According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), the average payout for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits was $1,234 per month in 2019. SSD benefits can be given in the forms of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Due to the large population of Baby Boomers now filing for disability and an increase of women in the workforce who earned disability benefits by working, an increasing number of people meet the qualifications to receive disability benefits. However, the Social Security Act has strict rules and regulations for dispersing disability benefits.
SSDI and SSI Are Funded Differently
In the United States, people have an amount deducted from their earnings known as Social Security taxes. These taxes are withheld to fund the SSDI program and provide workers a stable source of income if they decide to retire or qualify for disability benefits. The amount of money that an individual receives each month is determined by how much Social Security taxes they paid over a period of time that they worked.
However, the SSI program is funded by general tax revenues. This program is more needs-based than disability-based like SSDI, which means applicants must meet certain income eligibility requirements to receive these benefits. Your lawyer can discuss these requirements in more detail.
If you are wondering how much SSD benefits you might be able to receive, the answer might depend on the amount of Social Security taxes you paid while working or how much financial assistance you qualify to receive. When it comes to disability benefits, a person’s Social Security Disability benefits get paid in moderate amounts. Using the 2019 average monthly payout, people who received SSDI benefits received about $14,808 that year, which is only slightly above the 2018 poverty line ($12,140).
However, for people who are no longer able to work, this amount can afford them the necessities. There are roughly nine million people who are currently collecting SSD benefits.
For a free legal consultation, call (972) 535-6377
Applicants Must Provide Information to Prove the Severity of Their Disabilities
Under the Social Security Act, a person can receive disability benefits if they are unable to work due to a severe, diagnosable mental or physical impairment. This impairment must have lasted for at least one year, is expected to last for a year or more, or be a terminable condition. Their impairments must have made them unable to work in their past occupations and inhibited their ability to adapt to other forms of work.
The severity of these impairments is determined by the Disability Determination Services (DDS) department in the current state that you live in. Your doctors will be asked questions about your condition by the disability specialists and doctors at the agency. They may request information from you, such as:
- Your diagnosed or suspected medical condition(s)
- When the condition(s) began
- How your conditions limit your abilities
- Results from medical tests
- Your past treatments
The SSA does not provide benefits to people who only have a partial or short-term disability. Social Security Disability benefits are reserved for people who exhibit the most severe types of impairments in our country. This is why cases of disability fraud are heavily prosecuted by the SSA and the Office of the Inspector General.
Family Members Might Also Be Able to Receive SSDI Benefits
Family members of a disabled worker might also be able to receive benefits. If a family member is wondering if they qualify to receive benefits, this might depend on their relationship to you or the disabled person. The average payout of Social Security Disability for your family member might also depend on the Social Security contributions you paid during previous work.
According to the SSA, family members who may qualify for SSDI benefits include:
- Spouses who are 62 or older
- A spouse of any age who cares for a child under the age of 16 or disabled
- Your unmarried children are younger than 18 years of age, including adopted children, stepchildren, and grandchildren
- Your unmarried children aged 18 or 19 and who are registered as full-time students in an elementary or secondary school
- Your unmarried children who are 18 years or older and have a qualifying disability that began before they turned 22
A spouse from a previous marriage might also be able to meet benefits requirements, depending on certain conditions. The divorced spouse must be at least 62 years old, was married to you for a minimum of 10 years, and is still currently single. Benefits for you, your current spouse, and children will not be reduced if a divorced spouse receives disability benefits.
Our Law Firm Can Give You More Information About SSD Benefits
If you have more questions about applying for Social Security Disability benefits, do not hesitate to call the Underwood Law Office today. Call (972) 535-6377 today for a free consultation.
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