How Much Are Social Security Disability Benefits and When Can You Expect Them?
Social Security disability benefits (SSD) provide an important safety net for workers who become disabled before reaching retirement age. But many people considering applying for SSD are unclear on how their benefits will be calculated or how much income they can expect.
In this post, we’ll explain how Social Security disability benefits are determined, how those benefits increase over time, and other important information you’ll need to plan for the future.
Calculating Social Security Disability Benefits: The Short Version
If you qualify for Social Security Disability benefits (SSD), the monthly benefits you receive will be equal to the amount you would receive if you had reached full retirement age. Of course, that amount varies from person to person. That’s because Social Security retirement benefits (and so, SSD benefits) are based on your earnings during your career.
Higher earners get higher benefits, up to a limit. In 2026, the maximum monthly SSD benefit is $4,152.00. However, few recipients get that much. As of November of 2025, the average disabled worker received $1,588.52/month in SSD benefits.
Calculating Social Security Disability Benefits: The Details
AIME
The formula for determining your Social Security disability benefits or retirement benefits is complicated. The Social Security Administration (SSA) begins by calculating your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME). The SSA will look at up to 35 years of earnings and determine which were your highest-earning years.
Then, they’ll add up your earnings across those years and calculate a monthly average. That number (rounded to the next lowest dollar) is your AIME.
PIA
The next step–and the most complicated one–is to determine your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). The PIA formula relies on “bend points,” which are dollar amounts that change every year. In 2026, the formula is:
AIME up to $1,286 (.90)
+
AIME between $1,287 and $7,749 (.32)
+
AIME over $7,749 (.15)
______________________
PIA
Here’s an example of how that calculation could work in 2026. Remember that the fixed numbers in the formula ($1,286 and $7,749) will change slightly from year to year.
Sample AIME Calculation
Assume the SSD applicant’s AIME is $2,000/month. Here’s how the calculation would work.
First $1,286 (.90) = $1,157.40
Remaining $714 (.32) = $228.48
$1,157.40 + $228.48 = $1,385.88
PIA is always rounded to the next lowest dime, so your PIA in this example would be $1,385.80.
PIA and Your Social Security Disability Benefits
Your PIA is the amount of monthly benefits you would receive if you retired at full retirement age. Your retirement benefits could be lower if you retire earlier, and higher if you hold off until age 70.
Social Security disability benefits are based on the amount you would receive if you reached full retirement age. So, if you are approved for SSD, your monthly benefit will match your PIA.
You can find your current PIA by logging in to your account at SSA.gov (or creating an account if you don’t have one). Remember, though, that your estimated benefit will continue to change across your career, as new work history is added to your record. The calculation also changes slightly from year to year as those bend points are adjusted.
Does Working Affect Social Security Disability Benefits?
Social Security doesn’t have a benefits program for partial disability. You can qualify for Social Security Disability benefits only if the SSA determines that you are unable to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA). One way they make that determination is to look at your current earnings. If you’re above the SGA cut-off, you aren’t considered disabled. If your earnings are below that threshold, the SSA goes on to the next step in the analysis.
Like benefit amounts and bend points, the SGA cut-off is adjusted annually. In 2026, the cut-offs are $1,690 for most applicants and $2,830 for blind applicants.
Trial Work Periods
After you’re approved for SSD, the impact of earnings on your benefits becomes more complicated. The SSA offers SSD recipients the opportunity to test out returning to work without immediately losing benefits. But any month in which benefits exceed a certain cut-off counts toward a trial work period. That cut-off also changes from year to year. In 2026, it is $1,210.
That means any month in which an SSD recipient earns more than $1,210 will count toward the trial work period. If they exceed that threshold nine times in any 60 month period, the SSA will consider the trial work period successful and begin transitioning the recipient off of disability.
The 60-month period is rolling, which can make it hard for SSD recipients to track, particularly since such a small fraction of the 60-month period is required to push the recipient into the transitional period. 60 months is five years, meaning that a disabled worker who earned $1 above the threshold approximately once every 6 months could be deemed able to be self-supporting–even though they never once reached the level the SSA considers substantial gainful activity.
When Do SSD Payments Start?
There is a 5-month waiting period for SSD benefits. So, if you apply immediately after you become disabled, your benefits won’t start until the sixth month, even if you are approved earlier. If you didn’t apply right away, your benefits may officially start on the date of your application, or in some cases up to 12 months earlier. However, you’ll still have to wait for your application to work its way through the process, including any necessary appeals.
That means you may start receiving benefits as soon as a few months after you apply, or it may take two years or more to receive your first payment. The good news is that you’ll get benefits back to the appropriate start date once you’re approved.
Get the Help You Need with SSD
These formulas and cut-offs and pitfalls for keeping your benefits illustrate just how complex the SSD system can be. And this is just one aspect of the program. If you’re applying for SSD or have been denied disability benefits and want to appeal, an experienced disability benefits advocate can be your best resource.
Call Disability Help Group today at 800-800-3332 or fill out our contact form HERE to learn more about how we can help.
FAQs: How Much Are Social Security Disability Benefits and When Can You Expect Them?
1. How much does Social Security Disability pay per month in 2026?
The amount you can receive from Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) depends on your work history and lifetime earnings, not your medical condition. In 2026, monthly SSDI payments typically range from a few hundred dollars to the maximum federal benefit set by the Social Security Administration, with most recipients falling near the average monthly benefit.
2. How long does it take to start receiving SSDI benefits after applying?
SSDI benefits are not paid immediately. Most applicants wait several months for an initial decision, and many claims are denied at first. If approved, benefits usually begin after a five-month waiting period from the established disability onset date, which can affect when your first payment arrives.
3. Do you receive back pay for Social Security Disability benefits?
Yes. If your SSDI claim is approved, you may be eligible for back pay, which covers the months between your disability onset date and the date your benefits begin. The amount of back pay depends on how long your application took and when Social Security determines your disability started.
