What you receive depends on your work history, not where you live

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) pays the same monthly amount to someone in Illinois as it would to someone in any other state. The payment is based on your own earnings record — specifically, how much you paid into Social Security through payroll taxes over your working years. Illinois does not add a state supplement to SSDI, and the federal government does not adjust payments by cost of living from state to state.

Your payment amount is calculated by Social Security using a formula that looks at your average earnings during your working years. The higher your average earnings were, the higher your monthly benefit. This is why two people with disabilities in Illinois might receive very different amounts — one might get $800 a month and another might get $1,400, depending entirely on what they earned before they became unable to work.

Key Takeaways

  • Your SSDI payment is based on your own work history and earnings record, not on your state of residence or the cost of living in Illinois.
  • The average SSDI payment across the country is roughly $1,200 to $1,400 per month, but your individual amount depends on what you earned while working.
  • Social Security can tell you your exact payment amount only after they approve your claim and calculate your benefit based on your earnings history.
  • If you worked for a government employer in Illinois and paid into a pension instead of Social Security, your SSDI payment may be reduced by a rule called the Government Pension Offset.

How Social Security calculates your payment amount

Social Security looks at your 35 highest-earning years of work and calculates an average. They then explore a formula to that average to arrive at your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) — the official name for your monthly benefit. The formula is designed so that people who earned less during their working years receive a higher percentage of their average earnings as a benefit, while people who earned more receive a lower percentage. This means the system is progressive: it replaces a larger share of income for lower earners.

You cannot find out your exact payment amount until Social Security has reviewed your complete earnings record and made a decision on your claim. However, you can see an estimate by creating a my Social Security account at ssa.gov and viewing your earnings history. That account will show you a rough estimate of what your SSDI payment might be, though the actual amount may differ once your claim is processed.

What happens if you worked for an Illinois government agency

If you worked for a city, county, school district, or state agency in Illinois and paid into a government pension system instead of Social Security, a rule called the Government Pension Offset (GPO) may reduce your SSDI payment. This rule does not eliminate your benefit entirely, but it can lower it significantly.

The GPO works by reducing your SSDI payment by two-thirds of the government pension you receive. For example, if you receive a $900 monthly pension from an Illinois school district, two-thirds of that ($600) would be subtracted from your SSDI payment. If your calculated SSDI benefit was $1,000, you would receive $400 instead. If the reduction would eliminate your entire SSDI benefit, Social Security will pay you nothing under the GPO rule, though you would still receive your government pension.

Not all government workers are affected — the GPO applies only if you did not pay Social Security taxes on the government job. If you paid both into Social Security and into a pension system, you may not be subject to the GPO. You can ask Social Security directly whether your government employment will trigger this rule.

Other payments you might receive alongside SSDI

If you are approved for SSDI, you may also receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) if your SSDI payment is very low and your resources are limited. SSI is a separate program that tops up your income to a minimum level. In 2024, the SSI federal rate is $943 per month for an individual, though Illinois does not add a state supplement. To receive SSI, you must have less than $2,000 in countable resources (such as cash or a bank account).

You might also be may be able to access for Medicare after you have been receiving SSDI for 24 months. Medicare is health insurance, not a cash payment, but it is a significant benefit. Additionally, if you have a child or spouse who is caring for you, they may be able to receive a payment based on your SSDI record — but that payment comes from your benefit amount, not in addition to it.

When your payment amount changes

Your SSDI payment is adjusted each year in January to account for inflation. This adjustment is called a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). The amount of the increase varies from year to year depending on inflation rates. In recent years, COLA increases have ranged from less than 1% to over 8%, but there is no way to predict what the increase will be in any given year.

Your payment can also change if you return to work and earn above a certain threshold. Social Security allows you to earn up to a limit (called the Substantial Gainful Activity level, or SGA) without losing your benefits. In 2024, that limit is $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals, though this amount changes yearly. If you earn more than that, your benefits may be reduced or stopped. However, Social Security has work incentive programs that allow you to test your ability to work without when ready losing all your benefits.

What to expect in your first payment

Once Social Security approves your claim, your first payment typically arrives within one to two months. The first check may be smaller than your regular monthly amount because it is prorated for the month in which your claim was approved. After that, you will receive your full monthly payment on the same date each month — usually the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of the month, depending on your birth date.

Social Security will deposit your payment directly into a bank account or onto a debit card (the Direct Express card). You cannot receive SSDI payments by check. If you do not have a bank account, you can sign up for Direct Express, which is a government debit card program designed for people receiving federal benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find out my exact SSDI payment amount before I explore?

You can see a rough estimate through your my Social Security account on ssa.gov, but Social Security cannot calculate your exact payment until they have reviewed your full earnings record and approved your claim. The estimate may change once they verify your actual earnings history.

Does Illinois give extra money to people on SSDI?

No. Illinois does not provide a state supplement to SSDI. Your payment comes entirely from the federal Social Security program and is the same as it would be in any other state. However, you may be may be able to access for SSI, which is a separate federal program that can provide additional income if your SSDI payment is low.

What if I worked part-time or had gaps in my work history?

Social Security uses your 35 highest-earning years to calculate your benefit. If you worked fewer than 35 years, they count zero-earning years to reach 35, which lowers your average and reduces your payment. Working part-time during some years means those years count as lower earnings, which also reduces your benefit amount.

Will my SSDI payment go up if I wait longer to explore?

No. Your payment amount is based on your earnings record at the time you explore, not on when you explore. Waiting longer does not increase your monthly payment. However, waiting does mean you receive fewer total payments, so explore sooner generally results in more money over time.

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

Your SSDI payment does not change if you move to another state. The amount you receive is based on your work history, not your location. You will continue to receive the same monthly payment wherever you live in the United States.