How much does Social Security Disability or SSI pay?

How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits

There is no set amount of money payable to an individual who has been approved for a disability benefit through the Social Security Administration. Social Security administers two separate disability programs: Social Security disability and Supplemental Security income, which is SSI.

SSI disability has a set maximum amount payable to a single individual and to couples and that amount changes each year. Additionally, the SSI pay amount may be affected by the disabled individual’s living arrangements. For example, if an individual is approved for SSI disability, they are expected to pay their share of the expenses for the household in which they live. If they do not, their disability benefit amount will be lowered to less than the maximum amount.

Note: Currently, the maximum amount that one individual may receive for SSI disability is $698 per month.

Social Security disability is very different in some ways than SSI disability. Unlike SSI, the amount that a person receives from this program is not the same as every recipient. Social Security Disability is based on an individual’s earnings record (earnings that are reported to the Internal Revenue Service yearly).

Your earnings record is used to determine your insured status (whether or not you qualify for SSD benefits in the first place). Also, the amount of money that is payable to you as a disability benefit is based on your earnings record. For example, if you have worked very little or have had low earnings, your potential Social Security disability benefit will be low. If it is very low, however, you may be eligible to receive both SSI and social security disability. This is known as a concurrent claim.

On the other hand, if you have had higher earnings and consistent work activity, your monthly disability benefit pay will be higher. Additionally, if an individual is allowed for Social Security disability there may be additional benefits payable to their dependents.

Return to: SSDRC, or the Questions, Answers, Tips, and Advice page

Individual Questions and Answers

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SSD and SSI are Federal Programs

The title II Social Security Disability and title 16 SSI Disability programs operate under federal guidelines and, therefore, the program requirements--medical and non-medical--apply to all states:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Recent approval and denial statistics for various states can be viewed here:

Social Security Disability, SSI Approval and Denial Statistics by state

Special Section: Disability Lawyers and unnecessary claim denials