If you have become disabled and expect to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, you may wonder what your benefit will be. SSDI benefits are monthly payments based on the amount of money you earned prior to becoming disabled. They are meant to replace a portion of the income you have lost due to a disability that prevents you from working.
Knowing what you should expect to receive as an SSDI benefit is good for planning as well as for your peace of mind. The Social Security Disability attorneys at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer in Lexington, KY, can help you estimate and apply for SSDI benefits. If you have been denied SSDI benefits, we can help you appeal the decision.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation about your case.
How To Qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits?
When a person who has been employed for five or more years suffers a qualifying disability that makes them unable to work for a living, he or she may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.
To receive SSDI, your disability must be a disease or injury that prevents you from working for at least 12 months or is a terminal condition that is expected to result in your death eventually.
Like Social Security retirement benefits, SSDI benefits are based on your employment history and are funded by FICA taxes withheld from paychecks. How much you have paid in taxes over the years is the primary factor in determining your disability benefit. The maximum SSDI payment available matches the maximum Social Security retirement benefit at full retirement age, which for 2023 is $3,627 a month.
Calculating Your SSDI Benefit
A knowledgeable disability attorney can help you understand your rights and seek the full benefits available by law. If you live in Kentucky, contact Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer to understand the disability benefits available to you.
Your monthly disability benefit will be based on your average covered earnings over a period of years, known as your average indexed monthly earnings (AIME).
The AIME is based on up to 35 years of a worker’s indexed earnings. Total earnings are indexed to reflect changes in general wages over the years you were employed. This is so your benefits will reflect the general rise in the standard of living over the course of your lifetime.
A complicated formula is then applied to your average earnings to calculate your primary insurance amount (PIA), which the Social Security Administration (SSA) uses to set your benefit.
The Social Security Quick Calculator provides a rough estimate of disability benefits.
How Much Social Security Disability Will I Get if I Made $25,000 a Year? With Example
For example, if you are 50 years old and have been diagnosed with a disability that prevents you from working, and earn over $25,000 annually, $1,880 of your benefits will be deducted. This means their monthly Social Security benefit will be $1,886. If your work history shows that you had higher earnings in prior years, that could increase your benefit. Your spouse and children may also qualify for disability benefits of $900 a month.
The SSA will consider any other disability payments you are receiving, such as workers’ compensation or state or local government retirement benefits based on disability. If your combined disability benefits are more than 80% of the average amount you earned before you became disabled, the excess amount will be deducted from your SSDI benefit.
As you can see, the benefits calculations are complicated. You will benefit from having a knowledgeable attorney guiding you through the disability claims process. Our attorneys help disabled Kentuckians pursue Social Security Disability claims on a daily basis. We are proud to help our clients seek all the benefits available to them by law.
After you have received disability benefits for two years, you become eligible for Medicare coverage, regardless of age. The SSA will send you Medicare information automatically when you qualify.
How To Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits?
The best first step is to contact a Social Security Disability lawyer at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer to discuss your diagnosed medical condition and your eligibility for disability benefits. There is no charge for a consultation with a Kentucky Courage disability lawyer to discuss your situation.
Here is an SSA worksheet to help with gathering information about your medical condition and job history, which you’ll need.
Unfortunately, many first applications for Social Security Disability benefits are denied and must be appealed. At Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer, we can help you from the start of the benefits application process so you do not lose time because of an application that is incomplete or has an avoidable error.
Contact a Kentucky Social Security Disability Attorney Now
If you have suffered a disability and can no longer work to provide an income for yourself and your family, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. You should not try to manage a disability claim on your own. At Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer, our Kentucky SSDI attorneys can handle every aspect of your claim from start to finish to ensure you receive the benefits available by law. If you have already applied for benefits and been denied, we can help you navigate the appeals process.
Whether you need help with an SSDI claim or an appeal, our Kentucky SSDI attorneys can help you. Contact us online to schedule your free consultation.
