Your SSDI payment is based on your own work history, not on how disabled you are
The amount you receive from Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) depends on how much you earned during your working years before you became unable to work. Social Security calculates this by looking at your highest 35 years of earnings and averaging them. Someone who worked full-time at higher wages will receive more than someone who worked part-time or at lower wages, even if both have the same disability.
There is no single SSDI payment amount. The average payment in 2024 is around $1,550 per month, but individual payments range from roughly $600 to over $3,800 per month depending on your work history. Your actual amount is determined by Social Security using a formula they explore to your earnings record.
You cannot choose how much you want to receive or negotiate the amount. Social Security calculates it automatically based on the rules they explore to everyone.
Key Takeaways
- Your SSDI payment amount comes from your own earnings history, not from your disability or financial need.
- Social Security uses your highest 35 years of earnings to calculate an average, then applies a formula to determine your monthly payment.
- Payments typically range from $600 to $3,800 per month, with an average around $1,550, but your specific amount depends on what you earned.
- You can find your estimated payment amount by creating a my Social Security account online or calling Social Security directly.
- If you worked very little or had very low earnings, your SSDI payment may be quite small, and you might also be able to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to bring your total income higher.
How Social Security calculates your payment
Social Security looks back at your work history and pulls out your 35 highest-earning years. If you worked fewer than 35 years, they count zeros for the missing years, which lowers your average. They then calculate your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is the base number they use to determine your monthly payment.
The formula they use is not a straightforward percentage of your earnings. Instead, Social Security applies a bend-point formula that replaces a higher percentage of lower earnings and a lower percentage of higher earnings. This means someone earning $20,000 per year will see a larger portion of that income replaced than someone earning $100,000 per year.
Once they calculate your PIA, that becomes your SSDI payment amount. This is the number that appears on your award letter and the number deposited into your bank account each month.
What happens if you did not work much before becoming disabled
If you have a short work history or very low earnings, your SSDI payment will be small. Social Security still calculates it the same way—using your actual earnings history—but the result may be $600 or $700 per month instead of $1,500.
If your SSDI payment is very low, you may also be able to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) at the same time. SSI is a separate program that provides additional money to people with disabilities who have low income and few assets. You can receive both SSDI and SSI together; the SSI payment makes up the difference between your SSDI amount and the SSI limit (which varies by state but is around $943 per month for an individual in 2024).
To know whether you may have access to for SSI, you will need to contact Social Security or check your award letter, which will tell you if you are receiving both programs.
How to find out your specific payment amount
The fastest way to see your estimated SSDI payment is to create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Once you log in, you can view your earnings record and see an estimate of what your SSDI payment would be. This estimate is based on your actual work history and is usually accurate within a small margin.
If you do not have a my Social Security account yet, you can create one by going to ssa.gov and clicking "Create an account." You will need your Social Security number, email address, and a way to verify your identity (usually a phone number or address on file).
You can also call Social Security directly at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask a representative to tell you your estimated payment amount. They will need to verify your identity over the phone and can give you the number right away.
Cost of living adjustments and how your payment can change
Your SSDI payment is not fixed forever. Each year in October, Social Security announces a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) that increases payments for people already receiving SSDI. This adjustment is meant to help your payment keep pace with inflation. The COLA percentage changes each year depending on how much prices rose during the year.
Your payment can also change if you return to work and earn above a certain threshold. If you earn more than the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit—which is $1,550 per month in 2024 for non-blind individuals—Social Security may determine that you are no longer disabled and stop your payments. However, there are work incentives that allow you to test your ability to work without when ready losing all your benefits.
If you receive a lump-sum payment (such as a settlement or inheritance) or your living situation changes, your SSI payment (if you receive it) may decrease, but your SSDI payment itself will not change based on assets or other income you receive.
SSDI payments for family members based on your work record
If you are receiving SSDI, certain family members may also be able to receive payments based on your work history. Your spouse, ex-spouse (if married at least 10 years), and unmarried children under age 19 (or up to age 19 if still in high school) may each receive up to 50% of your Primary Insurance Amount.
However, there is a family maximum. The total amount paid to you and all your family members combined cannot exceed 150% to 180% of your Primary Insurance Amount. This means if your payment is $1,500, the family maximum might be $2,250 to $2,700 total, split among everyone receiving benefits on your record.
If you have family members receiving payments on your record, Social Security will explain the family maximum on your award letter and on their individual award letters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get more SSDI money if I have a family to support?
Your SSDI payment amount is based only on your work history, not on how many dependents you have. However, your spouse and children may each receive their own payments based on your record, up to the family maximum. Contact Social Security to ask whether your family members can be added to your case.
What if I think Social Security calculated my payment wrong?
You can request a detailed explanation of how your payment was calculated by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visiting your local office. If you believe there is an error in your earnings record, you can dispute it by filing a request with Social Security, which will investigate and correct the record if needed.
Does my SSDI payment go up if I have a more severe disability?
No. SSDI payments are based entirely on your work history, not on the severity of your disability. Two people with the same disability but different earnings histories will receive different payments. The medical severity of your condition determines whether you may have access to for SSDI, but not how much you receive.
Will my SSDI payment change if I move to a different state?
Your SSDI payment will not change if you move. SSDI is a federal program, so the payment amount is the same regardless of which state you live in. However, if you also receive SSI, your SSI payment may change because SSI limits vary by state.
How often does Social Security send my payment?
SSDI payments are sent once per month. The day you receive your payment depends on your birth date: people born on the 1st through the 10th are paid on the second Wednesday of the month, the 11th through the 20th on the third Wednesday, and the 21st through the 31st on the fourth Wednesday. Payments are deposited directly into your bank account.