same amount, minus any income they have from other sources. For 2024, the SSI federal rate is $943 per month for an individual, but some states add a state supplement. Illinois does not currently add a state supplement, so the payment is the federal amount only.

To receive SSI, your total countable resources must be under $2,000 if you are single, or $3,000 if you are married. Countable resources include cash, bank accounts, stocks, and vehicles over a certain value. Your home and one vehicle do not count. If you have more than the resource limit, you are not may be able to access for SSI, even if you have no income.

SSI also has an income limit. In 2024, if you have monthly income over $943 (the payment amount), your SSI payment is reduced dollar-for-dollar by the amount over the limit. Some income does not count — for example, the first $65 per month of earned income is excluded, and certain in-kind support (food or shelter provided by someone else) is counted differently. If you receive both SSDI and SSI, your total monthly payment cannot exceed the SSI maximum for your household size.

Cost-of-Living Adjustments and When Payments Change

Both SSDI and SSI payments increase each January by a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The COLA is calculated based on inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index. In years with high inflation, the COLA is larger; in years with low inflation, the COLA is smaller. In 2024, the COLA was 3.2 percent. In 2023, it was 8.7 percent. SSA announces the new COLA in October, and the increase takes effect in January.

Your payment amount may also change if your circumstances change. If you return to work and earn above the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level, your SSDI may be suspended. The SGA level for 2024 is $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,590 for blind individuals. If you are receiving SSI and your income or resources change, your payment will be recalculated. You must report changes to SSA within 10 days.

Taxes on Your Disability Payments

SSDI and SSI payments are treated differently for tax purposes. SSI payments are never taxable, no matter how much other income you have. You do not report SSI on your federal tax return.

SSDI payments may be taxable if you have other income. If your combined income — which includes half of your SSDI, plus all other income like wages, interest, or pensions — exceeds certain thresholds, a portion of your SSDI becomes taxable. For 2024, if you are single and your combined income exceeds $25,000, you may owe tax on up to 50 percent of your SSDI. If your combined income exceeds $34,000, you may owe tax on up to 85 percent of your SSDI. If you are married filing jointly, the thresholds are $32,000 and $44,000. SSA sends you a Form SSA-1099-SM each January showing how much SSDI you received, which you use to calculate your tax liability.

How Work Affects Your SSDI Payment

SSDI has no earnings limit once you are approved. You can work full-time and earn any amount without losing your SSDI payment. However, if you earn above the SGA level ($1,550 per month in 2024), SSA may determine that you are no longer disabled and may stop your benefits. SSA looks at whether your work is substantial and gainful — meaning it shows you can do significant work activity despite your condition.

To protect yourself while testing your ability to work, you can use the Trial Work Period (TWP). During a nine-month TWP, you can earn any amount without affecting your SSDI payment. After the TWP ends, you have a three-month grace period where you can still earn above SGA without losing benefits. After that, if you earn above SGA, your benefits stop. You must report your work to SSA each month.

If your benefits stop because of work, you do not lose them permanently. You can return to SSDI without reapplying if you stop working and your condition has not improved, as long as you request reinstatement within five years. This is called expedited reinstatement.

Payments for Family Members Based on Your Disability

If you receive SSDI, your spouse and unmarried children under age 19 (or up to age 19 if in high school full-time) may be able to receive payments based on your record. Each family member receives a percentage of your PIA, usually 50 percent for a spouse or child. However, the total family payment cannot exceed 150 to 180 percent of your PIA, depending on your situation. If multiple family members are may be able to access, each person's payment is reduced proportionally to stay within the family maximum.

Your spouse can receive a payment at any age if they are caring for your child who is under age 16. Your ex-spouse can also receive a payment based on your record if you were married for at least 10 years, you are both at least 62 years old (or your ex is caring for your child under 16), and your ex has not remarried.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my SSDI payment go up if I work and pay more into Social Security?

No. Your SSDI payment is based on your earnings record at the time you are approved for disability. Future earnings do not increase your payment. However, if you work and earn above SGA, SSA may determine you are no longer disabled and stop your benefits.

Can I receive both SSDI and SSI at the same time?

Yes, but your total payment is capped at the SSI maximum. This happens when your SSDI payment is very low — for example, if you have a short work history. SSA will pay you SSDI first, then add SSI to bring you up to the maximum. You must meet SSI resource limits to receive the SSI portion.

What happens to my payment if I move out of Illinois?

SSDI payments are the same in every state, so moving does not change your SSDI amount. If you receive SSI, moving to a state with a state supplement may increase your payment, or moving to a state without a supplement may decrease it. You must notify SSA of any address change within 10 days.

How do I find out what my SSDI payment will be before I explore?

Create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov and view your Social Security Statement. It shows your earnings record and an estimate of your SSDI payment at full retirement age. The actual payment may be different if you are approved at a younger age, because it will be reduced.

Can my SSDI payment be reduced or stopped after I am approved?

Yes. If you work and earn above SGA, your benefits may stop. If you receive a workers' compensation or public disability benefit, your SSDI may be reduced. If you are incarcerated for more than 30 days, your SSDI stops. You must report changes in your situation to SSA.