How Much Do Social Security Disability Benefits Pay?

As an attorney at The Keener Law Firm, I spend a lot of time explaining how Social Security Disability benefits work. One of the most common questions I get is, “How much will I get if I’m approved for benefits?” The answer depends on several factors, including which disability program you qualify for, how much you’ve worked, and your financial situation. Let’s break it down so you can get a clear idea of what to expect if you’re applying for disability benefits in 2025.

SSDI vs. SSI: The Two Main Disability Programs

When people think of disability benefits, they often assume there’s just one program. The Social Security Administration (SSA) runs two different programs: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The amount you receive in benefits depends on which program you qualify for.

• SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) is designed for people who have worked and paid into Social Security but can no longer work due to a disability. The benefit amount is based on your lifetime earnings before your disability, not your current financial situation.
• SSI (Supplemental Security Income), on the other hand, is a needs-based program for individuals with limited income and resources. Unlike SSDI, it doesn’t matter how much you’ve worked in the past—SSI is designed to provide basic financial assistance to those who need it most.

Let’s take a closer look at how these benefits are calculated.

How SSDI Benefits Are Determined

If you qualify for SSDI, your monthly benefit amount is based on your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME)—essentially, the average of your highest-earning years. The SSA applies a formula to your AIME to determine your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is the base amount you can receive in SSDI benefits.

In 2025, the SSA calculates your PIA using these “bend points”:

• 90% of the first $1,226 of your AIME
• 32% of AIME between $1,226 and $7,391
• 15% of AIME above $7,391
• Rounded down to the next lowest $0.10

For example, if your AIME is $5,000:

• 90% of $1,226 = $1,103.40
• 32% of ($5,000 – $1,226) = $1,208.32
• Total PIA = $2,311.72

This means your monthly SSDI benefit would be $2,311.60, before any deductions for Medicare or other offsets.

Maximum and Average SSDI Payments for 2025

The maximum SSDI benefit anyone can receive in 2025 is $3,822 per month. However, most people receive less than this because the maximum is only available to those who had high earnings over many years. The average SSDI benefit in 2025 is around $1,537 per month.

Factors That Can Affect Your SSDI Payment

Even after your PIA is calculated, there are a few things that can impact your final payment:

• Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA): Each year, the SSA adjusts benefits to keep up with inflation. In 2025, benefits are increasing by 2.5%.
• Work Activity: If you attempt to return to work and earn more than $1,620 per month (the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit for non-blind individuals), you could lose your SSDI benefits.
• Other Disability Payments: Some other benefits, such as workers’ compensation, may reduce your SSDI payment.

How SSI Benefits Are Calculated

SSI benefits work differently from SSDI because they are based entirely on financial need. In 2025, the maximum federal SSI benefit is:

• $967 per month for an individual
• $1,450 per month for a couple

However, SSI benefits are reduced if you have countable income. The SSA excludes certain types of income, but generally, if you have earnings, your SSI check will be lower. Here’s how the SSA calculates it:

• They exclude the first $20 of most income
• They exclude the first $65 of earned income, plus half of what’s left
• The remaining income is subtracted from the maximum benefit

For example, if you have $300 in earned income:

• Subtract the $20 general exclusion: $300 – $20 = $280
• Subtract the $65 earned income exclusion: $280 – $65 = $215
• Countable income: $215 ÷ 2 = $107.50

Your SSI check would be:

$967 – $107.50 = $859.50 per month

Some states also provide an additional supplement to SSI, which can increase the total amount you receive.

What About VA Disability or Other Benefits?

Many of our clients at The Keener Law Firm receive benefits from Veterans Affairs (VA) disability, workers’ compensation, or private disability insurance. These benefits may or may not affect your Social Security disability payments.

For SSDI, VA disability benefits do not reduce your Social Security payment. However, for SSI, any income—including VA disability payments—can lower your monthly benefit.

How The Keener Law Firm Can Help

Understanding the complexities of Social Security Disability benefits can feel overwhelming. That’s where The Keener Law Firm comes in. We assist clients with every aspect of their disability claims, from filing an initial application to appealing denials. Whether you’re seeking SSDI, SSI, VA disability, or another federal disability benefit, we have the knowledge and experience to guide you through the process and fight for the benefits you deserve.

We’ve seen too many people get denied simply because they didn’t include the right medical evidence or missed a key deadline. The SSA doesn’t make it easy to get approved, and many people feel discouraged after an initial denial. That’s why we’re here—to help you through the process, give you the best chance of success, and ensure you receive the maximum benefits available.

If you’re considering applying for disability benefits or if you’ve already been denied, The Keener Law Firm is ready to help. With our experience handling all types of disability claims—SSDI, SSI, VA disability, and more—we can ensure your case is presented in the strongest possible way.

Don’t leave your benefits to chance.

Contact The Keener Law Firm today to discuss your case and find out how we can help you get the disability benefits you deserve.