Understanding Your Social Security Disability Benefit Amount
Understanding what you can expect to receive in Social Security Disability benefits is one of the most common questions when someone is unable to work due to a disabling physical or mental impairment. The monthly payment you receive isn’t uniform for everyone. It’s based on a specific calculation tied to your work history and lifetime earnings.
The average monthly benefit for disabled workers in 2025 is $1,580, but your actual payment could be significantly higher or lower depending on several factors. The attorneys at The Keener Law Firm have helped countless clients learn about their potential benefits and secure the payments they deserve. With over 30 years of experience in disability law, we know that straight talk about payment amounts helps you plan for your financial future while you focus on your health.
What Determines Your Monthly SSDI Payment?
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are calculated based on your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME). The Social Security Administration looks at your earnings over your highest-earning 35 years, adjusts them for inflation, and calculates a monthly average.
Your AIME is then run through a formula using “bend point” to arrive at your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). In 2025, the formula applies different percentages to three tiers of your AIME:
- 90% of the first $1,226 of your AIME, plus
- 32% of the AIME between $1,226 and $7,391, plus
- 15% of the AIME higher than $7,391.
This weighted system ensures that lower earners receive a higher percentage of their pre-disability income than high earners.
Your work history matters tremendously. Someone who worked consistently at higher wages for decades will receive more than someone with sporadic employment or lower wages. The system rewards those who contributed more to Social Security through payroll taxes over their working years.
What Is the Range of SSDI Benefits in 2025?
The maximum SSDI benefit in 2025 is $4,018 per month, though only individuals who earned at or above the maximum taxable earnings limit throughout their careers receive this amount. Most people receive far less.
Nearly two-thirds of SSDI recipients receive less than the average monthly payment. Payment amounts typically range from around $800 to $2,500 monthly for most beneficiaries. The different payment amounts depend entirely on your individual earnings record.
The Keener Law Firm can show you how to access your Social Security Statement, which shows your estimated SSDI benefit amount based on your current earnings record. This statement is available online through your Social Security account and provides the most accurate projection of what you would receive.
Can My Family Receive Additional Benefits?
SSDI includes provisions for family benefits. Your spouse and dependent children may receive additional payments if you’re approved for disability benefits. Each family member can receive up to 50% of your benefit amount, though there’s a family maximum limit.
The average benefit for a disabled worker, spouse, and one or more children in 2025 is $2,826 per month. The family maximum typically ranges from 150% to 180% of your individual benefit. These family benefits can make a substantial difference in your household’s financial stability during a difficult time.
How Does SSI Differ from SSDI?
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a separate program that provides benefits based on financial need rather than work history. 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 have less than $2,000 in countable assets as an individual or $3,000 as a couple. Some states supplement the federal SSI payment with additional funds. You might receive both SSDI and SSI if your SSDI benefit is low and you meet SSI’s financial requirements.
What About Cost-of-Living Adjustments?
Your SSDI payment isn’t frozen at the initial amount. Social Security benefits are subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), which was 2.5% for 2025. These adjustments are intended to help your benefits keep pace with inflation over time.
The COLA is calculated based on changes in the Consumer Price Index and typically takes effect in January each year. The percentage varies each year and is based on economic conditions. This adjustment is designed to protect the purchasing power of your benefits throughout your period of disability.
Will Other Benefits Reduce My SSDI Payment?
Certain types of benefits can reduce your SSDI payment. If your SSDI combined with other government disability benefits exceeds 80% of your pre-disability earnings, your SSDI will be reduced. This offset applies when you are receiving workers’ compensation, state temporary disability benefits, and even some public disability pensions.
Private disability insurance payments do not affect your SSDI amount. Veterans benefits and Supplemental Security Income also won’t reduce your SSDI payment. Some SSDI claimants also receive SSI because their SSDI benefit payment is below the maximum allowable earning to also get SSI benefits.
When Can I Check My Benefit Amount?
You can check your estimated SSDI benefit amount at any time by accessing your Social Security Statement online. Create an account at ssa.gov to view your complete earnings history and benefit projections. The statement shows what you would receive if you became disabled this year.
Your actual benefit amount is calculated when you apply and will be based on your earnings at the time you become unable to work. The attorneys at The Keener Law Firm can help you understand your statement and estimate what you can expect to receive based on your specific work history.
What Happens During the Waiting Period?
SSDI includes a mandatory five-month waiting period after you become disabled. You won’t receive payments during these five months, but you may be entitled to backpay once approved. Back pay covers the period from when you became disabled through your approval date, minus the five-month waiting period.
The five-month waiting period is why applying promptly is so important. The sooner you apply after becoming disabled, the sooner the waiting period begins. Delays in applying means delays in receiving your first payment.
Should I Work with an Attorney?
Understanding disability benefits is complex, and many initial applications are denied due to missing documents supporting the claim or errors made by applicants without the experience gained by professionals who work with Social Security Disability regulations on a daily basis. The Keener Law Firm concentrates its legal practice on Social Security Disability cases and works on a contingency fee basis.
Having experienced legal representation increases your chances of approval. Our firm’s team knows how to properly document medical conditions, compile persuasive evidence, and present your case effectively to the Social Security Administration. We handle the paperwork, meet deadlines, and communicate with the SSA on your behalf.
What Should I Do Next?
Getting accurate information about your potential SSDI payment is the first step toward financial planning during disability. Review your Social Security Statement to see your estimated benefit amount. Gather your medical records and employment documentation. Consider how your monthly benefit would fit into your overall financial picture.
Don’t wait to seek guidance. The Keener Law Firm offers free consultations to review your case and explain what you can expect. With decades of experience helping disabled workers secure their benefits, we can answer all your questions about payment amounts, the application process, and your chances of approval. Contact us today to discuss your disability claim and learn how the firm’s experience can help you receive the benefits you’ve earned through years of work.
Sources
- Social Security Administration https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/factsheets/colafacts2025.pdf
- Nolo https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/social-security-and-ssi-disability-increase.html
- Disability Secrets https://www.disabilitysecrets.com/how-much-in-ssd.html