Understanding the Purpose of Disability Income Benefits

When a serious illness or injury prevents you from working, bills continue to arrive, medical expenses mount, and the income you once relied on suddenly stops. This is where disability income benefits come in. They provide a critical safety net for you and your family during one of life’s most challenging periods.

The Keener Law Firm has guided countless individuals through the process of securing the disability income benefits they need, and we know firsthand how these programs can make the difference between financial stability and crisis.

What Are Disability Income Benefits Designed to Do?

The primary purpose of disability income benefits is to replace a portion of your lost wages when a medical condition prevents you from working. Your ability to earn an income is one of your most valuable assets. Disability income benefit programs are essential when illness or injury takes that ability away and you need financial support to maintain basic living standards and meet ongoing expenses.

Disability income benefits help you cover essential living expenses like housing, food, utilities, and transportation. They also provide a level of stability during an uncertain and stressful time, allowing you to focus on your health rather than constantly worrying about how to pay your bills.

These benefits are in place because your condition may prevent you from working for an extended period or even permanently. Unlike short-term sick leave or temporary assistance programs, disability income benefits give you ongoing support for as long as your condition prevents you from maintaining steady full-time or near-full time employment.

How Do Federal Disability Income Benefits Work?

The federal government operates two major disability income benefit programs: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Both programs provide monthly payments to people with disabilities, but they serve different purposes and have different requirements.

Social Security Disability Insurance

SSDI is an insurance program funded through the Social Security taxes you pay during your working years. When you work and pay these taxes, you’re building insurance coverage that you can access if you become unable to work due to a disabling condition.

Your monthly SSDI benefit amount depends on your lifetime average earnings covered by Social Security. The program calculates your benefit based on the wages you earned during your working years, with higher earners generally receiving larger monthly payments. In 2025, the average SSDI benefit is $1,580 per month. The maximum monthly SSDI benefit for 2025 is $4,018, though this amount is only available to workers who consistently earned at or above the maximum taxable amount throughout their careers.

SSDI serves another important purpose beyond monthly income: after receiving SSDI benefits for 24 months, you become automatically enrolled in Medicare, providing access to healthcare coverage that many people with disabilities desperately need.

Supplemental Security Income

SSI operates differently from SSDI because it’s a needs-based program rather than an insurance program. The purpose of SSI is to provide a basic level of financial assistance to people with disabilities who have limited income and resources, regardless of their work history.

In 2025, the maximum federal SSI payment is $967 per month for an individual and $1,450 per month for a couple. Some states provide supplemental payments on top of the federal benefit. To receive SSI, you must have less than $2,000 in countable assets as an individual or $3,000 as a couple. Many assets are excluded from counting, including your primary residence, one personal vehicle, household furnishings, etc. The program is designed to help you meet basic needs for food and shelter when you lack substantial financial resources. The attorneys at The Keener Law Firm regularly help clients find out whether they will benefit more from SSDI, SSI, or potentially both programs simultaneously, depending on their individual circumstances.

What About Private Disability Income Benefits?

Beyond federal programs, private disability insurance policies serve a similar purpose but with important differences. These policies, which you might obtain through your employer or purchase individually, replace a portion of your income when you cannot work due to a disability.

Private disability insurance typically comes in two forms: short-term disability and long-term disability coverage. Short-term policies generally provide benefits for a few months up to a year, covering temporary conditions that prevent you from working. Long-term disability insurance takes over when short-term coverage ends, providing benefits for extended periods or until you reach retirement age.

While SSDI and SSI provide baseline support, private policies may replace 50% to 70% of your pre-disability income, helping you maintain a lifestyle closer to what you experienced before becoming disabled.

Private policies also usually have different definitions of disability than federal programs. Some policies pay benefits if you cannot perform your specific occupation, while federal programs generally require that you cannot perform any substantial work.

In 2025, the Social Security Administration considers work substantial and gainful if you earn more than $1,620 per month (or $2,700 per month if you are blind). This means that if you can earn more than these amounts in a month, the Social Security Administration will probably determine that you are not disabled under the government’s definition.

How Do These Programs Help You Move Forward?

The overarching purpose of all disability income benefits is to provide you with financial stability and peace of mind during an extremely difficult period. These programs recognize that disability is not a choice and that you shouldn’t have to face financial ruin because illness or injury has prevented you from working.

For many people, disability income benefits make the difference between keeping their home or facing foreclosure, staying up on basic necessities or falling into poverty, and accessing medical care or going without treatment. The Keener Law Firm understands that these benefits represent more than monthly payments; they represent your ability to survive and maintain dignity while managing a serious medical condition.

When you understand the purpose behind these programs, you can better appreciate why pursuing your rightful benefits is so important. These programs exist to protect you during your time of need, ensuring that a medical condition doesn’t destroy everything you’ve worked to build throughout your life.

If you’re facing a disability that prevents you from working, The Keener Law Firm can help you pursue the disability income benefits that exist to support you during this challenging time. We’re committed to helping you secure the financial assistance you need to move forward with confidence and stability.

Sources

• Social Security Administration 2025 Social Security Changes Fact Sheet: https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/SSI.html