What New York State disability programs pay

New York State runs two separate disability programs, and they pay different amounts. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is federal and pays the same to New Yorkers as to everyone else — the amount depends on your work history and how much you earned, not where you live. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is also federal but New York adds its own money on top, so New York residents get more than people in other states.

The federal SSDI payment in 2024 averages around $1,550 per month, but your actual amount could be significantly higher or lower depending on your earnings record. SSI in New York is higher than the federal base amount because the state supplements it — a single person living alone receives more than someone living with family. Both programs adjust their payments each year in January.

If you receive both SSDI and SSI at the same time (called "concurrent benefits"), New York counts the SSDI payment first and then adds SSI to bring you up to the state's combined limit. The exact total depends on your living situation and whether you have dependents.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI payments are based on your work history and earnings record, so two New Yorkers can receive very different amounts even though they live in the same state.
  • New York adds state money to the federal SSI base amount, so SSI recipients in New York receive more than SSI recipients in most other states.
  • Both programs increase their payments each January to account for inflation, though the exact increase varies year to year.
  • If you receive both SSDI and SSI together, New York counts your SSDI first and supplements it with SSI to reach the state limit.
  • Your payment amount also depends on your living situation — whether you live alone, with family, or in an institution — and whether you have a spouse or children who receive benefits on your record.

How SSDI payment amounts are calculated

Your SSDI payment is based on your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which Social Security calculates from your earnings history. The agency looks at your 35 highest-earning years of work (or fewer if you haven't worked that long) and applies a formula that weights earlier earnings less heavily than recent ones. This means someone who earned $60,000 a year for 30 years will receive a different payment than someone who earned $30,000 a year for 30 years.

Social Security does not use a flat percentage of your past earnings. Instead, the formula replaces a higher percentage of lower earnings and a lower percentage of higher earnings — this is called a "bend point" formula. A worker with very low lifetime earnings might receive 90% of their average monthly earnings as a benefit, while a higher earner might receive only 32% of theirs.

You can see your own earnings record and get an estimate of your SSDI payment by creating an account at ssa.gov and viewing your Social Security Statement. The estimate assumes you become disabled today; the actual amount will be recalculated based on your exact disability onset date.

How SSI payment amounts work in New York

SSI is a needs-based program, meaning the payment is not tied to your work history. Instead, it is tied to your income and resources. In 2024, the federal SSI base amount for a single person is $943 per month, but New York State adds approximately $70 per month on top of that, bringing the New York total to around $1,013 per month for someone living independently.

If you live with family members who are not receiving SSI, your payment is lower — this is called the "in-kind support and maintenance" rule. If someone else pays for your food or housing, SSI counts part of that as income to you and reduces your payment. If you live in a medical facility or nursing home, your payment is capped at a much lower amount because the facility covers your basic needs.

SSI also has strict resource limits. You can own no more than $2,000 in countable resources as a single person (or $3,000 as a couple). A home you live in, one vehicle, and certain personal items do not count toward this limit, but cash, bank accounts, and most investments do. If your resources exceed the limit, you lose SSI entirely until you spend down to the limit.

When payments increase and how much they go up

Both SSDI and SSI payments increase once per year, usually in January, based on the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). The COLA is tied to inflation — specifically, the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. In years with high inflation, the COLA is larger; in years with low inflation, it is smaller.

The COLA applies to everyone on SSDI and SSI at the same time. In 2024, the COLA was 3.2%, meaning someone receiving $1,000 per month in 2023 would receive $1,032 in 2024. The exact increase for your situation depends on your current payment amount, not on a fixed dollar figure.

Social Security announces the COLA for the following year in October. You do not have to do anything to receive the increase — it happens automatically. Your January payment will reflect the new amount.

Payments for family members on your record

If you receive SSDI, your spouse and unmarried children under age 19 (or up to age 19 if still in high school) may also receive payments based on your work record. Each family member receives their own payment, but the total amount paid to your whole family cannot exceed a family maximum, which is typically 150% to 180% of your own SSDI payment.

For example, if your SSDI payment is $1,500 per month and your family maximum is 175% of that ($2,625), and you have a spouse and two children who all receive benefits, Social Security divides the $2,625 among the three of them. If one family member's share would exceed their individual limit, Social Security reduces everyone's payment proportionally to stay within the family maximum.

SSI does not have family members receiving payments on your record. However, if you are married and both spouses receive SSI, the couple's resource limit is $3,000 instead of $2,000 per person, and the payment amount is higher for a couple than for a single person.

What counts as income and reduces your payment

For SSDI, earned income (money from work) is treated differently than unearned income (money from other sources). You can earn up to $1,550 per month in 2024 without losing any SSDI payment, as long as you report the work to Social Security. This is called the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level. If you earn more than this, Social Security will review whether you are still disabled.

Unearned income — such as unemployment benefits, workers' compensation, pensions, or money from family members — does reduce your SSDI payment dollar for dollar after the first $65 per month. If you receive $200 in unearned income, Social Security subtracts $135 from your SSDI payment ($200 minus the $65 exclusion).

For SSI, both earned and unearned income reduce your payment. The first $65 per month of earned income and the first $20 per month of unearned income do not count. After that, every dollar of income reduces your SSI payment by one dollar. SSI also counts in-kind support — if someone gives you food or pays your rent — as income.

Differences between New York and other states

SSDI payments are identical nationwide because SSDI is entirely federal. A New Yorker and a Californian with the same work history receive the same SSDI payment. However, SSI varies significantly by state because many states add their own supplement to the federal base amount.

New York is one of the more generous states for SSI. The state supplement brings the total payment above what the federal government provides alone. Some states provide no supplement at all, meaning SSI recipients there receive only the federal base amount. A few states provide larger supplements than New York.

If you move out of New York, your SSDI payment stays the same, but your SSI payment will change to reflect your new state's rules. You should notify Social Security of any move so your payment is adjusted correctly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work and still receive my full SSDI payment?

You can earn up to $1,550 per month in 2024 without losing SSDI, as long as you report the work to Social Security. Beyond that amount, Social Security reviews whether you remain disabled. You may also may have access to for a work incentive program that allows you to earn more without losing benefits temporarily.

What happens to my payment if I move to another state?

Your SSDI payment does not change because it is federal. If you receive SSI, your payment will change to match your new state's rules. Contact Social Security before you move so your address is updated and your new payment amount is calculated correctly.

Does my SSI payment change if someone else pays for my rent?

Yes. If someone else pays your rent or provides your food, SSI counts part of that as income to you and reduces your payment. The exact reduction depends on how much they pay and your living situation. Report any changes in who pays for your housing or food to Social Security when ready.

How do I find out what my SSDI payment will be before I explore?

Create an account at ssa.gov and view your Social Security Statement, which shows your earnings history and provides an estimate of your SSDI payment if you become disabled. The estimate assumes disability begins today; your actual payment will be based on your actual disability onset date.

Is there a maximum amount I can receive on SSDI?

Yes. In 2024, the maximum SSDI payment for an individual is around $3,822 per month, though very few people receive this amount. The maximum is adjusted each January along with all other SSDI payments. Your actual payment depends on your earnings record, not on this maximum.