What Determines Social Security Disability Income?

How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits

Social security disability income (SSD) is based on the amount a working individual would receive in retirement benefits, had they not become disabled.

The social security disability insurance (SSDI) program was put in place to help disabled workers, who are insured for SSDI benefits, to receive a living wage and health benefits until they reach retirement age, at which time they would be eligible for standard Medicare benefits.

You can find out the exact dollar amount of SSDI compensation for which you are eligible by contacting your local social security office.

It’s best to call your local social security office in all matters regarding your social security disability case, rather than using the online applications process—not only do you have the benefit of talking directly to a knowledgeable person who can answer your question in detail, but you also have the chance to establish contacts and (hopefully) rapport with one or two individuals in the office, which cannot hurt your case.

After you have requested an application, completed the required disability forms, and participated in a disability interview, your social security disability income will be determined as follows:

1. Your application for disability will be sent to the state agency in charge of making disability determinations for social security. Some common names for this agency are the bureau for disability determination services, disability determination division/services, etc.

2. Your case will be assigned to an examiner, who will review your medical records and make a disability determination based on these records.

3. You will be notified if your disability application has been approved or denied, and what, if any, compensation you can expect to receive. If you have not been approved for SSDI benefits, you will be informed of your right to appeal the decision, and how to go about doing that.

4. You have 60 days to file an appeal upon rejection of your disability application . If you have been denied social security disability benefits, you should contact your local social security office immediately, and request the forms needed to submit a request for reconsideration. However, at this point you may wish to retain a disability lawyer to take over your case.

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