The 2018 SSDI payment amounts
In 2018, the average monthly SSDI payment was $1,182 for a disabled worker. The maximum payment that year was $2,788 per month. These numbers came from a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that Social Security applied in January 2018, which raised payments by 2 percent from the previous year.
Your actual payment depended on your work history and earnings record, not on how severe your condition was. Social Security calculated your benefit by looking at your highest 35 years of earnings, adjusted for inflation. The longer you had worked and the more you had earned, the higher your payment would be.
These 2018 figures are historical — they show what people received that year. If you are looking at your own payment amount now, it will be different because Social Security adjusts payments every January based on inflation.
Key Takeaways
- The average SSDI payment in 2018 was $1,182 per month, with a maximum of $2,788.
- Your payment amount was based on your lifetime earnings record, not on your medical condition or how much you needed.
- Social Security applied a 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment in January 2018.
- Payment amounts change every year in January when Social Security announces the new COLA.
- If you received SSDI in 2018, your current payment is higher because of adjustments made in the years since.
How Social Security calculated your 2018 payment
Social Security did not look at your current income or your current expenses. Instead, it calculated your benefit using your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which was based on your work history before you became disabled.
The calculation started with your highest 35 years of earnings. Social Security adjusted those earnings for inflation to account for wage growth over time. Then it applied a formula that weighted your earlier earnings less heavily than your later ones. The result was your PIA — the amount you would receive each month at age 62 or later, or the amount you received as a disabled worker.
If you had not worked 35 years, Social Security counted the missing years as zero earnings, which lowered your benefit. You needed at least six quarters (one and a half years) of work in the three years before you became disabled to be insured for SSDI at all.
Why 2018 payments were different from other years
Every January, Social Security announces a new COLA based on inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index. In 2018, inflation was 2 percent, so all SSDI payments went up by 2 percent. In some years, inflation is lower or higher, so the adjustment changes.
In 2017, the COLA had been only 0.3 percent because inflation was very low. In 2019, it was 1.6 percent. These year-to-year changes mean that the payment you received in 2018 was not the same as what you received in 2017 or what you would receive in 2019.
The maximum payment amount also changed each year for the same reason. In 2018 it was $2,788, but this maximum applied only to workers with very high lifetime earnings.
What happened to family members' payments in 2018
If you were receiving SSDI in 2018 and had a spouse or children under 19 (or 19 if still in high school), they could receive payments on your record. Their payments also received the 2 percent COLA adjustment in January 2018.
A spouse could receive up to 50 percent of your PIA, and each child could receive up to 75 percent. However, there was a family maximum — the total amount that all family members combined could receive was usually 150 to 180 percent of your PIA. If the family maximum was reached, each person's payment was reduced proportionally.
For example, if your PIA was $1,200, your spouse might receive $600 and each child $450, but only if the family total did not exceed the maximum. If it did, Social Security would reduce each payment so the total stayed within the limit.
Comparing 2018 to other recent years
The 2018 payment amounts reflected a larger increase than the year before. In 2017, the COLA had been only 0.3 percent because inflation was very low that year. The jump to 2 percent in 2018 meant that people receiving SSDI saw a noticeably larger adjustment on their January 2018 payment.
| Year | Average Payment | Maximum Payment | COLA Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | $1,171 | $2,687 | 0.3% |
| 2018 | $1,182 | $2,788 | 2.0% |
| 2019 | $1,200 | $2,835 | 1.6% |
These increases were automatic — you did not have to do anything to receive them. Social Security applied the COLA to your account in January of each year. The 2019 COLA was smaller than 2018 because inflation slowed down that year.
Finding your own 2018 payment information
If you were receiving SSDI in 2018 and want to see what you were paid that year, you can create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov. This account shows your payment history month by month, going back several years. You can view exactly what you received in any month, including 2018.
You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to ask about your 2018 payments. Have your Social Security number ready. If you prefer, you can visit your local Social Security office in person — you can find the address at ssa.gov/locator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was $1,182 the amount everyone received in 2018?
No. $1,182 was the average. Some people received less because they had lower lifetime earnings or had not worked as long. Others received more, up to the maximum of $2,788. Your payment depended entirely on your work history.
Did the 2018 COLA explore to everyone on SSDI?
Yes. Every person receiving SSDI in January 2018 received the 2 percent increase, including disabled workers, spouses, and children on a worker's record. Family members' payments also went up by 2 percent.
If I started SSDI after 2018, how do I know what the payment would have been that year?
You cannot know exactly without Social Security calculating it, because your benefit is based on your earnings record at the time you explore. If you want to understand how your current payment compares to 2018 amounts, you can call Social Security or log into your my Social Security account to see your current benefit amount.
Why do SSDI payments change every year?
Social Security adjusts payments every January to keep up with inflation. The adjustment is called a cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA. It is based on how much prices rose during the previous year. In years when inflation is higher, the COLA is larger.
Can I find out what my 2018 payment was if I no longer receive SSDI?
Yes. If you have a my Social Security account, you can view your payment history. If you do not have an account, you can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit a local office. You will need to provide your Social Security number and proof of identity.