How Much Does Disability Pay Per Month?

On This Page

1. How To Qualify for Disability
2. Enrollment in Medicare if You Are Disabled
3. You May Be Entitled to Back Pay
4. Disability, Personal Injury Lawsuits, and Workers’ Compensation
5. Consider a Pittsburgh Social Security Disability Benefits Lawyer

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

February 02, 2024

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

How much disability pays per month depends on your specific circumstances as well as the program from which you receive your benefits.

According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), the Supplemental Security Income federal payment amounts for 2020 pay up to $783 per month for individuals and up to $1,175 per month for couples. Each essential person living in the home also receives up to $392.

The average payment amount for Social Security Disability Insurance for all disabled workers in 2020 is $1,258. Your payment amount depends on several circumstances and is calculated based on Social Security taxes you paid in your past work. You may also be able to collect benefits for your minor children and your spouse. For example, the average payment amount for a disabled worker, with a spouse and at least one child is $2,176.

The SSA adjusts the monthly disability based on several factors such as:

• If the individual is receiving income from work
• Average wage index
• Cost-of-Living adjustment
• SSA work programs or incentives
• Your lifetime average earnings covered by social security

As a result of the factors above, disability payments might change from year to year.

How To Qualify for Disability

To qualify for disability, you need to meet the following criteria:

You Worked a Job That Paid Into Social Security

You must have paid into Social Security through your employment. If you have not been contributing to Social Security through the years, you may not be eligible to receive disability.

You Have a Qualifying Disability

Your injury or medical condition must pass the disability evaluation under Social Security. The SSA has a Listing of Impairments that includes the criteria one must meet to have a qualifying disability. You can check the list to see if you have an exact or similar condition to one already listed.

You Have Been Disabled for at Least a Year

The SSA pays disability benefits to individuals who have been or expect to be disabled for at least 12 months from the date of the accident or the medical condition that caused the disability. Benefits continue until the individual can return to work consistently.

Once you reach full retirement age, your disability benefit turns into a retirement benefit.

Enrollment in Medicare if You Are Disabled

As part of your disability payment, if you receive disability for two years, SSA automatically enrolls you in Medicare. The two parts of Medicare include:

Hospital Insurance (Part A)

Hospital insurance helps pay for inpatient hospital bills and a portion of checkups or follow-up care. One of the reasons why you receive this benefit is due to the taxes that you have paid throughout your employment.

Medical Insurance (Part B)

In addition to hospital insurance, Medicare also assists with a wide range of medical bills such as doctor visits/services, outpatient hospital care, and services that are related to your disability or overall health.

You May Be Entitled to Back Pay

Once you have been deemed disabled and the date that your disability started has been determined, there is a five-month waiting period before you can begin receiving SSDI payments. Once the five months have passed, you become eligible for benefits. You can receive back pay for all months you waited to receive approval from the SSA.

For example, if you were deemed disabled on June 1, 2019, you would be eligible for benefits on November 1, 2019. If the SSA approved you for benefits on June 1, 2020, you would be entitled to seven months of back pay.

There is no waiting period for SSI.

Disability, Personal Injury Lawsuits, and Workers’ Compensation

If you were disabled as a result of someone’s negligence or careless action and filed a claim against that person’s insurance company, you may receive compensation for your damages. If so, compensation that you receive from a private individual or their insurance company will not affect the status or amount of your disability payments.

Workers’ compensation and other public disability benefits may reduce your disability payments. Workers’ compensation is paid due to a job-related injury. For this reason, you may receive less in disability if you currently receive workers’ compensation benefits.

Consider a Pittsburgh Social Security Disability Benefits Lawyer

Before you apply for disability benefits, you have a right to consult a disability lawyer. An attorney can guide you through the process and explore all the different types of benefits that you may be eligible for.

Berger and Green provides legal consultation and representation for clients who are applying for disability benefits or who have been turned down by SSA. We can help you explore all aspects of your case, submit your paperwork, and work with SSA on your behalf. Contact us at (412) 661-1400 to get a free case assessment and find out more about how much disability pays per month on average.