The amount you receive depends on your work history and which program you may have access to for

Social Security pays two different programs for people with disabilities: SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) and SSI (Supplemental Security Income). ADHD alone does not determine which one you get or how much it pays. SSDI is based on how much you or a parent paid into Social Security through taxes. SSI is based on financial need. The actual monthly amount varies widely — there is no single "disability check for ADHD."

In 2024, the average SSDI payment is around $1,550 per month, but this is an average across all disabilities and work histories. Some people receive $600 monthly; others receive $3,000 or more. SSI has a federal base rate of $943 per month in 2024, though many states add money on top. Your specific amount depends on your earnings record (for SSDI) or your savings and income (for SSI), not on your diagnosis.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI payments are based on your own work history or a parent's work history, not on your diagnosis, and range from hundreds to thousands of dollars monthly.
  • SSI payments are based on financial need and have a federal base of $943 per month in 2024, with some states paying more.
  • Social Security calculates your SSDI amount by looking at your highest 35 years of earnings and explore a formula — the more you earned, the higher your payment.
  • You cannot know your exact payment amount until Social Security reviews your earnings record, which happens during the approval process.
  • If you receive SSDI, you may also may have access to for Medicare after 24 months; if you receive SSI, you may may have access to for Medicaid when ready.

How SSDI calculates your monthly payment

SSDI looks at your Primary Insurance Amount, or PIA. Social Security takes your highest 35 years of earnings, adjusts them for inflation, and applies a formula that replaces a percentage of your average monthly earnings. The formula is weighted so that lower earners get a higher percentage replacement — someone who earned $20,000 a year gets a larger percentage of that back than someone who earned $100,000 a year.

You can see an estimate of your SSDI payment by creating an account at ssa.gov and viewing your Social Security Statement. This statement shows your earnings record and an estimate of what you would receive at full retirement age, at 62, or if you became disabled today. The disabled estimate is the closest to what you would actually receive, though the real amount may differ slightly once Social Security verifies your work history during the approval process.

If you never worked or worked very little, you may not may have access to for SSDI based on your own record. In that case, you might may have access to on a parent's record if that parent is retired, disabled, or deceased and you became disabled before age 22. The payment would be up to 50 percent of what your parent receives or is may have access to to receive.

How SSI calculates your monthly payment

SSI does not look at your work history. Instead, it looks at your countable income and countable resources. Countable income includes wages, unemployment, and other benefits — but Social Security excludes the first $65 of monthly earnings plus half of anything above that, so working part-time does not eliminate your SSI payment dollar-for-dollar. Countable resources are things you own: cash, bank accounts, stocks. The limit is $2,000 for an individual in 2024.

The federal SSI payment in 2024 is $943 per month for an individual living independently. If you live with someone who pays for food or shelter, the payment is reduced. If you live in a state that supplements the federal amount — California, New York, and about a dozen others do — you receive the federal amount plus the state supplement. Some states add $100 to $200 monthly; others add less.

To find your state's supplement amount, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit ssa.gov and search for your state's SSI payment rates. The amount does not change based on your diagnosis; it changes based on where you live and your living situation.

What happens to your payment if you work

Both SSDI and SSI allow you to work and still receive benefits, but the rules differ. On SSDI, you can earn up to $1,550 per month (in 2024) without losing benefits during a trial work period of nine months. After that, Social Security looks at whether your earnings show you can do substantial gainful activity — currently defined as earning $1,550 or more monthly. If you do, your benefits stop, but you enter a grace period where you keep benefits for three more months while working.

On SSI, the first $65 of monthly earnings do not count, and half of anything above that does not count. So if you earn $200 monthly, only $67.50 counts against your SSI payment. This means you can work part-time and still receive most of your SSI benefit. However, if your countable income plus your SSI payment would exceed the federal rate, your payment is reduced by the amount over the limit.

When your payment starts and how it is delivered

If Social Security approves your claim, your payment begins the month after you are found disabled. For SSDI, there is a five-month waiting period, so your first check covers the sixth month of disability. For SSI, there is no waiting period — your first payment can come the month you are approved, though it may be prorated if you are approved partway through the month.

Social Security deposits your payment by direct deposit to a bank account or, if you do not have one, to a debit card called the Direct Express Card. Payments arrive on the third of the month, or the second business day before if the third falls on a weekend or holiday. You cannot choose a different payment date or receive a lump sum instead of monthly payments.

Cost-of-living adjustments and annual changes

Both SSDI and SSI payments increase each year if there is a cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA. Social Security announces the COLA in October for the following year. In recent years, COLAs have ranged from 0 percent (2016, 2017) to 8.7 percent (2023). The 2024 COLA was 3.2 percent. Your payment amount increases automatically in January if a COLA is in effect — you do not have to do anything.

SSI payments also increase if your state increases its supplement. These increases are not automatic and vary by state. Some states increase supplements annually; others do not. Check with your state's Social Security office or ssa.gov for your state's current rates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a larger SSDI payment if my ADHD is more severe?

No. SSDI payments are based on your earnings record, not on how severe your condition is. Two people with the same work history receive the same SSDI payment regardless of whether one has mild ADHD and the other has severe ADHD. The severity of your condition matters only for whether you are approved — not for how much you receive once approved.

What if I worked very little before becoming disabled?

You may not have enough work credits to may have access to for SSDI on your own record. If you became disabled before age 22, you might may have access to on a parent's record. If not, you can explore for SSI instead, which does not require a work history. SSI is based on financial need, so if you have little income and few resources, you may be approved.

Do I have to report my ADHD medication costs to Social Security?

No. Medication costs do not affect your SSDI or SSI payment. Social Security does not reduce your benefit based on medical expenses. However, if you are on SSI, any income you receive — including money from family members to help pay for medication — counts as income and may reduce your SSI payment.

Will my payment change if I move to a different state?

SSDI payments do not change if you move. SSI payments may change if you move to a state with a different supplement rate. If you move from a state with a high supplement to one with a low supplement, your total payment will decrease. If you move to a state with no supplement, you receive only the federal SSI amount.

How do I find out my exact payment amount before I am approved?

For SSDI, you can estimate your payment using your Social Security Statement at ssa.gov. For SSI, you can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 and ask for an estimate based on your current income and resources. The actual amount may differ slightly once Social Security verifies your information, but these estimates are usually accurate within $10 to $20 monthly.