4.4 Calculating Benefits

CALCULATING BENEFITS

SSI or SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME

The monthly amount depends on household income and assets if a claimant has been approved for SSI. Social Security benefits take into account earned and unearned income, mortgage or rent payments, and other income amounts in the same household.

The monthly maximum for an SSI-eligible individual is $943.

The monthly maximum for SSI-eligible individual with an eligible spouse is $1,415.

(A Cost of Living Adjustment may apply each year.) The average individual disability benefits claim lasts 31.6 months. In most states, if you’re eligible for SSI, you’ll also be eligible for Medicaid and sometimes Section 8 housing benefits. A disabled person’s dependent children under 18 are entitled to Social Security disability benefits, as well as any children 18 and older who still attend high school. Suppose you are the surviving spouse of a worker who qualified for Social Security retirement or disability benefits. In that case, you and your minor or disabled children may be entitled to health insurance benefits based on your deceased spouse’s earnings record.

SSDI or DISABILITY INSURANCE BENEFITS

If a person is awarded SSDI benefits, the monthly amount they receive is adjusted proportionally to the income they earned while working.

You can receive up to $3,822 a month in SSDI benefits.

Also, your spouse may receive social security disability benefits based on your work if he or she is caring for a child of yours who is younger than age 16 or disabled.

All SSI and Social Security Disability Insurance beneficiaries receive regular adjustments, meaning their monthly disability pay is subject to change. You can check with your local social services office for beneficiary eligibility and additional information on adjustments.

BOTH SSI & SSDI

If a claimant has been approved for both SSI and Disability, the compensation amounts will offset. This means they will receive two Award Notices: one from SSDI, and one from SSI. The amounts quoted on these notices reflect their own calculations and not the total amount that will be awarded. Social Security does not “double pay” benefits. For example, if SSI awards $500 and disability awards $1000, the total amount sent will NOT be $1500. Instead, the total amount will be $1000 because the amounts are offset. There may also be an offset if the claimant receives Workers Compensation benefits. Your disability representative can explain any offsets that may apply to your situation.