
- Average Indexed Monthly Earnings. First, the SSA will determine your AIME. ...
- Primary Insurance Amount. Your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) is the base amount of your benefits. ...
- Check Your Statement. The easiest way to find out your benefit amount is to go to www.ssa.gov/mystatement, log in, and check your benefits statement.
How do you calculate Social Security disability?
So failing to file tax returns could adversely affect a person's Social Security retirement or disability benefit rate. Furthermore, if and when a person claims Social Security benefits the IRS can place a levy on the person's benefits in order to collect ...
How to calculate Social Security disability?
Social Security Disability Benefits Calculator Earnings from your jobs covered by Social Security (meaning your FICA taxes) are used to determine the amount of monthly SSDI benefits payments. To get an estimate of your monthly SSDI payment, simply enter your birth year and your average annual income.
What does social security consider to be a disability?
- Social Security disability insurance is coverage that workers earn. ...
- The Social Security Act defines disability very strictly. ...
- Disability is unpredictable and can happen to anyone at any age. ...
- Social Security disability payments are modest. ...
- The number of people qualifying for Social Security disability benefits has increased. ...
How much can you receive in SSI disability?
It doesn’t include, however, the following:
- Your home and property it’s on
- One vehicle, if it’s used for transportation
- Household goods and personal belongings
- Burial plots and burial funds up to a certain limit
- Up to $100,000 in an Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account 2

Benefit Calculators
The best way to start planning for your future is by creating a my Social Security account online. With my Social Security, you can verify your earnings, get your Social Security Statement, and much more – all from the comfort of your home or office.
Online Benefits Calculator
These tools can be accurate but require access to your official earnings record in our database. The simplest way to do that is by creating or logging in to your my Social Security account. The other way is to answer a series of questions to prove your identity.
Additional Online Tools
Find your full retirement age and learn how your monthly benefits may be reduced if you retire before your full retirement age.
How to calculate SSDI benefits?
The easiest way to calculate SSDI benefits is to go to www.ssa.gov/mystatement, log in, and check your benefits statement. It will tell you exactly how much SSDI you will get if you become disabled this year.
How Much Does SSDI Pay?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME) and Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) to calculate your SSDI benefits. The formula Social Security uses is quite complicated, and most people won't be interested in trying to calculate their benefits on their own, especially because Social Security can give you a good estimate.
What is SSDI disability?
What is SSDI? Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is the federal insurance program that provides benefits to qualified workers who can no longer work. To be eligible, you must be insured under the program (by having paid FICA or SECA taxes over a number of years) and you must meet the Social Security Administration's definition of disabled. SSI payments, on the other hand, aren't based on past earnings.
How many years does the SSA use?
The SSA will use up to 35 of your working years in the calculation. The SSA takes the years with the highest indexed earnings, adds them together, and divides them by the total number of months for those years. The average is then rounded down to reach your AIME. You can see an example of how the SSA calculates an AIME on its website.
How much will Social Security pay in 2021?
To give you an idea of what you might receive, for 2021, the average SSDI benefit amount is $1,277 per month, ...
Does disability reduce your benefits?
Some disability payments, such as workers' compensation settlements, can reduce your benefit amount. These are called “offsets.” Most other disability benefits, however, such as veterans benefits or payments made by private insurance, do not affect your benefit amounts.
Does disability affect SSDI?
These are called "offsets." Most other disability benefits, however, such as veterans benefits or payments made by private insurance, do not affect your SSDI benefit amounts.
How is Social Security calculated?
Social Security benefits are typically computed using "average indexed monthly earnings.". This average summarizes up to 35 years of a worker's indexed earnings. We apply a formula to this average to compute the primary insurance amount ( PIA ). The PIA is the basis for the benefits that are paid to an individual.
How many years of earnings are needed to calculate average indexed monthly earnings?
Up to 35 years of earnings are needed to compute average indexed monthly earnings. After we determine the number of years, we choose those years with the highest indexed earnings, sum such indexed earnings, and divide the total amount by the total number of months in those years. We then round the resulting average amount down to the next lower dollar amount. The result is the AIME .
Can disability benefits be reduced?
In such cases, disability benefits are redetermined triennially. Benefits to family members may be limited by a family maximum benefit.
Can family members limit benefits?
Benefits to family members may be limited by a family maximum benefit.
Is a person entitled to a PIA before 62?
We pay reduced benefits to one who retires before his/her normal retirement age. A person cannot collect retirement benefits before age 62.
How to check my Social Security earnings?
You can view your covered earnings history by visiting www.ssa.gov/mystatement or you can check your Social Security statement which is sent every five years to those under the age of 60.
How to find out what your maximum monthly disability payment is?
You can quickly find this out by contacting the Social Security Administration (SSA) to receive an estimate or you can visit our website for a quicker response and use the disability calculator.
What is back payment on SSDI?
Back payments are any disability benefits that are past due, or the benefits that you would have been paid if your initial application was approved right away. Retroactive payments are for the months that you were disabled and could not work. You are eligible for retroactive payments only with SSDI and not SSI.
How long does a person have to be on SSDI to receive SSI?
In order to receive SSDI, the prospective recipient must be able to demonstrate they have a disability that is medically determinable, that will continue to last no less than twelve months, and that prevents the individual from engaging in substantial gainful activity.
What happens if you get 80% of your SSDI?
If your earnings from government run disability programs like worker’s comp combined with your SSDI earnings exceed 80% of your average income before you became disabled, your SSDI payments will be reduced.
What is the AIME on SSDI?
This income is called your “covered earnings”. The average of your covered earnings over several years is called your average indexed monthly earnings (AIME).
What is SGA in Social Security?
Substantial Gainful Activity – SGA. is an important concept to understand when pursuing Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income. The Social Security Administration defines it as “the performance of significant mental and/or physical duties for profit”. SGA maximum amounts are set by the Social Security Administration ...
How are Supplemental Security Income benefits calculated?
SSI benefits are much simpler to calculate than SSDI. The SSA starts with what is called the Federal Benefit Rate or FBR. The FBR changes periodically to account for inflation and the cost of living. In 2017, the FBR is $735. This is maximum amount of SSI you can collect each month.
How does the SSA calculate AIME?
The SSA calculates your AIME by factoring in up to 35 years of your (wage inflation-adjusted) earnings. If you were to reach full retirement age before applying for Social Security benefits, the SSA would take an average of your annual income for your 35 highest earning years to find your AIME.
What is the maximum amount of SSI you can collect in 2017?
In 2017, the FBR is $735. This is maximum amount of SSI you can collect each month. Then, the SSA simply deducts your countable unearned income and your countable earned income from the $735 to determine your monthly SSI benefit amount. The SSA counts various types of income against your benefit amount, including:
What is SSDI benefits?
SSDI is a benefit for disabled workers who have sufficiently paid into the Social Security system over the course of their employment. You must have earned a certain number of work credits to qualify for benefits if you become disabled before retirement age. The exact number of credits you need depends on your age.
How many years of work history do you need to be disabled to get AIME?
When you become disabled before retirement age, the SSA realizes that you probably do not have 35 years of work history on your record, so it goes an extra step to determine how many years to use in the AIME calculation. The SSA does this by counting the number of years between the time you turned 21 and the year you became disabled, and then subtracting one-fifth of that total number of years or five years, whichever is less.
How to contact Disability Advantage Group?
For specific information about your benefits or for help applying for disability, call the Disability Advantage Group at 865-566-0800 for a free consultation.
Is Social Security disability easy?
Calculating Social Security disability benefits is neither simple nor easy. The formulas and variables are complex and challenging to wrap one’s head around.
How is disability determined?
If you are eligible for Social Security Disability benefits (SSDI), your disability benefit amount is determined by your earnings prior to your becoming disabled. If you had high earnings prior to becoming disabled, you will receive more than someone who has had lower earnings. No other factor is considered when calculating your Social Security Disability benefits.
Who sets the maximum monthly SSI benefit amount?
If you are to receive Supplemental Security Income disability benefits (SSI), your disability benefits amount is set by congress. Congress sets a maximum monthly SSI benefit amount each year.
How much of the household expenses do you have to pay for SSI?
rent, heat, water, power, etc.) where you live. If you are in a household of four people, you must be able to pay 21% of the expenses. If you cannot, you will not receive the full SSI monthly benefit amount .
Is SSI a need based disability?
SSI disability is a need based disability program and, as such, income, outside help from family and friends, and living arrangements can reduce the maximum amount payable. Income and outside financial help are easily understandable; however living arrangements may not be so easily understood.
How to calculate SSDI monthly payment?
Earnings from your jobs covered by Social Security (meaning your FICA taxes) are used to determine the amount of monthly SSDI benefits payments. To get an estimate of your monthly SSDI payment, simply enter your birth year and your average annual income.
What age do you have to be to get SSDI?
For SSDI, you must be younger than your full Social Security retirement age.
When will I get my first SSDI?
Your first benefit would be paid for the month of December 2020, the sixth full month of disability. However, there is no waiting period if your disability results from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and you are approved for SSDI benefits on or after July 23, 2020.
What are the other benefits that affect Social Security?
Other Payments May Affect Your Disability Benefits. If you receive certain other government benefits, such as workers' compensation, public disability benefits, or pensions based on work not covered by Social Security (e.g., some government or foreign employment), the Social Security benefits payable to you and your family may be reduced.
What is Medicare Advantage Plan?
Medicare Advantage Plan (previously known as Part C) – people with Medicare Parts A and Part B can choose to receive all of their health care services through plans that are offered by private companies and approved by Medicare.
What is Medicare coverage?
Medicare Coverage If You're Disabled 1 Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) helps pay for inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, and some home health care. The taxes you paid while you were working financed this coverage. It’s provided at no cost to you. 2 Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) helps pay doctors' services, outpatient care, some medical supplies, and other preventive services. You will need to pay a monthly premium for this coverage if you want it.
How long do you have to wait to receive your first SSDI payment?
Generally, if your application for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is approved, you must wait five months before you can receive your first SSDI benefit payment. This means you would receive your first payment in the sixth full month after the date we find that your disability began.
When will SSDI pay in 2020?
We would pay your first benefit for the month of December 2020, the first full month of disability. We pay SSDI benefits in the month following the month for which they are due. This means that the benefit due for December 2020 would be paid to you in January 2021, and so on.
How to contact Medicare for a TTY?
If you have questions about this coverage, you can contact Medicare toll-free at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to speak to a Medicare Customer Service Representative. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.
How many retirement estimates does Quick Calculator give?
If you do not give a retirement date and if you have not reached your normal (or full) retirement age, the Quick Calculator will give benefit estimates for three different retirement ages.
What is the benefit estimate?
Benefit estimates depend on your date of birth and on your earnings history. For security, the "Quick Calculator" does not access your earnings record; instead, it will estimate your earnings based on information you provide. So benefit estimates made by the Quick Calculator are rough. Although the "Quick Calculator" makes an initial assumption ...
Why are retirement benefits unreliable?
Lack of a substantial earnings history will cause retirement benefit estimates to be unreliable.
What does "0" mean in retirement?
If you entered 0, we assume you are now retired. Enter the last year in which you had covered earnings and the amount of such earnings.
How old do you have to be to use Quick Calculator?
You must be at least age 22 to use the form at right.
