The amount of money you get in a disability check depends largely on whether you receive Social Security Disability (SSD) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments.
- SSD benefits are typically granted to workers who are insured through the Social Security system, while
- SSI is an option primarily for people with low incomes who suffer from disabilities.
A person earning SSD benefits will have their check calculated based on the average amount of money they earned before they became disabled, so long as Social Security or FICA taxes were taken out of their pay.
SSI benefits are calculated a bit differently.
The maximum a person can earn through SSI is $721 per month as an individual, or $1,082 a month as a couple, but these figures will be reduced based on other income or benefits that you might receive.
Income that could count toward reductions include workers’ compensation, unemployment benefits, veterans disability benefits or Social Security benefits.
Your income could potentially affect the amount you get in disability payments. If you receive SSI, the total you get each month would be reduced by approximately half of your part-time earnings.
Remember there is an earnings threshold for SSI that you must fall beneath to qualify for SSI benefits. Under the SSD system, you won’t necessarily receive lower payments if you have an income, but the Social Security Administration could opt to cut off your benefits if you have a substantial enough income that you would no longer be considered disabled.
The various concepts and processes involved with earning disability can be complicated. For sound assistance related to this process, speak with the experienced Ohio Social Security Disability lawyers at Clements, Taylor, Butkovich & Cohen LPA, Co.