Monthly Disability Benefits: How Much Can You Receive?

It should be no surprise that this is the first and most important question most people have when they ask about filing a Social Security Disability claim. After all, you have bills to pay, medical expenses to cover, and a household to maintain. The answer, however, isn’t as straightforward as you might hope.

Your monthly disability benefit amount depends on several factors, primarily your work history and lifetime earnings. The professionals at The Keener Law Firm have helped hundreds of people understand what they can expect to receive in Social Security Disability benefits. We know that having accurate information about your potential payments helps you make informed decisions about your future while you focus on managing your health condition.

What Is the Average Monthly SSDI Payment?

The average monthly Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefit in 2025 is approximately $1,580. That’s the middle ground, though. Most recipients receive somewhere between $1,000 and $1,800 per month. Your actual payment could fall anywhere in this range or even outside it, depending on your specific earnings history.

The maximum SSDI benefit in 2025 is $4,018 per month, but very few people receive this amount. Only workers who consistently earned at or above the maximum taxable earnings limit throughout their careers reach this top payment level. Most people who apply for disability benefits have had varying income levels over their working years, which results in more moderate monthly payments.

How Does Social Security Calculate Your Benefit Amount?

Social Security doesn’t base your payment on how severe your disability is or what type of condition you have. Instead, the calculation relies entirely on your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME). The Social Security Administration looks at your earnings over your highest-earning 35 years, adjusts those earnings for inflation, and calculates a monthly average.

Once they have your AIME, they run it through a formula using what they call “bend points.” For 2025, the formula works like this:

• 90% of the first $1,226 of your AIME, plus
• 32% of your AIME between $1,226 and $7,391, plus
• 15% of any AIME above $7,391.

This calculation gives you your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which becomes your monthly SSDI benefit.

The system is designed to provide proportionally more support to lower-income workers. Someone who earned minimum wage for most of their career will receive a higher percentage of their pre-disability income than someone who had high earnings, even though the higher earner’s actual dollar amount will be larger.

Can Your Family Receive Additional Benefits?

SSDI doesn’t just provide benefits for you. Your spouse and dependent children may also receive monthly payments based on your work record. Each family member can receive up to 50% of your benefit amount, though there’s a family maximum that typically ranges from 150% to 180% of your individual benefit.

The average combined benefit for a disabled worker with an eligible spouse and one or more children is approximately $2,850 per month in 2025. Your children can receive benefits until they turn 18, or until 19 if they’re still in high school. A spouse caring for your child under 16 can also receive benefits, regardless of the spouse’s age.

What About SSI Benefits?

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) operates differently from SSDI. While SSDI bases payments on your work history, SSI provides benefits based only on financial need. The maximum federal SSI payment in 2025 is $967 per month for an individual and $1,450 for a couple.

To receive SSI, you must meet strict income and asset limits. You can’t have more than $2,000 in countable assets as an individual or $3,000 as a couple. Some states add supplemental payments on top of the federal amount. It’s also possible to receive both SSDI and SSI if your SSDI benefit is low enough and you meet SSI’s financial requirements.

Will Other Income Affect Your SSDI Payment?

Workers’ compensation benefits, state temporary disability payments, and certain public disability pensions can reduce your SSDI payment if the combined total exceeds 80% of your pre-disability earnings. The Social Security Administration will offset your SSDI to keep you under this threshold amount.

However, private disability insurance payments do not affect your SSDI amount. Veterans benefits and SSI payments also won’t reduce what you receive from SSDI. These rules can get complicated, particularly if you’re receiving multiple types of benefits. The team at The Keener Law Firm can help you understand exactly how different income sources might interact with your disability payments.

Do Benefits Increase Over Time?

Your SSDI payment isn’t frozen at the initial amount. Social Security benefits include an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to help your benefits keep pace with inflation. The COLA for 2025 was 2.5%, which added about $40 to the average monthly benefit. The 2026 COLA announced by the federal government in October 2025 will be 2.8%.

How Can You Check Your Estimated Benefit Amount?

You can find out your estimated SSDI benefit amount by looking at your Social Security Statement online. Create an account at ssa.gov to see your complete earnings history and benefit projections. The statement shows what you would receive if you became disabled based on your current earnings record.

Keep in mind that your actual benefit calculation happens only when you apply and it will reflect your earnings up to the point when you became unable to work. If you stop working several years before you apply for disability, those zero-earning years can lower your benefit amount.

What Happens During the Five-Month Waiting Period?

SSDI includes a mandatory five-month waiting period after the date you become disabled. You won’t receive payments during these first five months, even after you’re approved. However, you may be entitled to back pay once your claim is approved.

Back pay covers the period from when you became disabled through your approval date, minus the five-month waiting period. This often results in a substantial lump sum payment. The sooner you apply after becoming disabled, the sooner the waiting period begins and the sooner you’ll start receiving monthly benefits.

Should You Apply Without Professional Help?

You can file a disability application on your own. The Social Security Administration provides forms and basic guidance for people who want to handle the process themselves. However, statistics show that having experienced legal representation significantly increases your approval chances.

Many initial applications are denied because of incomplete medical evidence, documentation errors, or failure to meet technical requirements. The Keener Law Firm works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case. Our team knows how to properly document medical conditions, gather persuasive evidence, and present your case in the strongest possible light. With decades of experience handling disability claims, we understand what the Social Security Administration looks for and how to avoid common pitfalls that lead to denials.

What Should You Do Now?

Start by reviewing your Social Security Statement to see your estimated benefit amount. Gather your medical records and employment history. Or you can contact The Keener Law Firm, and we will gather your documents for you. Think realistically about whether your projected monthly benefit would meet your basic living expenses.

The sooner you apply after becoming disabled, the sooner your five-month waiting period begins. The Keener Law Firm offers free consultations to review your case and explain exactly what you can expect throughout the application process. Contact us today to discuss your situation and learn how our experience can help you secure the disability benefits you’ve earned through years of work.

SOURCES

• Social Security Administration: https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/factsheets/colafacts2025.pdf
• Nolo – Social Security and SSI Disability Increase: https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/social-security-and-ssi-disability-increase.html
• Disability Secrets – How Much in SSD: https://www.disabilitysecrets.com/how-much-in-ssd.html
• SSLG – SSDI Pay Chart 2025: https://sslg.com/social-security-disability-benefits-pay-chart/