SSDI: Key Questions

15 March 2023
 Categories: Law, Blog


If you ever become disabled and are not capable of performing gainful employment, you might need to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance. This is a government program that gives disabled people a monthly payment to meet their living expenses. The following article answers some key questions pertaining to this important topic.

What Amount Will You Receive?

If you are accepted into the SSDI program, you will get a monthly remittance based on your earnings while you were employed. The exact amount varies greatly depending on the specific circumstance of each recipient. The average monthly payment is between $800 and $1800, with the highest amount a person can receive is $3011 as of 2020. Besides your earnings history, other factors can influence your payment. For example, if you receive payments from worker's compensation or other disability benefits, this could impact the amount you get from SSDI.

Can You Earn Money While Receiving SSDI Payments?

You are allowed to earn other income while you are participating in the SSDI program as long as you remain within the established limits. For non-blind individuals, the limit is $1470 a month. If you are blind the limit is $2460. A key point to remember is that if your monthly outside income passes a certain amount, you may trigger a review by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that could lead to a trial work period to see if you are able to become self-supporting. That amount is $1050 as of 2023. Another critical point is that could lose your SSDI benefits if you are consistently over the income limits.

What if Your Condition Improves?

The SSA will monitor your condition at certain intervals to determine if you have any medical improvement and whether your improvement allows you to be self-sufficient. How often you are reviewed depends on the likelihood of your condition improving. If you are expected to improve, your case is reviewed every 6 to 18 months. If improvement is not expected, a review will occur about every seven years. If improvement is possible but uncertain, the interval is about every three years.

You must report any improvement in your medical condition to the SSA promptly.

Should You Obtain A Lawyer?

The path to obtaining SSDI benefits can be lengthy and complex. Fortunately, there are lawyers who specialize in this field. A disability attorney will have the experience and knowledge to help you navigate this process.

For more information, consult with a social security disability lawyer near you.  


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