What is SSDI based on?

Social Security disability is based on your medical condition, its severity and duration, your age, education, past work, and current earnings, using a 5-step process to see if you can do any substantial work; eligibility for SSDI (insurance) also requires sufficient work credits, while SSI (income-based) depends on limited income and resources. The amount you receive (for SSDI) is based on your lifetime earnings.


How do they determine what you get for SSDI?

To calculate your SSDI payment, the Social Security Administration (SSA) uses your lifetime earnings to find your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME), then applies a formula with "bend points" (90%, 32%, 15% of earnings) to find your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is your basic monthly benefit, rounded down. You can get an estimate using the SSA's online calculators by creating a personal account, but the exact amount depends on your unique work history and inflation adjustments. 

What disabilities count for SSDI?

Social Security Disability (SSD) qualifies based on a severe medical condition preventing substantial work for over a year, with categories including musculoskeletal, mental, neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, immune, and digestive disorders, often detailed in the SSA's "Blue Book," though specific conditions like ALS or certain cancers might qualify faster under Compassionate Allowances. Eligibility isn't about the diagnosis itself but how severely it limits your ability to earn income, defined as "Substantial Gainful Activity" (SGA). 


What is the income limit for SSDI?

SSDI income limits revolve around Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA), which for 2025 is about $1,620/month for non-blind individuals and $2,700/month for blind individuals; earning over these amounts can stop benefits, but there's a Trial Work Period (TWP) and an Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) allowing for work while receiving benefits, with special deductions for disability-related work expenses. These limits change annually, so always check the SSA's latest figures, but the general concept is you can test your work ability without immediate loss of benefits. 

What are the four main sources of disability income?

This article discusses the common sources of disability income, including those from the government, employers, and private contracts.
  • Social Security Disability Insurance. ...
  • Supplemental Security Income. ...
  • Workers' Compensation. ...
  • State Disability Insurance Programs. ...
  • Employer-Provided Group Disability Insurance.


What Is The Difference Between SSDI & SSI? | Citizens Disability



Why do most people get denied for disability?

One of the most frequent reasons claims are denied is insufficient medical evidence. SSDI benefits are awarded based on medical necessity, so your application must demonstrate that your condition prevents you from working and is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.

What is the most approved disability?

The most approved disability category for Social Security benefits is musculoskeletal disorders, including conditions like severe arthritis, back pain, degenerative disc disease, and fibromyalgia, as these often have strong medical evidence and clear limitations on daily activities. While these physical ailments lead in approvals, mental health conditions (like mood disorders) and nervous system disorders are also very common reasons for approval, with intellectual disabilities common for younger applicants. 

How much can I make and still receive SSDI?

You can work while on Social Security Disability (SSDI/SSI) but earnings are limited by Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) thresholds, which are $1,620/month (non-blind) or $2,700/month (blind) in 2025, but you get a Trial Work Period (TWP) (9 months) where you can earn anything to test work, plus an Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) (36 months) with higher limits, and can deduct disability-related work expenses, making it complex but possible to earn more. 


How much can you make and still be eligible for SSDI?

Receiving SSI and SSDI while working

But the benefit amount you receive may be reduced depending on how much money you earn from your job. As of 2024, you may stop receiving SSDI benefits if you earn over $1,550 a month.

What medical conditions qualify for SSDI?

Medical conditions that qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) must be severe enough to prevent substantial work for at least 12 months, covering major body systems like musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, and mental health, as detailed in the SSA's "Blue Book". Common examples include severe arthritis, heart disease, cancer, depression, Crohn's, COPD, and multiple sclerosis, but eligibility hinges on proving the condition prevents any work, not just your previous job, with sufficient work credits also needed. 

What isn't counted as a disability?

An addiction to alcohol, nicotine or any other substance isn't a disability. But you might be disabled if you have an impairment caused by addiction. For example, if you have liver disease or depression caused by alcohol dependency.


What is the downside of social security disability?

Negatives of getting Social Security Disability (SSD) include potentially low benefit amounts (often not enough to live on), significant health insurance gaps (Medicare starts 24 months late), the long and difficult application process, strict work/income limits, and potential loss of other benefits like SSI or Medicaid, plus the risk of reviews and overpayment issues. 

How long does SSDI last?

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits generally last as long as you remain medically disabled and unable to work, but they convert to retirement benefits at your full retirement age (around 67), or can end if your condition improves, you return to substantial work, or you're incarcerated. The Social Security Administration (SSA) conducts periodic reviews, called Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs), to check your eligibility, with review frequency depending on the likelihood of medical improvement (e.g., every 3 or 7 years). 

How much SSDI if I made $60,000?

If you make $60,000 a year and become disabled, your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefit would roughly be around $1,500 to $1,800+ monthly, calculated from your highest 35 years of earnings, but it's not a direct percentage; it's based on your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME) using a progressive formula that favors lower earners, so you'll get about 40-50% of your average earnings, not 60% of $60k. To get an exact figure, you must create an account at ssa.gov/myaccount to view your personalized estimate. 


What is one of the biggest mistakes people make regarding Social Security?

Claiming Benefits Too Early

One of the biggest mistakes people make is claiming Social Security benefits as soon as they're eligible, which is at age 62. While getting money sooner can be tempting, claiming early has a significant downside: your monthly benefit will be reduced.

Can I work while receiving SSDI?

Yes, you can work while receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), thanks to programs like the Trial Work Period (TWP) and Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) that let you test your ability to work without immediately losing benefits, but you must report all work to the Social Security Administration (SSA) as earnings limits apply after the TWP. The TWP allows 9 months of work (over a specific earning amount, e.g., $1,160/month in 2025) to receive full benefits, followed by an EPE where benefits can continue for up to 36 months if earnings aren't "substantial" (e.g., over $1,620/month in 2025). 

What disqualifies you from getting social security disability?

SSDI benefits are intended as a supplement for people who are unable to work enough to earn a living. An individual will be disqualified from SSDI payments if he or she earns $880 per month or more from working.


How much does SSDI pay monthly?

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments vary, but the average is around $1,537 monthly (2024 data), with a maximum around $3,822, depending on your lifetime earnings and work history, calculated as a percentage of your earnings. For an exact amount, you must create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount. 

How often are SSDI benefits reviewed?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) reviews SSDI cases through Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) every 3 to 7 years, depending on your condition's expected improvement: more often (6-18 months) for conditions likely to improve, about every 3 years for possible improvement, and less often (5-7 years) for permanent conditions where improvement isn't expected, with younger individuals often reviewed more frequently. 

What is the average SSDI payment in 2025?

The average Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payment for disabled workers in 2025 is around $1,580 to $1,582 per month, with new awards potentially higher, around $1,738 monthly, but the exact amount depends on your earnings history and the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). For context, the maximum individual benefit in 2025 is about $4,018, while the minimum is around $967, and average payments can vary by state. 


What are the ongoing requirements for SSDI?

Generally, you need 40 credits, 20 of which were earned in the last 10 years ending with the year your disability begins. This is called the 20/40 Rule. However, younger workers may be eligible with fewer credits. For more information on whether you are eligible, read our publication How You Earn Credits.

Do I have to pay back long term disability if I get SSDI?

Yes, you generally have to pay back your long-term disability (LTD) benefits if you get Social Security Disability (SSDI) backpay, because most LTD policies have an "offset" clause, meaning your LTD payment is reduced by your SSDI, and receiving both fully creates an "overpayment" that the insurer wants back, especially from retroactive SSDI checks. You'll typically owe the insurer the amount of SSDI backpay for months you received both, but you might be able to negotiate the repayment or seek a tax credit for taxes paid on the LTD. 

What is the hardest disability to prove?

Here are the Top Disabilities That Are Difficult To Prove
  • Mental Health Conditions. Mental illness stands as one of the most prevalent causes of disability, yet its impact is often underestimated or misunderstood. ...
  • Chronic Pain Disorders. ...
  • Fibromyalgia. ...
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. ...
  • Autoimmune Disorders.


What are the 4 main disabilities?

The four main types of disabilities generally recognized are Physical, Sensory, Intellectual/Developmental, and Mental Health/Behavioral, encompassing challenges with mobility, senses (sight/hearing), learning/cognition, and emotional/psychological well-being, though categories can overlap and vary by definition. These categories help understand diverse needs, from mobility issues (physical) to learning differences (intellectual/developmental) and mental health conditions (behavioral).
 

What not to say on a disability application?

5 Things Not to Say in a Disability Interview
  • 5 Things Not to Say in a Social Security Disability Interview. ...
  • No one will hire me; I can't find work. ...
  • I am not under medical treatment for my disability. ...
  • I have a history of drug abuse or criminal activity. ...
  • I do household chores and go for walks. ...
  • My pain is severe and unbearable.