SSDI is a federal insurance program that pays monthly benefits to people with disabilities and to certain family members

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is an insurance program run by the Social Security Administration. You pay into it through payroll taxes during your working years. If you become unable to work because of a medical condition expected to last at least 12 months or result in death, you can receive monthly cash payments. Your spouse, ex-spouse, children, and parents may also receive payments based on your work record — even if you never worked together or they have never worked at all.

SSDI is different from Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is a needs-based program for people with low income and few assets. SSDI is based on your work history and the taxes you paid. SSI is based on financial need. You can receive both, but they are separate programs with different rules.

The amount you receive depends on your age when you became disabled, how much you earned during your working years, and your family situation. A spouse or ex-spouse caring for your child under 16 can receive benefits. Adult children disabled before age 22 can receive benefits. Parents aged 62 or older who depended on you financially can receive benefits. Each family member gets a portion of your benefit amount, and there is a family maximum — the total amount all your family members can receive together.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI pays monthly benefits to people who cannot work due to a medical condition lasting at least 12 months, and to certain family members based on that person's work record.
  • Your spouse, ex-spouse, children, and parents may receive benefits even if they have never worked or contributed to Social Security themselves.
  • The amount you receive is based on your earnings history, not on how much money you have or how much you need.
  • There is a family maximum — a cap on the total amount all your family members can receive together each month.
  • You must report changes in your situation, such as returning to work, marriage, or a child turning 19, because they affect your benefits.

Who can receive SSDI benefits

You can receive SSDI if you have worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes, and if you have a medical condition that prevents you from working. "Long enough" means you need a certain number of work credits — typically 40 credits, with at least 20 earned in the 10 years before you became disabled. If you became disabled before age 31, the rules are different and usually require fewer credits. The Social Security Administration will check your work record when you explore.

Family members can receive benefits based on your work record if they are your spouse aged 62 or older, your spouse of any age caring for your child under 16, your unmarried child under 19 (or up to 23 if in high school full-time), your adult child disabled before age 22, or your parent aged 62 or older who depended on you for at least half their support. Ex-spouses can also receive benefits if the marriage lasted at least 10 years and they are not currently married to someone else.

Family members do not need to have worked or paid taxes. They do not need to live with you. They do not need to be U.S. citizens, though non-citizens may have restrictions on where they live. The Social Security Administration will verify the relationship — usually through birth certificates, marriage certificates, or adoption papers.

How much money you receive each month

Your monthly benefit amount is based on your average earnings during your working years. The Social Security Administration calculates a figure called your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is the benefit you would receive at full retirement age. If you are under full retirement age when you start receiving SSDI, your benefit is reduced slightly. Your family members each receive a percentage of your PIA — usually 50 percent for a spouse, 75 percent for each child, and 75 percent for each parent.

However, there is a family maximum. The total amount paid to you and all your family members combined cannot exceed 150 to 180 percent of your PIA, depending on your situation. If your family members' benefits would exceed this maximum, each person's benefit is reduced proportionally. For example, if you receive $1,500 per month and your family maximum is $2,400, and your spouse and two children would together receive $2,000, each of their benefits is reduced so the total reaches exactly $2,400.

The Social Security Administration does not publish a standard benefit table because amounts vary widely based on individual work history. You can create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov to see an estimate of your own benefit amount. You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to speak with a representative.

how the process works for SSDI

You can explore online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office. Online is usually fastest. You will need to provide your Social Security number, birth certificate, proof of citizenship or legal residency, and medical records related to your condition. If you are explore on behalf of a family member, you will also need documents proving the relationship — a birth certificate for a child, a marriage certificate for a spouse, or adoption papers for an adopted child.

The process process takes time. The Social Security Administration must review your medical records, contact your doctors, and sometimes order additional tests. Initial decisions typically take three to six months, though some cases take longer. You will receive a letter in the mail telling you whether you were approved, denied, or need to provide more information.

If you are denied, you have the right to appeal. You can request reconsideration, ask for a hearing before an administrative law judge, or appeal to the Appeals Council. Each step has a important date — usually 60 days from the date on your denial letter. Many people hire a disability lawyer or representative to help with appeals, and they are only paid if you win.

Work and earnings while receiving SSDI

You can work and still receive SSDI, but there are limits. During a nine-month trial work period, you can earn any amount and keep your full benefit. After the trial work period ends, you enter the extended may be able to access period, which lasts 36 months. During this time, you can work and earn up to a monthly limit — in 2024, that limit is $1,550 per month, though it changes each year. If you earn more than the limit in any month, you lose your benefit for that month.

After the extended may be able to access period ends, if you are still working and earning above the limit, your benefits stop. However, you can restart benefits without reapplying if you stop working or drop below the earnings limit within five years. This is called expedited reinstatement. After five years, you would need to explore again.

Your family members' benefits are not affected by your work or earnings. If your spouse works, their benefits continue. If your child works, their benefits continue. Only your own benefit changes based on your earnings.

Changes you must report to Social Security

You must report certain changes within 30 days, or you may lose benefits or owe money back. Report if you return to work, if your medical condition improves significantly, if you marry or divorce, if a child turns 19 (or 23 if in high school), if a family member moves out of the country, if you are convicted of a crime, or if you receive a workers' compensation settlement or lawsuit award related to your disability.

You can report changes online through your my Social Security account, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office. Keep records of any changes — pay stubs, court documents, medical records — in case Social Security asks for proof.

If you do not report a change and Social Security finds out, you may be overpaid. An overpayment means you received more money than you were may have access to to, and Social Security will ask you to repay it. You can request a waiver of the overpayment if you were not at fault and repaying it would cause hardship, but the process takes time and is not always approved.

Medicare and Medicaid while on SSDI

After you receive SSDI for 24 months, you become may be able to access for Medicare, the federal health insurance program. Medicare has four parts: Part A covers hospital stays, Part B covers doctor visits and outpatient care, Part D covers prescription drugs, and Part C is an alternative that combines A, B, and D. You pay premiums for Parts B and D, though the premiums are deducted from your SSDI benefit.

You may also be may be able to access for Medicaid, the joint federal-state health insurance program for people with low income. Medicaid rules vary by state. In some states, receiving SSDI automatically qualifies you for Medicaid. In others, you must have income and assets below a certain limit. Contact your state Medicaid office to learn the rules in your state.

Your family members do not automatically receive Medicare or Medicaid based on your SSDI. They have their own may be able to access rules. A spouse or child may be may be able to access for Medicaid based on household income, or they may need to purchase their own health insurance through the marketplace.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my family members receive benefits if I have not worked very long?

It depends on your age when you became disabled. If you became disabled before age 31, you need fewer work credits — sometimes as few as six credits in the three years before you became disabled. If you became disabled at 31 or older, you typically need 40 credits with 20 earned in the 10 years before disability. The Social Security Administration will check your record and tell you whether your family members can receive benefits.

What happens to my benefits if I get married?

Your own SSDI benefit does not change if you marry. However, your new spouse may become may be able to access to receive benefits based on your work record if they are 62 or older, or if they are caring for your child under 16. If your spouse was receiving benefits based on a previous marriage, their benefits may change. Report the marriage to Social Security within 30 days.

Can my child receive benefits after they turn 19?

Yes, if they are disabled. A child can continue to receive benefits past age 19 if they became disabled before age 22 and remain disabled. The disability must be severe enough to prevent substantial work. Social Security will review the case periodically to confirm the disability continues. If your child is in high school full-time, they can receive benefits until age 23.

What if I disagree with the amount of my benefit?

You can request a detailed explanation of how your benefit was calculated. Create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213. If you believe an error was made in your work record — for example, earnings were not credited correctly — you can request a correction. You have three years, three months, and 15 days from the year the earnings should have been recorded to request a correction.

Can I receive SSDI and workers' compensation at the same time?

You can receive both, but your SSDI benefit may be reduced. If you receive workers' compensation for the same condition that qualifies you for SSDI, the total of both benefits cannot exceed 80 percent of your average current earnings before you became disabled. Social Security will calculate the offset and adjust your SSDI benefit accordingly. Report any workers' compensation settlement or award within 30 days.